How Does The Epigraph Affect The Reader’s Interpre

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The epigraph of the ‘The Great Gatsby’ leads the reader to think a numerous amount of things about what they are in for before reading the book and also affects their interpretation of the book after reading it because of the morals and message behind the poem. By using hidden symbolism, Fitzgerald seems to link his own beliefs regarding monetary prosperity with an interesting plot in The Great Gatsby. In the epigraph of The Great Gatsby it first says “Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her”. At first glances the poem is about someone advising a man on how to impress a woman as it states “if that will move her” and the way in which she will be impressed is if the man wears a “gold hat”. The wearing of the “gold hat” seems to be a metaphorical way of wearing his new found wealth. Although at first it seems as if Gatsby is trying to show off all of his wealth to Daisy and how well he has done by himself without her, but he is actually on a mission to gain her affection and love and the only way he knows how to accomplish his mission is by wearing his “gold hat”. In the second line of the epigraph Gatsby is told to “bounce high”, which could mean if he can earn lots of money and give himself a high status then he should aim for her as well. The next line of the epigraph states “Gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover” which shows the reader Gatsby’s relationship with a woman who is the love of his life and the person who he is trying to impress throughout the book by earning lots of money. This woman is Daisy. The differences between the amounts of wealth that East Egg and West Egg have are clear from the beginning of the book. When Gatsby and Daisy first fell for each other Gatsby had to leave for the war and could only provide her with a letter, but Tom could give a rich and easy life straight away. Obviously, this made Tom more attractive in Daisy’s eyes. This
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