Gatsby In Relation To Time

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Gatsby in Relation to Time In this passage of The Great Gatsby, author F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the clock on the wall as a symbol for Gatsby and Daisy's relationship. Fitzgerald also gives Gatsby qualities which resemble that of a clock in order to highlight his true character trait, his true love for Daisy. Fitzgerald uses the way in which Gatsby is standing to symbolize a grandfather clock. He writes, "Gatsby, his hands still in his pockets, was reclining against the mantelpiece in a strained counterfeit of perfect ease, even of boredom. ... frightened but graceful, on the edge of a stiff chair (86)." When one thinks of a grandfather clock, he/she thinks tall, still, and always watching. By having Gatsby stand up against the wall the way he his, with his head tilted back and his eyes on Daisy, one can see the image of a grandfather clock. Why this is important is because if one knows how a grandfather clock works, then he/she would know that it needs to be rewound after a specific amount of time to keep it going. In Gatsby's case, this "rewinding" of himself could be every party he has or every year that goes by that he doesn't see Daisy. The clock in this scene symbolizes the time that has past since Gatsby and Daisy officially met last. I say officially because Daisy says something to the tune of her seeing someone who reminded her of Gatsby, but she didn't say aything to the person. Gatsby has an important quote here when he says, "I'm sorry about the clock (86)." His quote is important because since the clock symbolizes their relationship, it is now very old. Basically Gatsby is saying that he is sorry that it has been so long since they've seen each other. Nick adds to Gatsby's guilt when he says, "It's an old clock (87)." Gatsby knows that it has been a very long time since he and Daisy made contact; in fact, he knows it down to the month. In response
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