Great Gatsby 3

1. What is the purpose of the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg?
       The purpose of these eyes is probably  to symbolize the eyes of God watching with a disaproving glare over the valley of ashes. The eyes are compared to God at one point in the story, but the have a much greater impact than stated in the text. The positioning of the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg over the valley of ashes are a symbol that God is witness to the sadness and selfishness that surrounds the characters in the story. These eyes presided over the climax of this book as well, and that was probably a symbol for the negative outcome of Gatsby because his immoral act was witnessed by God.

2. Why does no one show up at Gatsby's funeral?
       The attendance at Gatsby's funeral is so pathetic that one cannot help but wonder what Fitzgerald meant by such it. I believe that it is a symbol that descirbes how no one really knew the James Gats that Nick and the other three or four attenders knew. This pushes the idea that the members of the upper class society falsely portray themselves to the outside world to such a degree that their true selves are completely masked. The lack of attendance at Gatsby's funeral shows how little people really know each other in this society that demands the adoption of such a rigid social image. The fact that it was a funeral also gives the impression that this is an extremely sad aspect of their lives.

3. Did Fitsgerald use Gatsby as a reflection of his own experiences?
       With a bit of knowledge about the life of Fitzgerald, it could be argued that Fitzgerald wrote himself into this book as both Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby. Nick is obviously Fitzgerald because he is so far removed from the story that he seems almost to become an aparation observing these events rather than a person. However, the resemblance between Gatsby and Fitzgerald's past are so striking that it is easy to see how it coudl have been purposful. Gatsby, like Fitzgerald, was spurned by a wealthy girl because he had no money of his own. He desperately tried to get her back through guady displays of grandeur (Fitzgerald had many delusions of grandeur throughout his early adulthood), but he, just like Fitzgerald, eventually fails. The fact that Gatsby not only fails but is killed in the process shows Fitzgerald admitting that his chance of ever getting that girl that he loved is forever gone.

4. What is the purpose of the title "The Great Gatsby"?
       I believe that the title Great gives the reader a glimpse into Fitzgerald's values and why he belives that Gatsby is great despite his failure and morally questionable actions. Gatsby, despite hardshipa and endless oposition, managed to do what Fitzgerald could not, which is rise above his lower class origins to reach an extremely high social status. He also, against all odds, opposed one of the more powerful members of that society, Tom, and fought for Daisy with all his heart. I believe that Fitzgerald valued this about Gatsby and gave him the title of great to recognize his accomplishment and perserverence. Gatsby, even as he died, continued to "beat on ... against the current", and, therefore, deserves his title.