What is an example of smell imagery in The Great Gatsby?

Answer 1

F. Scott Fitzgerald used the imagery of colors in his masterpiece The Great Gatsby. The colors are used very frequently as symbols, and the hues create atmosphere in different scenes of the book. White is a clean and fresh color, but the author shows how it can be tainted as well. Next, yellow illustrates the downfall of moral standards of the people of West Egg. Lastly, green, the most dominant color in the book, symbolizes wealth and Gatsby's unattainable dream.

To Gatsby, Daisy represents innocence and purity; however, Fitzgerald uses different shades of white to veil her corruption. Daisy is solely described as "dressed in white", she powders her face white, and she mentions her "white girlhood". The millionaire describes this perfect princess figure to be "high in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl." On the other hand, Fitzgerald portrays the way of life in West Egg as a wretched place when "four solemn men dressed in suits are walking along the sidewalk with a stretcher on which lies a drunken woman in a white evening dress. Her hand, which dangles over the side, sparkles cold with jewels. Gravely the men turn it at a house - the wrong house. But no one knows the woman's name, and no one cares."

Yellow stands out as a symbol of corruption and decay. Materialism has corrupted the citizens of East and West Egg because they center everything on money. When Gatsby entertains this wealthy class, the orchestra plays "yellow cocktail music". Even Gatsby believes that he can win Daisy back with his money - thus he is described as wearing a "caramel-colored suit" when he lies about his past to Nick. The most important symbol, however, is Gatsby's car. The car becomes the main topic of conversation among the townspeople after it kills Myrtle and a witness specified this "death car" to be yellow.

Fitzgerald used green most frequently to symbolize Gatsby's love for Daisy Buchanan. Daisy rejected Gatsby because "rich girls don't marry poor boys", so her philosophy compelled him to become wealthy. Gatsby described Daisy's voice as "full of money" and he acquired millions of green dollars in the hope that Daisy would love him again. Also, Gatsby moved into his mansion so that he could live near the Buchanans, and at night the millionaire watches "a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been at the end of a dock." To Gatsby, this green light at Daisy's house symbolized hope and a chance to relive the past with his dream girl.

In The Great Gatsby, colors are employed throughout the pages to convey impressionistic, but important, images to the reader. White changes from an honest and sinless color to represent the corruption of the wealthy. Yellow symbolizes the unethical standards and death of this class as well. However, the most important color in this book, green, is the embodiment of hope and the American dream Gatsby hopes to attain with money.

Answer 2

The Great Gatsby takes place in 1922 in New York, mainly on Long Island. Nick and Gatsby live on the "West Egg" which is just the island on the West. Daisy and Tom live on "East Egg." They do venture out into the Valley of Ashes, which is the area between the island and New York City.

Answer 3

In chapter 5, Daisy comes to tea at Nick's house, when Gatsby "unexpectedly" visits. Gatsby takes Daisy to his house almost to seemingly compare it to Nick's house. Daisy admired the mansion as she "...admired the gardens, the sparkling odor of jonquils and the frothy odor of hawthorn and plum blossoms and the pale gold odor of kiss-me-at-the-gate." (pg 96)

Answer 4

During chapter 4 of The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby embellishes his past to Nick Carraway, he gives unrealistic stories of his privileged childhood and courageous adventures. Meyer Wolfshiem plants the idea in Nick CarrawayÃ?s head that Jay GatsbyÃ?s inheritance could have been gained through piracy and coordinated corruption.

Answer 5

In The Great Gatsby, smell imagery is used to describe the scent of yellowing books in Gatsby's library. Fitzgerald writes, "I was looking at an elegant young rough-neck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. Some time before he introduced himself I’d got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care."

Answer 6

Fitzgerald describing the instruments that are playing during a party is an example of a sensory detail in the Great Gatsby. He also mentions bursts of laughter, which is another example.