Louisa Andrusko Blog #8 3-24-11: Outside Reading "The Great Gatsby"

One of my favorite books of all time, The Great Gatsby, is enriched with religious symbolism and themes. The green light at the beginning of the film is both mysterious as well as intriguing. Like religion, the green light can either represent the great unknown or the hope for a great future. Gatsby’s obsession with this light, or question, controls his actions for the rest of the book. It is this journey that Gatsby embarks on that can be compared to many people’s search for truth; the basis of all religions. This concept is further apparent when Daisy, Gatsby’s love interest, is compared to the Holy Grail. Another religious symbol is the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg. He is compared to God, a superior force watching over the people below. The power Nick assigns Eckleburg is apparent through the constant references to his over-looking gazes and consequently judgements. Eckleburg as some sort of a judge is symbolic of the judgment day all people will face one day. Materialism as a form of corruption is another driving force of the book. Because people have become so materialistic and intent on obtaining the most wealth, they have strayed from their path to God. Materialism as a deterrent from God has not received much time in our class, yet the search for answers definitely has. Shown in The Seventh Seal, many people set out on journeys to obtain concrete answers or the truth. While Gatsby’s journey differs from Block’s, both of them are driven by a desire to know and understand something beyond their comprehension.