Why does Fitzgerald emphasize the Heat?

Why does Fitzgerald emphasize the Heat?

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, images, metaphors and symbolism take on a rather important role. In chapter 7 of the book, conditions of the heat and its effect on the train passengers were emphasized to project succeeding events in the story. In that particular scene, it was intended to foreshadow the following events in the hotel room.

So why does Fitzgerald emphasize the heat? It is because heat can be used to symbolize any intense emotion. If you read the book, you would notice how the passengers on the train had varying emotional reactions to the heat that they were experiencing on board ‘š some were irritable while others were feeling helpless. In more figurative terms, intense heat can be associated to the intensity of emotions such as anger or passion.

As symbolism plays a major role in this novel’s literary merit, Fitzgerald displays the superior use of heat to signify and support the motile emotions of the characters in the story. As the story of The Great Gatsby unfolds, you will realize how heat turns out to be the anti-thesis of Jay Gatsby, one of the major characters in the story. Heat as it turns out was a symbolism for his nemesis or retribution. As he carried himself in his cool stride and demeanor, the audience should have guess that underneath he was scheming and cooking up a plan to restore a forgotten past through a heated showdown.

As the heat becomes rather oppressive during the climatic scenes in the novel, Gatsby and other leading characters in the story head to town to heat up their plan in certainly the warmest day of the summer. It is at this point in the story where the tension and climax peaks and more conflicts in the story unfold.