Weather

=__Weather in the 'Great Gatsby': __=

====As we all know, weather in literature is commonly used to express the feelings of certain characters as well as setting an atmosphere and mood in which the characters are settled. Weather is a very common motif and is presented throughout the novel, even though it is exposed regularly there are many different aspects of it for us to incorporate. Weather represents the emotions/feelings of the characters and plays an important role in both the disintegration and upbringing in their relationships; Nick's first interaction with Tom, Gatsby and Daisy's reunion, their trip to New York, Gatsby's cold-blooded murder and finally the protagonists funeral. ====

Weather is a motif, and is commonly used to set the mood and atmosphere of the current situation.

"And so it happened that on a warm windy evening i drove over to East Egg to see two old friends..." (Page 10)


 * The warm atmosphere provides us with a comfortable and joyful setting, foreshadowing a pleasant re-union with his cousin.
 * The wind on the other hand contrasts with the warmth and gives us a sense of confusion, not knowing what we are going to expect in the re-uniting as Nick says: "two old friends whom I scarcely knew at all."
 * Providing this i believe that Nick has both of these emotions flowing through him, he is both excited and nervous.

"We talked for a few minutes on the sunny porch." (Page 12)


 * The brightness that Nick describes could help amplify the beauty of the Buchanans' mansion, as after this quote Tom continues on to say: "I've got a nice place here"
 * Because Nick is so close to Daisy now his excitement has grown stronger, therefore the mood has gotten a lot more intense, and is now sunny rather than warm.
 * The coming out of the sun could also represent that Nick is about to emerge into his new life at West Egg among with the beginning of his relationship with his cousin Daisy.

"A breeze blew through the room..." (Page 12)


 * Although the atmosphere is sunny outside, the stormy weather inside the house represents how superficial Tom and Daisy are among with the rest of the wealthy people in general.
 * The breeze blew around the room giving an awkward sensation as he is alone with Tom.

The droplets of rain and 'twinkle-bells' of sunshine help foreshadow the both awkward and later joyful re-union of Gatsby and his love Daisy.

"The day agreed upon was pouring rain"


 * The rain was intensely pouring which helps foreshadow the extremely awkward re-union of Gatsby and Daisy.
 * Other than bringing out the atmosphere, it also brings out Gatsby's inner emotions at this current scene, which we can easily tell is nervousness as Nick describes him to have: "dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes."
 * Surely enough when Gatsby actually meets Daisy it is extremely awkward: " For half a minute there wasn't a sound"
 * This emotion contrasts with his usual "great" self, now that he is meeting the love of his life after 5 years of war Fitzgerald brings out Gatsby's true self.

"When he realized what I was talking about, that there were twinkle-bells of sunshine in the room..." (Page 94)


 * The 'twinkle-bells' of sunshine help lighten up the atmosphere and relieves the awkward atmosphere of its tension.
 * No longer reticent, Gatsby and Daisy now talk as if they've know each other well for years.
 * The rain's end symbolizes that the initially awkward situation is now cleared up by the bright sunlight.

"Then I went out of the room and down the marble steps into the rain, leaving then there together" (Page 102)


 * Although Daisy and Gatsby are having such a joyful time inside, when Nick steps out into the rain it foreshadows the disintegration of Daisy and Gatsby's relationship.
 * Other than Daisy and Gatsby's emotions, Nick at this point could be feeling very melancholy as he was left out of their conversations and was utterly ignored from when Gatsby and Dasiy truly re-united.

The excruciating heat during their trip to New York helps to both foreshadow and amplify the extreme tension of the argument that occurs between Gatsby and Tom at the 'Plaza Hotel'.

"The room was large and stifling, and though it was already four o'clock, opening windows admitted only a gust of hot shrubbery from the Park." (Page 133)


 * The increasing heat doesn't only represent the transition from spring to summer, it coincides with Daisy and Gatsby growing love as well as Tom and Gatsby's growing tension.
 * The heat is said to be 'stifling', which foreshadows that something uncomfortable as well as intense is going to happen (the argument).
 * Fitzgerald uses the time to note that it really is the transition from spring to summer.

"From the ballroom beneath, muffled and suffocating chords were drifting up on hot air waves." (Page 139)


 * The muffled and suffocating chords represent how tense the atmosphere is around the characters.
 * Especially because this is the climax of the book and Gatsby's background is finally noted out to everyone the heat is even more noticeable and has a larger affect on the characters.

"Myrtle Wilson's body wrapped in a blanket and then in another blanket as though she suffered from a chill in the hot night..." (Page 146)


 * The heat here is actually quite comforting as it protects Myrtle from the cold.
 * It also help present Tom's frustration and anger

Weather during Gatsby's downfall and aftermath is presented in many different aspects as Fitzgerald adds both a more positive and deceitful meaning to it.

"The night had made a sharp difference in the weather and there as an autumn flavor in the air."


 * Earlier in the book Jordan described autumn to be crisp and chill, this foreshadows the event of something terrible.
 * In this quote Fitzgerald uses the word 'sharp', he is using decisive words to represent how quick the killing is going to be.
 * The atmosphere set by this quote is quite grim, and because autumn is the season where everything falls down it sets a perfect scene for a killing.

"A small gust of wind that scarcely corrugated the surface was enough to disturb its accidental course with its accidental burden."


 * The small gust of wind symbolizes the loss of Gatsby's life
 * It also symbolizes the realization that Daisy is blown away from Gatsby and he will never have her.

"Blessed are the dead that the rain falls on"


 * It is raining during Gatsby's funeral, which brings a melancholy atmosphere.
 * Like his first encounter with Daisy, it brings out an awkward sensation between the few people who attended his funeral.
 * In contrast to that the rain could be cleansing Gatsby's body.
 * This spiritual cleansing corresponds well to Gatsby's religious beliefs