Question

As in much of Shakespeare's work, the weather in The Great Gatsby matches the emotional and narrative tone of the story. Gatsby and Daisy's reunion begins amid a pouring rain, proving awkward and melancholy. Gatsby's climactic confrontation with Tom occurs on the hottest day of the summer. Wilson kills Gatsby on the first day of autumn. How does the weather symbolize the events and emotions in the novel?

a) Rain represents happiness and reunions
b) Hot summer symbolizes conflict and tension
c) Autumn signifies renewal and hope
d) Weather has no symbolic meaning in the novel

Answer 1

The weather in 'The Great Gatsby' symbolizes the emotional and narrative tone of the story, with the hot summer days reflecting conflict and tension, accurately aligning with option b).

Step-by-step explanation:

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, weather is not a mere backdrop but an important symbolic element that mirrors the emotional states and events of the novel. The pouring rain during Gatsby and Daisy's reunion does not symbolize happiness, but rather underscores the awkwardness and melancholy of the moment, pointing to their doomed love; hence option a) is incorrect.

The hottest day of the summer during Gatsby's confrontation with Tom reflects the flaring tempers and escalating tensions, making option b) an accurate representative of the story's symbolism. Furthermore, Wilson kills Gatsby on the first day of autumn, an event which does not symbolize renewal or hope, but rather marks the tragic conclusion of Gatsby's dreams and life, making option c) incorrect. Therefore, the correct option is b) Hot summer symbolizes conflict and tension.