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The Great Gatsby Motifs

Motifs and symbols tracked across analyzed chapters, with links back to chapter summaries and chapter analysis pages.

Hope/American Dream

8 occurrencespersistent

Wealth and opulence

8 occurrencespersistent

Reserved judgment

6 occurrencespersistent

Books and knowledge

5 occurrencespersistent

Gatsby's mysterious past

5 occurrencespersistent

Social class divide

4 occurrencesrecurring

Social class divide (East vs West Egg)

4 occurrencesrecurring

Bootlegging speculation

3 occurrencesrecurring

Racial superiority rhetoric

3 occurrencespersistent

Rumor and legend

3 occurrencesrecurring

Valley of ashes

3 occurrencespersistent

Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg

2 occurrencespersistent

Green Light

2 occurrencesemerging