Great Gatsby is one of the novels written by Scott Fitzgerald

Great Gatsby is one of Scott Fitzgerald's novels that focuses on the gaiety of specific characters. The car and driving are two of the book's main themes. The automobile was becoming important at the time the book was first written. This seems to be a pivotal point in the book. Fitzgerald's poetry is influenced by the automobile and it is full of metaphors that portray the role of automobiles. As a result, explaining the significance of automobiles as portrayed in the novel, why there are many cars crashes in the novel, and analyzing the position of material artifacts would be important. Reasons Cars are Important in lives of the Character (Function the Automobile Serve both symbolically and literally)The car is important in the lives of the characters as it serves as a symbol of status. Also, it is imperative to state that cars had a different meaning for each character. They signify one’s wealth and new-found freedom. For Gatsby car represents affluence and materialism. As the author notes, “a rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and supper-boxes and toolboxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns” (Fitzgerald 68). Clearly, this shows his class and materialism associated with it. Further, characters with cars are shown to have the ability to obtain whatever they want. Gatsby’s car is yellow and not the regular black which indicates the ability to use his wealth to attain whatever he needs in life. For Tom, who own a vast number of cars utilizes them as a reminder of his past. They are a symbol of how materialistic and consumerist he is as he believes that having enough things including cars will make him happy. It is clear that he is trying to look for happiness in nice cars and this is the reason he had his car painted blue to make it appear better than others although it is cheap as the rest. Also, it is important to indicate that Nick points out that he is “glad that the sight of Gatsby’s splendid car was included in their somber holiday” (Fitzgerald 143). He says this to some of the mourners. Further, he states that black people feel changed at the sight of Gatsby’s cars. Evidently, this demonstrates that ownership of car represents social status for both occupant and possessor.Reasons there are Many car Accidents in the NovelThere are numerous accidents described in the novel which makes it dark and unhappy and symbolizes death. The many crashes bring out the aspect of careless on the part of most of the characters responsible as well as victims. Throughout the book, there are several representations of many dark events and one can be identified in the line that states that “so we drove on towards death through the cooling twilights” (Fitzgerald 143). Fitzgerald uses this word to bring out the association between cars and death primary due to carelessness and irresponsibility of drivers. For instance, Nick attends one of the Gatsby’s parts, and witness and drunk driver crash into a ditch. In particular, this happens because such caliber of people does not accept or take responsibility for the accident. In a different party, a guest runs over several drunken men with his car. The issue of carelessness comes up when Jordan collides with Workman and Nick criticize her driving, and this is where the subject emerges from, Jordan goes on to say that it takes two to cause a crush He asks ‘Suppose you met somebody just as careless as yourself.’ ‘I hope I never will,’ she answered. ‘I hate careless people. That’s why I like you’ (Fitzgerald 58). Clearly, this indicates that Jordan has irresponsible driving behavior because she expects others to keep out of her way as she drives on the road. As such, the audience can evidently realize that careless the reason there are many accidents in the book is that careless people collide with one another as none is willing to move away.A good example of drivers’ carelessness and irresponsibility that leads to the occurrence of accidents is an incident that leads to the death of Myrtle. The accident happened when Myrtle assumes Jordan is Tom’s wife and Tom is driving. Therefore, she runs to the road after the accident Daisy does not cease speeding which is a clear indication of the irresponsibility of action Jordan takes. On the other hand, Gatsby plays a role in covering up for Daisy rather than assist her to take responsibility.Material ObjectsDesire filled by acquisition of Material among the CharactersMost of the characters aspiration involve trying to gain status and wealth. Through the desire to have this dream come true become significant of cars. In the book, Gatsby owns countless cars in which one is Rolls-Royce that the author describes as “It was a rich cream color, bright and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of wind-shields that mirrored a dozen suns” (Fitzgerald .33). Clearly, this is to display wealthy status achieved.Further, it is imperative to note that material possession acted as a vehicle to various form of freedom. Individuals felt empowered to do whatever they wanted once they attained high social status in the society. Cars were seen as a status of wealth as well as a sense of new found freedom. In other words, the novel portrays a new social freedom enjoyed once a person acquired better status as this means the ability to go to place.Materialism is portrayed as bad when one becomes obsessed with shows of wealth. Myrtle would be one if the characterized that display this aspect. Her living room is crowded with tapestried furniture. She even adopts a different persona among her guests, and her obsession with shows of wealth becomes more violently affected moment by moment. As she expands her room becomes smaller until she appears to revolve on a noisy, creaking pivot. Clearly, this is not a valid way of approaching life. Further, Daisy is trapped in a loveless marriage because she values money. Therefore, a dream dependent on materialism alone is weary. Materialism is good only when it is less likely to cause detrimental effects.ConclusionIndeed, Great Gatsby brings out a clear representation of car as a symbol of class distinction due to the social status that comes with it. Also, it has been identified that different characters strive to gain social status through the acquisition of cars that are better than those of other people. However, Fitzgerald also depicts the numerous accidents that happen in the book due to characters’ carelessness and irresponsibility.Works CitedFitzgerald, Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.