The sidewalk here is described as ‘white with moonlight’. White, usually thought to be a symbol of purity and goodness, intermingling with the moonlight, which throughout the book is symbolically shown to be controlled by Gatsby’s ‘godlike’ presence. The colour white is used throughout the novel to represent innocence, and even the steps to Gatsby’s house is white, this ‘heavenly’ colour provides a clear contrast to the reader between the ‘purity’ of Gatsby’s love for daisy, and the corruption that stains both his past, and Daisy’s obvious failings. The fact that they themselves walk upon a sidewalk shows that they are, at least in their own beliefs, above even this high social standing.
The narrator later refers to the ‘quiet lights in the houses’, and that they were ‘humming out into the darkness’. Personification is used to great effect here, and describes the purity, and openness of the light, piercing the darkness. This may refer to many things, the truth piercing the darkness of lies surrounding Daisy and Gatsby and their true feelings, or simply love penetrating the social barrier shown by the contrast between old and new money. The idea of the lights ‘humming’ gives the impression of a type of song, as if the house itself now echoes with the music played in the recent party. The idea of this ‘humming’ also being ‘quiet’ however reinforces the apprehension and wariness which many characters show in their approach to the unknown figure of Gatsby.
The ‘stir and bustle among the stars’, may as it appears to imply, that the stars in the sky were restless at Gatsby’s presence, but it may also generalise the meaning of ‘stars’, and refer it instead to celebrities, and those of a higher social status. It shows that Gatsby’s actions towards Daisy have caused unrest in the higher social echelons, and that the rumours may be spreading among the heavens, even before the actual ‘kiss’ has taken place.
The ‘ladder’ that Gatsby envisions he saw on the sidewalk, and the ‘secret place above the trees’ describes the social and economical ‘ladder that Gatsby had to climb to reach his current position. The ‘secret place’ is a description of his unknown and shady occupation, while ‘above the trees’ relates back to the representation of people by nature. Throughout the book people and guests are described as leaves, and the garden is personified to accomplish this, the idea of people being trees and leaves implies that they are both fake, fragile, go wherever the wind takes them, can easily be swayed, and depend on human care, or the elements –which are also controlled by Gatsby- to survive. The idea of him being in his ‘secret place above the trees’ implies that his particular occupation is of greater importance than those on the lower rung of the ladder. The narrator states that Gatsby could ‘climb there, if he climbed alone’, this hints at an undertone of jealousy in Nick’s voice, stating that Gatsby could only achieve his full potential if he abandoned his advances on Daisy.
The narrator states that Gatsby could ‘suck on the pap of life’ and ‘gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder’. This almost mythical statement reinforces the idea of Gatsby being a godlike figure, and likens his possible success to Ambrosia, the food of the gods in ancient Greek mythology. The idea of him physically devouring this success and achievement gives him a grotesque, almost monstrous appearance, at once highlighting his inherent greed and ambition, and personal vanity in comparing himself to an ancient Greek god, or hero.
He refers to daisy as a ‘girl’, as women are commonly labelled throughout the novel. This implies that daisy herself is naïve, and is woman in body only, and not in spirit or intelligence. It also implies that she is not as developed, and perhaps civilised as Gatsby, and is like a child in her dogmatic adherence to her social ‘chains’, and her reluctance to mingle with ‘new money’.
Nick describes how Gatsby ‘wed his unutterable visions to her’. The word ‘wed’ implies that his desires involve marriage, and shows that he feels a connection to daisy through his words that cannot currently be expressed physically. His ‘visions’ being named as ‘unutterable’ hints at his shady occupation, and implies that his intentions towards daisy may not be as white and pure as the white imagery throughout the novel would have you believe.
