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What Does Batman Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

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Bruce Wayne once said, “As a man, I'm flesh and blood, I can be ignored, I can be destroyed; but as a symbol... as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting”. Symbolism is used in literature to create a deeper connection or meaning for the audience. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a deeper meaning is shown through the green light on Daisy’s dock and the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. In Batman Begins by David Goyer, bats and Thomas Wayne’s Stethoscope bring out a deeper meaning. Therefore, symbolism is prominent in The Great Gatsby and Batman Begins to show deeper meaning. The most important symbol to show deeper meaning in The Great Gatsby is the green light on Daisy’s dock. The green light is presented as mysterious. …show more content…

T.J. Eckleburg. During the second time seeing the eyes, they are presented as a warning for Nick. This is seen when the group is on their way to Manhattan and they stop for gas and the narrator says, “Then as Doctor T.J. Eckleburg's faded eyes came into sight down the road, I remembered Gatsby's caution about gasoline” (Fitzgerald, 99). In this they end up stopping at Wilsons garage to fill up on gas and he talks about how he has found out that Myrtle is having an affair. Myrtle sees Tom in the yellow car and assumes it is his, so the next time she sees it she goes to run out to it to stop it but gets hit and dies. The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg are believed to be the eyes of God or watchful presence by some of the characters. This is seen when Wilson is looking out his window to the billboard and says to Michaelis, “God knows what you've been doing, everything you've been doing. You may fool me but you can't fool God!” (Fitzgerald, 131). It means Myrtles lies could have gone past him without any consequences but when “God” figured this out she could not have gone unpunished which is the reason Wilson believes she was murdered. Therefore, the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg bring out a deeper meaning throughout The Great …show more content…

In the beginning of the movie Bruce fears bats from a bad first encounter with them. This is caused by him running away for Rachel after he takes an arrowhead from her, so he then goes and hides on a boarded up well which collapses causing Bruce to fall down it scaring some bats causing them to attack him. When the bats attacked him, he develops a phobia of bats, that is until he becomes the Batman. Later in the movie Bruce’s fear disappears. This is a result of his training with Ra's Al Ghul and the league of shadows because they make become one with his fear by using them in his training. This technique helps him overcome his fear and become what he feared, Batman. He now inflicts that fear on those who create crime. Screenwriter, David Freeman says, “This type of symbol usually falls into the category of what I call ‘Character Deepening Techniques’, for it helps give a character a feeling of emotional depth”. Hence, bats are a great symbol to create a deeper meaning that is used in Batman

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