"It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. ... It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as much as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that at your best, you hoped to convey." (p 39)
From Context:
This quote is how Nick had described Gatsby's smile after, said man revealed himself as the one and only, Jay Gatsby. The smile that was described seems to hold some sort of meaning because no smile has ever been said to "understand you" or "believe in you".
Literary Importance: ALLEGORY
As we know it, from the rumors that are spreading around about Gatsby, no one really knows who he is or where he's from or what he did. That dazzling smile of his could very well be just a mask to hide his past and all of his secrets. "Behind every sweet smile, there is a bitter sadness that no one can ever see and feel," and "Behind every smile there lies a story. Behind every story lies a problem. Behind every problem lies love, and behind love lies a broken heart." can easily be used to describe Gatsby's past life. His smile is a façade that holds a deeper meaning and masks a deeper darker side of him.
Further Exploration on this topic:
- In what way can Gatsby's smile be used as a characterization of said character?
- Note what happens with Gatsby and his feelings after he smiles throughout the book. Are the succeeding feelings positive or negative?
This quote is how Nick had described Gatsby's smile after, said man revealed himself as the one and only, Jay Gatsby. The smile that was described seems to hold some sort of meaning because no smile has ever been said to "understand you" or "believe in you".
Literary Importance: ALLEGORY
As we know it, from the rumors that are spreading around about Gatsby, no one really knows who he is or where he's from or what he did. That dazzling smile of his could very well be just a mask to hide his past and all of his secrets. "Behind every sweet smile, there is a bitter sadness that no one can ever see and feel," and "Behind every smile there lies a story. Behind every story lies a problem. Behind every problem lies love, and behind love lies a broken heart." can easily be used to describe Gatsby's past life. His smile is a façade that holds a deeper meaning and masks a deeper darker side of him.
Further Exploration on this topic:
- In what way can Gatsby's smile be used as a characterization of said character?
- Note what happens with Gatsby and his feelings after he smiles throughout the book. Are the succeeding feelings positive or negative?