Flowers
The flowers were unnecessary, for at two o’clock a greenhouse arrived from Gatsby’s, with innumerable receptacles to contain it. -Nick Carraway
Throughout the Novel...
"The flowers were unnecessary, for at two o’clock a greenhouse arrived from Gatsby’s, with innumerable receptacles to contain it. An hour later the front door opened nervously, and Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie, hurried in. He was pale, and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes." (84)
"We went up-stairs, through period bedrooms swathed in rose and lavender silk and vivid with new flowers, through dressing-rooms and poolrooms, and bathrooms with sunken baths — intruding into one chamber where a dishevelled man in pajamas was doing liver exercises on the floor." (91)
"He broke off and began to walk up and down a desolate path of fruit rinds and discarded favors and crushed flowers." (109)
"Daisy hadn’t sent a message or a flower." (174)
"We went up-stairs, through period bedrooms swathed in rose and lavender silk and vivid with new flowers, through dressing-rooms and poolrooms, and bathrooms with sunken baths — intruding into one chamber where a dishevelled man in pajamas was doing liver exercises on the floor." (91)
"He broke off and began to walk up and down a desolate path of fruit rinds and discarded favors and crushed flowers." (109)
"Daisy hadn’t sent a message or a flower." (174)
Relevance
Flowers are used in the novel as a form of show. Gatsby's efforts to impress Daisy are present within the many flowers he gives to her. As a symbol, the flowers show how Gatsby's attempts to attract Daisy fall away, just like flowers wither with time. They represent his relationship with Daisy. The flowers have no true strength other than to look beautiful. Gatsby's attraction was more superficial. He was interested in the appearance in order to win Daisy. However, in the end, the beauty of their relationship was never reached and it withered away as Gatsby died.
Reference (Pre-1925)
"We have as yet hardly spoken of the infant; that little creature, whose innocent life had sprung, by the inscrutable decree of Providence, a lovely and immortal flower, out of the rank luxuriance of a guilty passion. How strange it seemed to the sad woman, as she watched the growth, and the beauty that became every day more brilliant, and the intelligence that threw its quivering sunshine over the tiny features of this child!" (The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne)
"The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8)
"Like a flower he comes forth and withers He also flees like a shadow and does not remain." (Job 14:2)
"The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8)
"Like a flower he comes forth and withers He also flees like a shadow and does not remain." (Job 14:2)