The Great Gatsby

What is the symbolic meaning of the following statement about gatsby's boyhood?

"The most grotesque and fantastic conceits haunted him in his bed at night. A universe of ineffable gaudiness spun itself out in his brain while the clock ticked on the wash-stand and the moon soaked with the wet light his tangled clothes upon the floor."

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Last updated by jill d #170087
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You really need to look at this quote in context. This small portion doesn't give you a feel for what you need to analyze.

What haunted Gatsby were the things he wanted from life; the things he wanted to accomplish. As a young man, Gatsby was haunted by "the most grotesque and fantastic conceits," symbolize his desire to attain what he considers the American Dream, but he's fighting against time and nature (symbolized by the clock and the moon respectively).

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The Great Gatsby