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Where is foreshadowing used in The Great Gatsby?

Fitzgerald foreshadows future events numerous times throughout the novel by using motifs, imagery, and character dialogue to hint at what will happen later on in the story. In chapter 3, Nick attends one of Gatsby's extravagant parties and witnesses an accident outside of Gatsby's home. One of Gatsby's inebriated guests attempts to drive and wrecks his car into a ditch about fifty feet from Gatsby's front door. Fitzgerald foreshadows Daisy wrecking Gatsby's yellow car towards the end of the novel by depicting Owl Eye's accident outside of Gatsby's home in chapter 3.

In chapter 4, Gatsby invites Nick to eat lunch with him in New York City and introduces Nick to his shady business partner, Meyer Wolfsheim. Gatsby then tells Nick that Meyer Wolfsheim fixed the 1919 World Series, which foreshadows Gatsby's occupation as an illegal bootlegger. Later on in the novel, Tom Buchanan will announce that Jay Gatsby is a bootlegger in front of Daisy, effectively ruining Gatsby's chances to be with her. 


In chapter 7, the main characters decide to travel into the city during one of the hottest days of the summer. The hot weather foreshadows the rising tension and growing animosity between Tom and Jay Gatsby, which will result in Tom exposing Gatsby as a criminal. Fitzgerald also foreshadows the end of Daisy and Gatsby's relationship when Gatsby tells Nick, "Her [Daisy] voice is full of money" (Fitzgerald, 65). Gatsby's comment indicates that the only thing truly important to Daisy is her financial stability, which is why she will not leave Tom for Jay.

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