Much like that in Shakespeare’s work, Fitzgerald uses the weather as a motif in the novel to characterize the moods of the situations and thus the weather in Great Gatsby undoubtedly reflects the emotions and narrative of the story and therefore creates the scene. Indeed the weather descriptions works like a barometer, reflecting Gatsby’s feelings. When Gatsby tends to be nervous or unhappy, it rains; when he becomes happy or excited, it shines; when he calms down at night, the weather then is clear and quiet. This can be viewed in Chapter 1 Nick’s description of Spring, the leaves coming on the trees and the sun shining, he states "...that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again..”. Again in Chapter 5 the element of weather is used, upon Gatsby’s and Daisy’s reunion beginning in the pouring rain representing the tensions and awkwardness between the two creating a melancholy scene. This use of weather reveals Gatsby’s inner world feelings. For instance, “The day agreed upon was pouring rain.” Gatsby hasn’t met Daisy for almost five years. He doesn’t have any idea of how Daisy would react when they meet each other so his inner world is struggling. However as their love reawakens “After half an hour, the sun shone again.” The weather clears as does Gatsby’s struggle “he literally glowed.”
Towards the conclusion of the novel we see Gatsby’s climactic confrontation with Tom, as tensions rise as does the climate. The occurrence happens on the hottest day of the summer, under the blistering sun the heat intensifying the tensions between the two. Also present in Chapter 7 is Gatsby’s hope of attaining his love for Daisy their relationship happens to peak on the hottest day of the summer thus in hand their love is at the greatest point. In turn Gatsby’s hope is the highest it has been all summer.
Chapter 8 concludes the use of weather in the novel as the weather dramatically shifts from summer to autumn Gatsby’s hope of love with Daisy falls negatively downhill thus Autumn represents the death of Gatsby’s dreams, however by still clinging to his hopes Gatsby floats in the pool, a happier pastime of summer, despite a palpable chill in the air a symbolic attempt to stop and restore his relationship with Daisy in 1917, and thus is killed by Wilson on the first day of Autumn.