Leaf by Niggle and Great Gatsby Similarities

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of a Brainstorm Services article to be one massive symbol. Niggle’s obsession with his painting represents us in everyday life. There are so many distractions, so many projects and in Niggles case a painting that he wanted to perfect. Many consider Niggle himself a representative of Tolkien. Tolkien’s metaphorical tree was his fantasy stories like “Lord of the Rings” or “The Hobbit”. Nelson Marie was wise to point out that just like Niggle, people surrounding Tolkien didn’t see the point of the art he created, they didn’t give it the appreciation it deserved. In the following quotes, Niggle talks about parish and especially shows this; “he did not like the man very much: partly because he was often in trouble and in need of help; and also because he did not care about the painting”, “when he looked at Niggles picture (which was seldom) he saw only green and grey patches and black lines”. Along with the allegory used here, three other symbols were disguised in each of the three places Niggle went to. There was Life here on earth which was represented by Niggles house where he worked on his painting before he was taken to go on his journey; this symbolized death. Because Tolkien was Catholic he believed in purgatory which is where you repent, Niggle experienced Purgatory when he was locked in a dark room and worked for an amount of time that was unspecified. Finally, at the end of his journey, Niggle finally reached what we as readers know to symbolize heaven. When there he met Parish once again and found his tree complete to a further extent than he had ever imagined, completed to perfection.

Finally, both stories show just how pointless all these material positions and symbols they own are. Roso Calvin explains how characters in Gatsby chase wealth but as we as readers know that didn’t end up being fulfilling in any way. They’re lives had fallen apart and some, including Gatsby, ended up without a life at all. Niggle’s story seems to represent this in a clearer, more parable-like fashion. Niggle’s life was based around his painting. He committed everything to it and this material piece of art consumed him. Niggle keeps saying that he needs to finish this painting before he goes on his journey but its as if the more he paints the more he finds there is to do. There doesn’t seem to be a true sense of fulfillment that Niggle gets from his painting. On the day he was taken we realize just how little the painting really mattered; there were countless hours put into that unfinished piece of work and it took mere minutes for it to be torn down.

In conclusion, these stories may be vastly different but it is clear there are many similarities between them. Whether it’s Gatsby’s feelings for social status or Niggles Painting, both are focused on materialistic objects of ideas. Whether it’s the colors used in “The Great Gatsby” or all the different areas Niggle traveled to on his adventure, it would take more than just a glance over these stories for the reader to recognize these symbols. Finally, both stories make painfully clear just how pointless it is to chase these worldly things. We cannot achieve fulfillment in this world through something that is of this world; we need to look beyond that. We need to find something above us to focus on achieving and commit ourselves to.

Works Cited

Scholarly Sources

F. Scott. Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby. Schribner New York, 2004

J.R.R Tolkien. Leaf by Niggle. Tales From the Perilous Realm. Harper Collins, 1997

Nelson, Marie. J.R.R Tolkien’s “Leaf by Niggle” : an allegory in transformation. TWU Alloway Library

Roso, Calvin. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald : study guide. TWU Alloway Library

Secondary Sources

http://www.shmoop.com/great-gatsby/colors-symbol.html

http://blog.prepscholar.com/the-great-gatsby-theme-materialism- money

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/reviews/leafbyniggle.htm

http://brainstorm-services.com/wcu-2005/pdf/niggle.pdf

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