Surprising Symbolism in Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'

F. Scott Fitzgerald's famed book, The Great Gatsby is full of symbolism that gives most little details in the novel special meaning. One of those symbols that is rarely analyzed is the role that sports play. In many cases, Fitzgerald relates sports to characters that have cheated and deceived society. Therefore, sports play a role in which those involved tend to get what they want fraudulently. One example is the encounter Nick has with Mr. Wolfsheim in which Gatsby tells him the truth about the 1919 World Series: "Gatsby hesitated then added coolly: 'He's the man that fixed the World's Series back in 1919." (Fitzgerald 73)