Owl Eyes is a minor but symbolically significant character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. He is described as a stout, middle-aged man with large, round glasses that resemble owl eyes, which symbolize wisdom and perception
. Owl Eyes is first encountered by Nick Carraway in Gatsby's library, where he is fascinated to discover that Gatsby's books are real, though unread, highlighting the superficiality of Gatsby's constructed persona and wealth
. His character represents a kind of insight or intuition, as he seems to see through the facade of Gatsby's lavish parties and the illusions surrounding Gatsby himself. However, his understanding is limited—he recognizes the appearance of authenticity but not the deeper truths behind Gatsby's identity and life
. Owl Eyes also serves as an omen of doom, associated with death and destruction, as seen when he crashes a car after one of Gatsby's parties and later is the only guest to attend Gatsby's funeral, showing genuine sympathy where others do not
. Symbolically, Owl Eyes parallels the all-seeing eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg in the novel, representing judgment and the search for truth amid illusion
. His presence underscores themes of perception, reality versus appearance, and the moral emptiness of the world Gatsby inhabits
. In summary, Owl Eyes is a perceptive observer who sees the surface truths of Gatsby's life and wealth but ultimately embodies the novel's tension between appearance and reality, as well as the loneliness and tragedy that underpin Gatsby's world
