Imagery of Europe
The novel begins with a lovely but difficult journey through Europe, from France to London, then after some time in London, back to American Harlem.
Images of downfall
The beauty and charisma of Harlem definitely comes with a cost. For instance, Jake's most compelling love interest has been reduced to a life of prostitution. Zeddy is as ambiguous and frustrated as Jake, and the Haitian on the bus tries to overdose on drugs. A life in Harlem is not an easy life, but it is a vibrant life.
Images of crime
Many depictions of crime occur throughout the novel: desertion, illegal immigration, gun violence, drug usage, prostitution—throughout the entire novel. The novel suggests that this is just what life is like in certain communities, especially the historically disenfranchised and mistreated communities of black people in the early 20th century.
Black beauty and sexuality
When Jake loves the prostitute, that's noble, even though most modern people wouldn't conceive of it that way, but Jake knows something about Felice. He knows that life is hard for black people especially in Jazz age Harlem, and underneath her bleak reality is a vibrant, powerful, sensual, beautiful woman. He sees that because he knows it about himself. This is the type of character development that defines the Harlem Renaissance.
