Color Symbolism In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby: Color Symbolization

The Great Gatsby, originally published on April 10th, 1925 and written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. A literary device used thoroughly throughout the entire book were based on simple colors. These “colors” represented themes and symbols, they were not accidently placed, the author purposely used colors to enhance the book in our minds and create more of a visual. The most used colors were; green, gold/yellow, white, red, grey and blue. Green representing the future, vitality and exploration. Gold representing money while yellow represents corruptness, moral decay, falsehood, and death. White representing beauty, innocence, wealth, in other words; morally unblemished or honorable. Red is used to respectively depict

It stands for an array of meanings throughout the reading. For starters Fitzgerald mainly used it in a “not faded” sort of way. For example: “a green old age”, or for faith. Another example includes; “I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light" (p.25) where Buchanan’s home is supposed to be is where this “green light” illuminates the sea from. No matter the culture, the color green is the color of spring, which symbolizes assurance, vitality and faith. In The Great Gatsby, the green color runs throughout the whole novel, and it is closely related to Gatsby’s short life. So it symbolizes Gatsby’s original dream and hope, his ceaseless pursuit of his dream and even the corruption of his dream and life. The green color is closely associated with the green light occurred in the novel, which is closely related to Gatsby and the whole theme. The green light burning all night occurs three times in the

Throughout the novel it can be seen that the most common color used throughout Gatsby’s life is yellow. Yellow is the color of gold, which symbolizes money, materialism, and high social position. He uses the color yellow to dress himself and decorate his house with to show that he has been a member of high class all in order to win Daisy back. On the other hand yellow represents autumn leaves, symbolizing decay, death and destructive power. Before Gatsby was shot by Wilson it was depicted that he refused the chauffeur’s assistance and he disappeared among the yellowing trees in a moment, indicating his death. Also, Gatsby’s yellow car not only ended Mrs. Wilson’s life, it also led the the end of his too. Lastly, with Daisy’s help, this color also indicates the end of the hope for Gatsby’s “American Dream”. White. White occurs a couple hundred times or so throughout the book and it is closely related to Daisy’s character. White represents anything immaculate and full of beauty, it symbolizes nobleness and purity. Daisy wears a white dress the first time she met Jay and the first time she met Nick in the East Egg. At age eighteen she possessed a white car which made her look charming in the eyes of young officers. Lastly, white also implies that even though the upper class is quite wealthy and healthy in their material life, they are bad off and lost in their