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Color Symbolism In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

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In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, colors go beyond their visual representation and become powerful symbols that illustrate different themes and characters throughout the narrative. From the vibrant yellow of Gatsby’s Rolls Royce to the haunting green light that lurks across the bay, each one of these colors holds significance. These colors serve more than a description, but emerge to be symbols, ingrained with layers of deeper meaning. These colors offer an insight into the characters, themes, and the cultural landscape throughout the roaring ’20s. Examining these colors throughout The Great Gatsby, a reader can unveil a rich undertone that takes a look into the complexities of wealth, desire, illusion, and ultimately the pursuit of the …show more content…

Throughout the beginning of the novel, yellow symbolizes the extravagance of the Jazz age, as seen throughout the multiple parties hosted by Gatsby. Chapter 3, “The lights grow brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun and now the orchestra is playing yellow cocktail music and the opera of voices pitches a key higher.” The color yellow in this context represents the opulence and the richness of Gatby’s parties. However, beneath the surface of this wealth lies a deeper meaning, being as yellow also represents the corruption and moral decay of the characters as the novel progresses. Chapter 2, “They look out of no face but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose.” We see Dr. T.J. Eckleburg consistently throughout the novel, and he serves as a reminder of the moral emptiness of society depicted throughout this novel. The color yellow in The Great Gatsby serves as a mixed symbol, representing the allure and also the shallowness of the American Dream throughout the Roaring Twenties. The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock serves as a constant reminder throughout the

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