“Color, rather than shape, is more closely related to emotion” (Katz). David Katz, ceramic sculptor from Indiana, said this when discussing the importance of colors. The point that Katz is trying to portray through this quote is while colors could be affiliated with shapes, color should be used more to emblemize emotions. Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the contrast of colors to symbolize the shattering realities behind the dreams.
First of all, the color gray is frequently referenced throughout The Great Gatsby. "But above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg" (Fitzgerald 23). The valley of ashes is where gray often is referred to. Fitzgerald used gray to symbolize a dullness and a lack of
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Shining gold is used to represent wealth and reputation. "Fitzgerald was enabled to make this discovery because he was almost preternaturally aware of the reality that gold lent to the play of appearances that he loved so much” (Wyly 6). Fitzgerald loved to use colors as symbols. He knew what the effect of them had on the mood of the book. Gold was used so often in The Great Gatsby because it represents something so important back in that time; wealth. "With Jordan's slender golden arm resting in mine, we descended the steps and sauntered about the garden." In this quote, a metaphor is being used. Nick describes Jordan's arm as golden, which points to her high reputation, almost as if he has a trophy. As readers continue to read the book, it is realized that Jordan is not a trophy after all. She cheats, lies, and is unremorseful. Since gold represents wealth and reputation, it also symbolizes the corrupt dream of materialism and is not what actually matters. For example, Gatsby has all the wealth a person could possibly want or need, but his real dream that he wants to achieve is