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Corruption In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

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In the thrilling novel The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it depicts the dreams and reality of The Jazz Age through the major characters. During that period of time, the American Dream, social status, and money were all important and powerful to people. Despite a time of corruption, there was hope to achieve all of that and become successful. The author uses colors throughout the story to develop a theme of the American Dream, identify the character’s true personalities, and distinguish social class and its corruption. One of the reasons Fitzgerald uses colors as a symbolism, is to create and develop a theme with the American Dream. In the novel, the color green holds a very significant meaning that the author tries to exhibit. …show more content…

In this novel, money holds a great value for the characters and the significance of the story. Everything revolves around social class and money- specifically old money. Gold represents old money and corruption. One of the characters who tries to fit in with old money and is a result of corruption, is Gatsby. In the middle of the book, Gatsby talks to Nick about arranging a meeting with Daisy. Nick describes Gatsby, “An hour later the front door opened nervously, and Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold colored tie, hurried in,” (84, Fitzgerald). Gatsby showing up with a gold colored tie when he is about to meet Daisy for the first time in five years, is symbolic. When Gatsby is associated with gold or yellow, he is usually trying to fit in with old money; He wears a gold tie when he meets Daisy, his extravagant parties are sometimes described with yellow objects (cocktails), and his car is yellow. In result of all of this, it is what leads him to his death later. Gatsby’s yellow car and his death are used to connect to the other meaning of gold- which is corruption. Although he earns his new wealth, he simply doesn’t belong to old money because he comes from a poor background. The author exemplifies the social status Gatsby wants to belong to compared to the one he actually belongs to. He distinguishes social statuses and its corruption by using the color

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