The Color Blue In The Great Gatsby

One prominent color that is often associated with Gatsby’s character within the novel is green. When Gatsby reunites with his beloved Daisy he points out, “‘You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock’” (Fitzgerald 72). This comment exhibits Gatsby’s ambition as the green light symbolizes his dream of wealth to obtain his expired love with Daisy. The color green also connotes money and the rebirth of nature. For Gatsby these ideas tangle together in his struggling pursuit of Daisy. Similar to the ceaseless green light, Gatsby is persistent in his obsession with recapturing the past as he believes material possessions will provide him with renewal. This concept is revealed to the reader since the presence of

The narrator describes the other-worldly atmosphere of Gatsby’s parties by stating, “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars” (Fitzgerald 32). This vivid description creates an image of Gatsby’s boisterous party surrounded by noise and a spirited crowd. However, Fitzgerald’s word choice of the color blue contrasts with the scene since blue often resembles tranquility and sensitivity. Gatsby exudes a similar displacement in the energetic setting as he remains a lonely observer and present only for the possibility of alluring Diasy, his sole dream. Furthermore, connecting Gatsby to blue exposes that his inner heart pulls away from the lavish setting, as he can never truly merge with the high society or this fantasy. When seemingly suffocated by his loneliness, the blue tone or /aura represents Gatsby’s vulnerable thoughts and dreams. Therefore, Fitzgerald utilizes the color blue to break the happy surface level of the scene and transport the reader into Gatsby’s internal

Yellow appears throughout the novel often in times when Gatsby is flaunting his wealth. For example, Gatsby’s car is later described by witnesses of Myrtle’s death as a “big yellow car. New” (Fitzgerald 107). This description demonstrates the outward appearance to which Gatsby works tirelessly to allude, and provides the reader with an external perspective of Gatsby’s persona. The yellow car furthermore manifests itself as a token of Gatsby’s facade that he ornamentsed with his lavish possessions. The reference to yellow highlights this relationship since the color may appear as an artificial version of gold, the color of pure money. Gatsby’s artificiality is shown when Nick confronts Gatsby about the accident and he states, “‘[Daisy] be all right to-morrow’” (Fitzgerald 111). The remark reveals that Gatsby lacks empathy for the casualties caused by the yellow car and instead remains persistent in his desire for Daisy. After years of corrupt behavior posing as a high-class individual, Gatsby seems consumed by both his ambition and carefully curated facade. Covering himself in flamboyant yellow once provided comfort but ultimately the conspicuous color guides Wilson to kill Gatsby. This association Gatsby has with the color yellow, which represents his greed, leads to his death and terminal downfall. For these reasons, the connotation