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What Does The Color White Represent In The Great Gatsby

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Throughout The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald one may see the theme of disillusionment. Many people, when simply perusing the book, do not fully grasp all of its hidden meanings. The colors seen in The Great Gatsby add a new layer of depth to the theme of disillusionment. Some of these colors are white, green, and gold or silver. The color white may seem unimportant to some, but the added meaning one may see when he or she considers the depth the color white adds to the novel is astronomical. The color white represents innocence. The color white is used to reference the character Daisy throughout the book. Her name is linked to the color white, because a daisy is a white flower. F. Scott Fitzgerald mentions that in Daisy used to drive a white vehicle. Jordan and Daisy wore white dresses. “They were both in white, and their dresses were rippling and flutteing . . .”(Fitzgerald 8) The color white adds more depth to the theme of disillusionment, because white implies that Daisy is naive and innocent. Even though white implies that Daisy is naive, one may pick up an undertone throughout the book which makes one consider that Daisy may actually be smart and capable. …show more content…

The color green is associated with hope. In one part of the book Nick sees Gatsby reaching towards a green light across the bay. “. . . he stretched out his arms toward the dark water . . . I glanced seaward - and distinguished nothing except a single green light,” (Fitzgerald 20-21) This green light is at Daisy and Tom’s dock. This green light represents Gatsby’s hope that one day Daisy will be with him. The theme of disillusionment can be seen in this seen in the aspect of how the green light, Daisy, may seem in reach but Gatsby is never fully able to grasp

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It eluded us then, but that’s no matter — tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther… . And one fine morning —” (138). Gatsby’s belief in the green light can create a sense of hopelessness for the reader. Gatsby keeps on chasing Daisy with the belief that she is in his grasp, but to no avail. His green light helps symbolize the American dream he has which will never be fulfilled.

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