Throughout the book the author uses them to represent different themes of the novel, and F. Scott Fitzgerald had the intent of applying color imagery to reflect a certain theme. Each particular color, chosen by Fitzgerald, issued to depict the thematic issues concerning the ideal to reality, as well as to show wealth and social status, as it pertains to personal desires. Many examples of color are used in this novel, each with a significant meaning behind them. Three of these colors stood out vividly from the rest.
These colors are White, Gold and Green. All of these colors symbolize a certain meaning that relates to the common goal of Gatsby’s thirst for re-uniting with Daisy. White is one of the symbolic colors in The Great Gatsby that stands out from the rest of the colors by representing purity, innocence, and honesty. The story reads ”… two women in the room… they were both in white… ” (Fitzgerald 8).
White, being the color of innocence and its how Gatsby views his dream of being with Daisy. In his eyes, she is perfect,yet in reality, she is tainted by her affair.
White is also used when Gatsby dresses himself in white when he reunites with Daisy after five years of separation. In preparation, the story describes Gatsby’s outfit,”Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie, hurried in” (Fitzgerald 84).
Obviously this meeting was overwhelmingly important to Gatsby, and he chose to wear white for the reason of presenting a sign of purity, innocence, and honesty in order to appease Daisy, and gain back their lost love. Jordan and Daisy are two characters that that also accurately portray the color white’s symbolic meaning.
The Essay on Tainted Dream Gatsby Daisy Fitzgerald
The 1920 s was a time of excess and growth. Economically, it was a time for great financial gain. Largely because of improvements in technology, productivity increased while overall production costs decreased, and the economy grew. Not only was this time filled with prosperity, but corruption as well. People finally acquired leisure time, and it was filled with gluttony and lust. Many authors ...
Jordan, Daisy, and Gatsby are all corrupted individuals. Jordan cheats in golf tournaments, and it is said that “she had moved her ball from a bad lie in the semi-final round”(Fitzgerald 57) Daisy cheats on Tom and kills Myrtle Wilson without stopping the car. Gatsby is also corrupted by gaining his wealth illegally and allowing his and Daisy’s affair to take place. The innocence illustrated by the color white is deceiving and it hides the corruption behind a multitude of individuals throughout the novel. This depiction of the corruption of innocence is a constant theme through out the story.
White is one of the several colors in this book that relate to a common theme of Gatsby wanting what he cannot have, a relationship with Daisy once again. Daisy is seen commonly associated with white and to accommodate for that, Gatsby goes out of his way to bring more white in his life with hopes of winning back daisy with purity and all that white stands for The color gold is used in several ways to relate to wealth and having a lot of money. The title page of this book Quotes “Then wear the gold hat,… I must have you”(Thomas D’Invilliers).
The significance to this quote is the meaning behind it, which is trying to get the point across that Gatsby should show off how rich he is,and then Daisy would have no choice but to come crawling back to him and all of his acquired power and wealth. The story describes one of Gatsby’s outfits he chooses to wear when he meets with Daisy, ”Gatsby in white flannel,… , gold colored tie. ” (Fitzgerald 84) Gatsby’s wearing of a gold tie represents the illusion that Gatsby uses this color in particular, in order to impress Daisy. This is also evident with Gatsby’s expensive gold Rolls Royce for his car.
The Essay on Great Gatsby Daisy Reality Fitzgerald
Rana Yeh ia Mrs. KoszoruAP Language and Composition January 10, 2000 The Great Gatsby: A Classic Rana YehiaMrs. KoszoruAP Language and Composition January 10, 2000 The Great Gatsby: A Classic In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald utilizes many universal and timeless themes to make the novel a classic. He emphasizes that most people lack insight and can not see the truth. To the majority of the ...
Gold symbolizes happiness, success, and promise. Fitzgerald uses the color gold very effectively. At Gatsby’s parties, even the turkeys are gold, “… turkeys bewitched to a dark gold” ( Fitzgerald 40).
In this way, Fitzgerald associates Gatsby and the atmosphere of the parties with wealth. Gold, representing wealth pertains to Gatsby because he worked his way up to a high status, yet it was all for an ideal dream. Gatsby, throughout the story is connected with wealth, so by Fitzgerald associating gold with Gatsby, he is symbolizing gold with all of Gatsby’s riches and his attempts to repeat the past and bring Daisy back into his life.
Green is the most prominent color Fitzgerald employs in The Great Gatsby. Green is significantly associated with the green light on Daisy’s dock. Nick catches Gatsby staring out towards Daisy’s house across the bay and when he looks he describes what he sees as”a single green light, minute and faraway, that might have been the end of a dock. ” (Fitzgerald 21)”The color green is traditionally associated with spring, hope, and throughout the novel, green has several meanings. However, Fitzgerald s use of green to explain Gatsby’s character is the most meaningful in the story.
He once had the love of his life, Daisy, but now she is married to a rich man named Tom. He spends all of his time and effort in an attempt to win back Daisy. The story says “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther… ” (Fitzgerald 180).
The idea behind this quote is the nature in which Gatsby gained a strong sense of hope and determination to repeat the past and once again reunite with Daisy.
Another meaning of the color green is envy. Gatsby can be seen as an envious, jealous character. He is envious of the wealthy people he invites to his home. He throws huge parties and elegant get-togethers so he can relate with the high class people around him. Fitzgerald also uses green to symbolize money and the role it has in society as pertaining to wealth. Money prominently rules the lives of the people in the story. Gatsby needs a lot of money to live the life that he does and he especially feels he needs the money to get back together with Daisy.
The Essay on Does Gatsby love Daisy
Does Gatsby love Daisy or the aura of wealth that she owns? The Great Gatsby is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece about various themes such as class, love and wealth. One of the themes highlighted is romantic affair between two main characters: Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby is clearly obsessed with Daisy, however, it is doubtful that those strong feeling is a proof of love. This essay ...
Fitzgerald throughout the story uses color symbolism to connect all that is said, with having significance behind it. White, gold, and Green are proficient and symbolic colors of the Great Gatsby and each have a significance to them that relate to Gatsby’s dream of life with Daisy. White is used by Gatsby in order to make himself look good in front of Daisy by representing Purity and trustworthiness. Gold is also used to make him self look the best by representing all of Gatsby’s wealth and money. Lastly, green represents the meaning behind Gatsby attempts to win back Daisy.
Once Gatsby gained that ever so small sense of hope, nothing was going to stand in his way until he won Daisy back into his life. He was doing all he could to be flashy and show his worth, but unfortunately Gatsby’s life was taken by Mr. Wilson who falsely accused him for the death of his wife.. With Fitzgerald using individual color to represent a theme, he enhanced the story and if he had not placed these colors in the story, the strength, meaning and theme of the novel would have been weakened.
