The use of color in The Great Gatsby is one of the most important techniques used in the book to represent different ideas. The main color that is the most frequently used is white. White usually represents purity and innocence. In The Great Gatsby, this color is most often associated with Daisy and Jordan. At the beginning of the novel, they were both wearing white when we were first introduced to them in chapter one. At this point, the reader is given the first impression that the two women are morally unblemished. Most of the white things that these two ladies are associated with are clothes that can be taken off or put on. This represents that something that is there to be pure can never be attained. It also represents old money, where the truth is usually covered up by something pretty. Like when Jordan appears to be a good golfer, she cheated. When Daisy appears innocent, she ends up killing somebody and lets Gatsby take the blame. When I think of Daisy, I think of the flower. The white, pure outer petals that are shown better than the center of the flower, which can be symbolized as her real personality.
Another color is yellow or gold. To me, this represents greed and money, richness but also happy and prosperous, successful, and extremely valuable. This color can be easily associated with Daisy, Jordan, Tom, and Gatsby. Daisy is called the "golden girl" and that means that she is the most greedy and would do anything for fame and wealth. Jordan's yellow side is shown through her "autumn leaf yellow" hair. Although she may be less demanding, she also represents wealth and fame. Gatsby is a character who has a strong desire for wealth, especially to show off in front of Daisy. All of his yellow belongings are symbols of wealth like his yellow car and his golden ties. For Tom, Fitzgerald describes the intricate gold detail in his house. This shows that Tom prefers the finer things and is content with leading a luxurious life.
Blue is also used, more directed towards Gatsby than any other character. This color is the representation of his dreams. His house, which is shaded with blue, is almost seen as a dream when people go there to forget about real life. Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes are also blue. This image is referred to throughout the whole book as an image of God's eyes. It is also the color of being unhappy or depressed, therefore that is why a lot of things leading to Gatsby are blue. Maybe the reason why his house is blue is because he had achieved all of his wealth and fame to prove to Daisy that he was good enough for her. Yet, after he had gotten his life of luxury, he still didn't have Daisy so the house was empty without her because she was the missing piece to the puzzle.
Green is another color used quiet frequently in the novel, and when most people think of this color, they think of the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. It is used in a variety of meanings but Fitzgerald often used it for "hope." The light at the end of the dock symbolizes Gatsby's hope to eventually be with her, and is a constant reminder to him as he looks out every night and sees it, that he will never get the chance to be with Daisy. Green also represents growth or new beginnings. The mixture of dreams and envy for wealth brought this new beginning to Gatsby's life. Green also refers to the representation of the "American Dream" which is basically based on the desire to succeed in life. That refers to money, which is brought up again and again throughout the novel.
The last main color in the novel is grey. Grey represents the lack of life and of happiness, and is used to describe dullness. The color is mainly used to describe the Valley of Ashes, and Tom, Daisy, and Jordan are leading hollow empty lives and are the characters represented as the formless bodies of ashes in this Valley of Ashes. Even Gatsby, somewhat, leads a hollow empty life because aside from the wealth and prosperity, he is lacking the most important thing life. To love and be loved. Jordan eyes are another grey symbol. They show a lack of love, of happiness and a general boredom in life. Even though she is surrounded by everything she wants but has neither dreams or plans for the future.
To conclude, the use of colors in the text is very significant to complete Nick's description of the society.Fitzgerald shows his different ideas and thoughts on people at that time, using mostly depth and the meaning of colors.
Another color is yellow or gold. To me, this represents greed and money, richness but also happy and prosperous, successful, and extremely valuable. This color can be easily associated with Daisy, Jordan, Tom, and Gatsby. Daisy is called the "golden girl" and that means that she is the most greedy and would do anything for fame and wealth. Jordan's yellow side is shown through her "autumn leaf yellow" hair. Although she may be less demanding, she also represents wealth and fame. Gatsby is a character who has a strong desire for wealth, especially to show off in front of Daisy. All of his yellow belongings are symbols of wealth like his yellow car and his golden ties. For Tom, Fitzgerald describes the intricate gold detail in his house. This shows that Tom prefers the finer things and is content with leading a luxurious life.
Blue is also used, more directed towards Gatsby than any other character. This color is the representation of his dreams. His house, which is shaded with blue, is almost seen as a dream when people go there to forget about real life. Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes are also blue. This image is referred to throughout the whole book as an image of God's eyes. It is also the color of being unhappy or depressed, therefore that is why a lot of things leading to Gatsby are blue. Maybe the reason why his house is blue is because he had achieved all of his wealth and fame to prove to Daisy that he was good enough for her. Yet, after he had gotten his life of luxury, he still didn't have Daisy so the house was empty without her because she was the missing piece to the puzzle.
Green is another color used quiet frequently in the novel, and when most people think of this color, they think of the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. It is used in a variety of meanings but Fitzgerald often used it for "hope." The light at the end of the dock symbolizes Gatsby's hope to eventually be with her, and is a constant reminder to him as he looks out every night and sees it, that he will never get the chance to be with Daisy. Green also represents growth or new beginnings. The mixture of dreams and envy for wealth brought this new beginning to Gatsby's life. Green also refers to the representation of the "American Dream" which is basically based on the desire to succeed in life. That refers to money, which is brought up again and again throughout the novel.
The last main color in the novel is grey. Grey represents the lack of life and of happiness, and is used to describe dullness. The color is mainly used to describe the Valley of Ashes, and Tom, Daisy, and Jordan are leading hollow empty lives and are the characters represented as the formless bodies of ashes in this Valley of Ashes. Even Gatsby, somewhat, leads a hollow empty life because aside from the wealth and prosperity, he is lacking the most important thing life. To love and be loved. Jordan eyes are another grey symbol. They show a lack of love, of happiness and a general boredom in life. Even though she is surrounded by everything she wants but has neither dreams or plans for the future.
To conclude, the use of colors in the text is very significant to complete Nick's description of the society.Fitzgerald shows his different ideas and thoughts on people at that time, using mostly depth and the meaning of colors.