F. Scott Fitzgerald used the imagery of colors in his masterpiece The Great Gatsby. The colors are used very frequently as symbols, and the hues create atmosphere in different scenes of the book. White is a clean and fresh color, but the author shows how it can be tainted as well. Next, yellow illustrates the downfall of moral standards of the people of West Egg. Lastly, green, the most dominant color in the book, symbolizes wealth and Gatsby’s unattainable dream.
To Gatsby, Daisy represents innocence and purity; however, Fitzgerald uses different shades of white to veil her corruption. Daisy is solely described as “dressed in white”, she powders her face white, and she mentions her “white girlhood”. The millionaire describes this perfect princess figure to be “high in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden girl.” On the other hand, Fitzgerald portrays the way of life in West Egg as a wretched place when “four solemn men dressed in suits are walking along the sidewalk with a stretcher on which lies a drunken woman in a white evening dress. Her hand, which dangles over the side, sparkles cold with jewels. Gravely the men turn it at a house – the wrong house. But no one knows the woman’s name, and no one cares.”
Yellow stands out as a symbol of corruption and decay. Materialism has corrupted the citizens of East and West Egg because they center everything on money. When Gatsby entertains this wealthy class, the orchestra plays “yellow cocktail music”. Even Gatsby believes that he can win Daisy back with his money – thus he is described as wearing a “caramel-colored suit” when he lies about his past to Nick. The most important symbol, however, is Gatsby’s car. The car becomes the main topic of conversation among the townspeople after it kills Myrtle and a witness specified this “death car” to be yellow.
Fitzgerald used green most frequently to symbolize Gatsby’s love for Daisy Buchanan. Daisy rejected Gatsby because “rich girls don’t marry poor boys”, so her philosophy compelled him to become wealthy. Gatsby described Daisy’s voice as “full of money” and he acquired millions of green dollars in the hope that Daisy would love him again. Also, Gatsby moved into his mansion so that he could live near the Buchanans, and at night the millionaire watches “a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been at the end of a dock.
A Thin Line between Love and Hate
Love is not usually well defined. People often think that they are in love, but they cant explain it. There is a great dealing of confusion of the words love, and infatuation. Love may include romance, infatuation, affection and tenderness. But it could be love if one or more of the elements are not present. The definition of love varies from person to person. Love is essential element for all relationships. Much of what is written about love is either brief or mocking. Society in general is very cruel and heartless toward real love of any kind. Modern writing mocks marriages, husbands and wives, but condones adultery, and other obscene values. Real love is a mystery to most people. Most people never realize the true potential or value of love, nor do they learn to practice the art of love.
Most people fail to realize is that true love is not always accompanied by romance. Romance is different from love. Romance is the emotional part of love that adds the sparkle in your eyes. Sometimes people mistake romance for love. It may even become a substitute for love. You can say the love is from the heart and romance is skin deep. Romance requires things the love does not, like gifts, surprises, and huge amounts of attention. Romance sometimes demands things that are contradict love. Romance condemns love that is not pleasing to the eye.
People who demand to be loved before they allow themselves to love should not be surprised if no one gives them the love they are seeking because love is for the givers not the receivers. We have the power to love, but we cannot make others love us. We have a duty to love, but there are no guarantees that we will be loved. If you are truly a loving person, your entire m…
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…r love. When you love you are your most vulnerable to hurt. Sharing your love is the most risky thing you will ever do. It can either be the most rewarding effort or it can be the most devastating effort. If you invest yourself in someone, and give them your very best, and they respond positively to your love, you will experience great satisfaction. If, however, you invest in someone, and give them your very best, and they do not respond positively, or they do not respond at all, or they respond negatively, it is likely to be one of the most painful experiences of your life. People who have failed at love often vow to never loving again. To the person who has been hurt, love is perceived as the source of their great pain. Rejection is one aspect that nobody wants to live with.
Nobody is happier than a person in love. Nobody is sadder than one whose love has failed.