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The Symbolism of Colors in The Great Gatsby

There a several colors used for symbolism in the novel “The Great Gatsby”.

For example the colors BLUE, GREEN, WHITE and YELLOW are used throughout

the book.

The first time Nick Carraway meets his cousin Daisy Buchanan at Tom’s

and Daisy’s home, she was dressed totally in white. So as the house and

its furnishings are also tuned in light shades. This fact might be interpreted

as: beauty, cleanliness, wealth, innocence, virginity and also laziness.

Daisy’s color is white, she wears white dresses and recalls her “white

girlhood”, and this use of color helps her to characterize her as the unattainable

“enchanted princess” who becomes incarnate as Gatsby’ s dream (p.21, l.8-9).

The use of a green light at the end of a landing stage to signal a romantic

reunion, is intriguingly similar to the green light at the end of Daisy’s

Buchanan’ s dock, which becomes key image in “The Great Gatsby”. The initial

appearance of the green light occurs when Carraway sees Gatsby for the

first time, standing in front of his mansion and stretching out his arms

to ‘a single green light, minute and far away that might have been the

end of dock’ (p.22, l 31-33). The light has become, for Gatsby, the symbol

of a reunion with Daisy. Green is very significantly associated with both

the green light and the “green breast of the new world”, uniting the hope

and promise of Gatsby’ s dream with that of America itself. The color green

is traditionally associated with spring, hope and youth.

The color blue in “The Great Gatsby” represents hope for the future.

It represents a lost time, a pure color that is overly displayed, a pure

color in the valley of ashes. T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes are blue, perhaps symbolizing

a higher world from which God looks down upon the scene. Tom’s car being blue may even

represent the relationship between Tom and Daisy, (being unhappy), based on money and not love. Blue also represents

fantasy, and is a symbol of a different world.

As Gatsby’ s lawn is blue, his house is a place where people can go

to get away from reality. His parties are out of touch with the real world,

gatwomen gatdaisy Role of Women in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Role of Women in The Great Gatsby The novel, The Great Gatsby, takes place in the 1920’s: a time of rebellious behavior and living life according to the new founded American Dream. The women of this era are portrayed in two different lights in the novel: defiant and foolish. Women began to take a step forward in society during the 1920’s and this novel explores these phenomena. As women in the novel start to detach themselves from the stereotypical proper and prim manner in society, there are new stereotypes created. In the novel, it is perfectly all right for women to drink and conduct themselves wildly at parties just as men do. They express their views much more, and begin to take control of their newly established place in society. Daisy, the common prim woman, was treated as in inferior for years in her relationship with Tim. She allowed herself to be degraded as her husband committed acts of infidelity. However, Daisy eventually liberates herself when she has an affair with Gatsby. Now, Daisy has found a way to bring Tom under her thumb. On the other hand, women also are portrayed as extremely foolish, and easily used by men. Myrtle is an excellent example of his, for Tom is using her. To Tom, Myrtle is a game. He uses her for fun, and never intends on having a substantial relationship with her. He goes to her when he pleases, and she will always be there waiting for him. Tom does not treat her with respect, yet she continually returns to his side. Another view of women shows them as gossipers and out of control. When attending parties at Gatsby’s house, the women are intoxicated to where they can no longer walk, or think properly. The women are said to have ripped their dresses, jumped in the fountains and danced wildly. These images are prevalent throughout the novel, yet there are very few moments where men are so vulgar. At Tom and Myrtle’s party, Myrtle’s sister Catherine and her friends are gossiping the entire time. Catherine gives false information about Daisy, Tom and Myrtle. As well, Jordan Baker, another female character is constantly in the middle of Tom and Daisy’s marriage, all the while gossiping to Nick about both of their affairs.

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