Often when reading we can interpret certain events or well described objects as symbols. Symbols within literature all have meanings. As readers we must important make connections and inferences to uncover these meanings. One of the most sought after novels in American literature The Great Gatsby is famous for its use of symbols through color. The Great Gatsby written by F. Scotts Fitzgerald is a story of the illusions that success portrays. Based within the decade of the “Roaring Twenties”, it illustrates the decline of the American Dream. Color symbolism plays an essential role within the novel. The color white is used many times within the story; more specifically we tend to see examples of the color white in the beginning of the book. The color white is typically used in literature symbolizes purity. For instance within the very first chapter when the narrator Nick Caraway first arrives at the Buchanan’s mansion Fitzgerald mentions “the windows were ajar and gleaming white against the fresh grass” (Fitzgerald 24). In many cases the color whit is looked at as a symbol of innocence and unadulterated. Thus the author, F. Scotts Fitzgerald, used this to show that when Nick is first meeting the Buchanan’s they are innocence and haven’t done anything wrong, that he knows of yet. Another example of how Fitzgerald used the color white was when Daisy and Jordan met Nick saying, ‘’sometimes they talked at once … there was never quite chatter, that was as cool as their white dresses” (Fitzgerald 12). This also shows that since they were first meeting Nick thinks of them as being pure in some way. Those are the ways in which the author, F. Scotts Fitzgerald, used the color white as a symbol of innocence and purity. The second color use by Fitzgerald that is essential to the story is the color green. Green was used several times within the story but, it had a couple of different meanings. The three things green was used to represent were envy, greed, and hope. For example when seeing the green light at the end of Daisy Buchannan’s dock Gatsby was filled with hope that they would one day be with her, he would be accepted into the old money lifestyle, and everything would be alright . Fitzgerald later mentions “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--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And one fine morning-- So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.(Fitzgerald 180)”. The fact that every time Gatsby thought of marrying daisy every time he saw the Green light at the end of her dock shows that according to Gatsby it was the ultimate symbol of hope. Though, throughout the novel I believe Gatsby has a certain feeling of envy towards the Buchannan’s and their stature within the east egg, old money culture. But more specifically if Gatsby is jealous of anybody it would be Tom. Gatsby is not jealous of tom’s wealth, he jealous that Tom time and time again cheats on daisy yet she still goes back to him. While again symbolizing hope, during Nick’s first days in New York Fitzgerald describes it as the “fresh green breast of the new world (Fitzgerald 182)”. I believe he mentions the green to enhance the idea that because Nick is new in the city it is a place of wild opportunity and possibility. Those are the examples of how F. Scotts Fitzgerald interpreted the color green as a sign of hope and envy with the novel. The third color used by F. Scotts Fitzgerald’s
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Scotts Fitzgerald’s the Great Gatsby. The novel ultimately epitomizes the decline of the original American dream in the 1920’s. F. Scotts Fitzgerald’s novel the Great Gatsby illustrates fundamental mirage that normally accompanies success and accumulation of wealth. It is safe to say that through F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work with color symbolism the novel is widely known and appreciated. Within the story each and every event can be viewed as some type of symbol. That is why we as readers must uncover the deeper meanings behind each of these
Scotts Fitzgerald’s the Great Gatsby. The novel ultimately epitomizes the decline of the original American dream in the 1920’s. F. Scotts Fitzgerald’s novel the Great Gatsby illustrates fundamental mirage that normally accompanies success and accumulation of wealth. It is safe to say that through F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work with color symbolism the novel is widely known and appreciated. Within the story each and every event can be viewed as some type of symbol. That is why we as readers must uncover the deeper meanings behind each of these