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Color In The Great Gatsby

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Colors are used every day in the world around us. Often, colors are used to interpret different images and develop a deeper meaning. During the 1920s, the world began to be occupied with colors that epitomized new ideas and new beliefs. These new ideas and beliefs throughout the roaring 20s were established off of status, as people began to enjoy life more. Out of these ideas, came pieces of literature such as Scott F. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby that embraced the new idea of colors being used to develop a deeper meaning. In his novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald utilizes varying colors such as yellow, white, and pink to serve as symbols representing the progression of Gatsby and the pursuit of his dream much like the pursuit of status for …show more content…

As Gatsby prepares for his meeting with Daisy, he is depicted as wearing a “white flannel suit, silver shirt, and golden colored tie” (84). Gatsby’s white suit with a gold tie mirrors the image of a Daisy, which just so happens to be the name of the woman he has fallen madly in love with. The golden center of a daisy in this case, symbolizes the person Daisy has become in the eyes of Gatsby. As Gatsby begins to paint the picture of who he wants Daisy to become, the golden center indicates a false view of perfection, and instead of seeing the woman embodied by purity and innocence that everybody else sees, Gatsby tries to influence Daisy to become something she is not. Likewise, Gatsby’s nervousness about seeing Daisy again for the first time in 5 years, is represented by the white suit symbolizing how he is attempting to appeal to Daisy’s innocence, while also representing his immature and childlike behavior. As Gatsby begins to work himself up in Nick’s house, he begins to become very nervous and impatient as he cries out “I can’t wait all day” (84). In this scenario, the once calm and poised Gatsby begins to show his true colors as his tone becomes impatient and hysterical as he looks for an excuse to get out of the situation he has wanted to go perfect for …show more content…

During his confrontation with Daisy’s lover Tom, Gatsby is the object of Tom’s ridicule as he satirically and hyperbolically cries out Gatsby reassured but false statement that he is an “Oxford man!” (122). Disillusioned by the smooth talk and power of Gatsby, both Daisy and Jordan fail to see Gatsby for the conman that he really is. But Tom on the other hand, questions his true identity and makes fun of his “pink suit” (122). The pink suit from Tom’s point of view on Gatsby represents all the lies that Gatsby continues to try to live by even though Tom knows better. Just as Doctor Eckleberg looks over the valley of ashes, Gatsby looks at his own life through rose colored lenses and refuses to see even himself as less than the great Gatsby he has been portraying all these years. The pink color in his suit also represents the romance between him and Daisy, and even though Daisy is caught up in Gatsby’s love, she won’t admit to him that she never loved Tom. As tensions rise between Tom and Gatsby, Gatsby’s true self is revealed as he lashes out at Tom yelling, “She never loved you” (130). Fitzgerald uses an understatement here to emphasize just how disillusioned Jay Gatsby is. He has created a persona of Daisy in his

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