The Great Gatsby Symbolism Colors White Blue Yellow

The Great Gatsby Symbolism

Colors ¨ White ¨ Blue ¨ Yellow ¨ Grey ¨ Green ¨ Red ¨ Water ¨ Cars ¨ Eyes ¨ Eggs

White ¨ Represents: – Façade behind which characters hide – beauty, cleanliness, wealth, innocence, virginity and laziness

White ¨ Examples – Daisy and Jordan’s clothes – Gatsby’s suit – Buchanan’s mansion

Yellow (Silver & Gold) ¨ Represents: – Wealth, corruption, dishonesty

Yellow (Silver & Gold) ¨ Examples: – The golden haired girls at Jay’s party – Daisy’s accessories – Jay’s car – Hair color

Green ¨ Represents: – Hope, rebirth, to “go”, youth, longing, choice, serenity

Green ¨ Examples: – Daisy’s dock light – The interior of Jay’s car – Nick’s grass – Nick talks about the green light at the end of the book he says "It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms out farther. . "

Blue ¨ Represents – Heaven, fantasy, lost time, unhappiness

Blue ¨ Examples – Jay’s lawn –escape from reality – Tom’s car –unhappiness of marriage – George’s eyes –dreams of escape – T. J. Eckleberry’s eyes -God

Grey ¨ Represents: – Industrialization, dreary, bleak, lifeless ¨ Examples: – Valley of Ash

Red ¨ Represents: – Death, abuse, violence, destruction

Red ¨ Examples: – Tom Buchanan – Tom’s carpets – Myrtle’s nose – Myrtle’s death – Gatsby’s pool water

Water ¨ Represents: – Barriers and boundaries – Gatsby’s restraints from Daisy – Abandonment

Water ¨ Examples: – Oxford – Tea Party rain storm – Swimming pool – Gatsby’s funeral

Eyes ¨ Represents: – Observant, omnipresent, watchful, non-judgmental ¨ Examples: – Owl-eyes – T. J. Eckleberry – Nick – Moon

Cars ¨ Represents: – Industrialization, status symbol, carelessness, recklessness ¨ Examples: – The broken wheel – Jay asking Nick to set up meeting – Jay’s car – Tom’s car – The drive to NYC

Eggs (White covered by yellow) ¨ Represents: – Pure façade, while rotten inside ¨ Examples: – Daisy’s clothes & accessories – Jay’s suit & accessories – New vs. Old Money