The Great Gatsby

Symbolism

Colors White Yellow Green

Water Eyes

Blue Grey Red

Cars 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. Eckleburg’s eyes -God

Grey Represents:

– Industrialization, dreary, bleak, lifeless

Examples:– Valley of Ash

Red Represents:

– Passion, death, abuse, violence, destruction

Red Examples:

– Tom Buchanan– Tom’s carpets– Nick’s books

Water Represents:

– Barriers and boundaries– Gatsby’s restraints from Daisy– Abandonment

Water Examples:

– Oxford– Tea Party rain storm– Swimming pool

Eyes Represents:

– Observant, omnipresent, watchful, non-judgmental

Examples:– Owl-eyes– T.J. Eckleburg– 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