The Great Gatsby, a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a story of love, greed, and excess set in the Roaring Twenties. The characters in this novel live lavish lifestyles, full of lavish parties and material possessions. One aspect of the novel that is particularly noteworthy is the use of color as a symbol to convey the characters' emotions and motivations.
Throughout the novel, the color green is used to symbolize the longing and desire of the main character, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is obsessed with the past and with winning back his former love, Daisy Buchanan. The green light at the end of Daisy's dock represents Gatsby's hope and desire for a future with Daisy. He stares at the light every night, hoping for a chance to be with her again. The color green also represents Gatsby's greed and his desire for wealth and status. He becomes rich through illegal means and uses his wealth to try and impress Daisy and win her back.
Another significant color in the novel is white, which represents innocence and purity. Daisy is often associated with the color white, as she is seen as the ideal woman – beautiful, rich, and pure. However, as the novel progresses, it becomes clear that Daisy is not as innocent as she appears. She is selfish and manipulative, and ultimately chooses her own happiness over Gatsby's.
In contrast, the color yellow is used to symbolize corruption and decay. The yellow car that hits and kills Myrtle Wilson is a symbol of the recklessness and carelessness of the wealthy characters in the novel. The character of Tom Buchanan is also associated with the color yellow, as he is depicted as a corrupt and abusive man.
The color blue is used to symbolize calmness and stability. The character of Jordan Baker is often associated with the color blue, as she is a golfer and is described as being cool and composed. The blue lawn at Gatsby's mansion is also a symbol of his desire for stability and order, as he tries to create the perfect life for himself and Daisy.
Overall, the use of color in The Great Gatsby serves to deepen our understanding of the characters and their motivations. The colors green, white, yellow, and blue all play important symbolic roles in the novel and help to convey the themes of love, greed, corruption, and stability.