In life and in literature, colors are often used to symbolize things of a deeper meaning. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, color symbolism is used extensively throughout the plot to represent issues and feelings of the characters. The colors that were used most often for symbolism were green, blue, red, white, and yellow. First off, green is a symbol for extraordinary hope. Next, blue symbolizes sadness and poverty. In addition, red stands for love and rage. Also, white symbolizes innocence and purity. Finally, yellow stands for joy and wealth. F. Scott Fitzgerald had a tendency to use color symbolism in most of his works. Since The Great Gatsby is inarguably his most famous work, color symbolism is applauded most definitely.
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The color blue can mean a number of things in The Great Gatsby. Blue can represent sadness, poverty, or the blue- collared working class. First off, the color blue clearly represents sadness. Most people connect the color blue to the emotion of sadness because of various expressions or sayings; and because of many characters or instances in history, media, and literature. In the novel, there are multiple blue symbols used to set a sad or depressing mood in a particular scene or character. The first blue symbol that is used in the novel is the billboard containing the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. At the beginning of the novel, whilst Nick and Tom are on their way to the city, the eyes make their first appearance. Fitzgerald says, “The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic” (Fitzgerald 23). This billboard is one of the most important symbols in the novel, and it appears on many of the covers on the numerous versions of the novel. These mesmerizing blue eyes watch over the Valley of Ashes as a guide to all of the chaos. In this sense, the eyes can represent poverty, because they are placed in the middle of a poor town between the luxurious lifestyles of old money East Egg, new money West Egg, and the diverse and exclusive world of New York City. Here, the eyes can also be seen as a religious figure; as if the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are watching over the tragically beautiful place like the eyes of God. The color blue also makes an appearance many other times throughout the duration of the novel. At the beginning of Gatsby’s party that Nick is invited to, blue is used to express Gatsby’s internal sadness. While Nick is admiring this seemingly foreign lifestyle, the author says, “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars” (Fitzgerald 39). It may be argued that the blue gardens can symbolize
The color blue can mean a number of things in The Great Gatsby. Blue can represent sadness, poverty, or the blue- collared working class. First off, the color blue clearly represents sadness. Most people connect the color blue to the emotion of sadness because of various expressions or sayings; and because of many characters or instances in history, media, and literature. In the novel, there are multiple blue symbols used to set a sad or depressing mood in a particular scene or character. The first blue symbol that is used in the novel is the billboard containing the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. At the beginning of the novel, whilst Nick and Tom are on their way to the city, the eyes make their first appearance. Fitzgerald says, “The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic” (Fitzgerald 23). This billboard is one of the most important symbols in the novel, and it appears on many of the covers on the numerous versions of the novel. These mesmerizing blue eyes watch over the Valley of Ashes as a guide to all of the chaos. In this sense, the eyes can represent poverty, because they are placed in the middle of a poor town between the luxurious lifestyles of old money East Egg, new money West Egg, and the diverse and exclusive world of New York City. Here, the eyes can also be seen as a religious figure; as if the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are watching over the tragically beautiful place like the eyes of God. The color blue also makes an appearance many other times throughout the duration of the novel. At the beginning of Gatsby’s party that Nick is invited to, blue is used to express Gatsby’s internal sadness. While Nick is admiring this seemingly foreign lifestyle, the author says, “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars” (Fitzgerald 39). It may be argued that the blue gardens can symbolize