Symbolism is often used in literature to convey deeper meanings and important messages in the work, deepening the understanding and knowledge of the audience. The classroom phenomenon The Great Gatsby is a novel that was written in 1925 by Scott F. Fitzgerald in which everyone was attempting to pursue the American Dream. Discussing old and new money and with great understanding of the mindsets of the characters within the novel, the story is about a man named Gatsby reconnecting with his lost lover, Daisy, 5 years later. Throughout the book, Fitzgerald utilizes the theme of symbolism. A symbol in a work of literature is something concrete that stands for an abstract idea. Fitzgerald uses symbols such as colors, Gatsby’s wealthyness, and
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All throughout, Fitzgerald uses colors such as green, grey, white, and yellow. With the color green, the first thing to come to mind for this novel is the light that Gatsby outreaches for at the end of Daisy’s dock. “Involuntarily I glanced seaward - and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock” (Fitzgerald 169). Gatsby’s dream and pursuit is to be with Daisy but by the end of the novel it is not achieved. Another color in this novel is gray, which is closely associated with the Valley of Ashes, and the Wilsons. It represents hopelessness, depression and affliction. “This is a valley of ashes - a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (Fitzgerald 279). The color white is yet another color included in the book and it is associated with Daisy symbolizing purity, beauty, and nobleness. Daisy never did anything immoral or socially unacceptable and never did anything to hurt anyone in the novel. Daisy is described, “She dressed in white, and had a little white roadster… “ (Fitzgerald 38). Lastly, the color yellow is one symbolized in the book. This color represents Gatsby and wealthiness, the color of gold. Gatsby is displayed as a very wealthy man in the novel. He wears a gold tie when he goes to visit Nick and Daisy and in attempts to get her back, and decorates the house in yellow to show her was part of the rich upperclass. His parties were said to have “yellow cocktail music” (Fitzgerald 13), and “turkeys bewitched to a dark gold” (Fitzgerald 41). This is a real life connection because colors are often associated with different things every day. White is used in the church for
All throughout, Fitzgerald uses colors such as green, grey, white, and yellow. With the color green, the first thing to come to mind for this novel is the light that Gatsby outreaches for at the end of Daisy’s dock. “Involuntarily I glanced seaward - and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock” (Fitzgerald 169). Gatsby’s dream and pursuit is to be with Daisy but by the end of the novel it is not achieved. Another color in this novel is gray, which is closely associated with the Valley of Ashes, and the Wilsons. It represents hopelessness, depression and affliction. “This is a valley of ashes - a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (Fitzgerald 279). The color white is yet another color included in the book and it is associated with Daisy symbolizing purity, beauty, and nobleness. Daisy never did anything immoral or socially unacceptable and never did anything to hurt anyone in the novel. Daisy is described, “She dressed in white, and had a little white roadster… “ (Fitzgerald 38). Lastly, the color yellow is one symbolized in the book. This color represents Gatsby and wealthiness, the color of gold. Gatsby is displayed as a very wealthy man in the novel. He wears a gold tie when he goes to visit Nick and Daisy and in attempts to get her back, and decorates the house in yellow to show her was part of the rich upperclass. His parties were said to have “yellow cocktail music” (Fitzgerald 13), and “turkeys bewitched to a dark gold” (Fitzgerald 41). This is a real life connection because colors are often associated with different things every day. White is used in the church for