The Great Gatsby Literary Notes - Colors

gold wealth, especially unattainable items wealth, especially unattainable items Jordan – golden arm Jordan – golden arm food at Gatsby’s party food at Gatsby’s party Daisy’s gold pencil Daisy’s gold pencil

yellow imitation of gold imitation of gold girls in yellow dresses who admire Jordan girls in yellow dresses who admire Jordan Daisy’s daughter has yellow hair Daisy’s daughter has yellow hair corruption corruption Description of Gatsby’s car – from cream to yellow Description of Gatsby’s car – from cream to yellow Eckleburg’s glasses Eckleburg’s glasses

white For Gatsby, innocence For Gatsby, innocence white duck pants, white suit white duck pants, white suit For others, implies corruption under the surface For others, implies corruption under the surface Daisy and Jordan’s white girlhood Daisy and Jordan’s white girlhood Daisy and Jordan wear white Daisy and Jordan wear white Bright light usually reveals debauchery or corruption Bright light usually reveals debauchery or corruption passed out woman in white foreshadows end of Jazz Age and impending economic crash passed out woman in white foreshadows end of Jazz Age and impending economic crash

green hope, new life hope, new life green light green light green new world green new world green lawn at Daisy’s house (in the beginning) green lawn at Daisy’s house (in the beginning)

blue dreams (think sky) dreams (think sky) Dan Cody buys Gatsby a blue jacket Dan Cody buys Gatsby a blue jacket Gatsby’s blue gardens Gatsby’s blue gardens Eckleburg’s eyes – God or dream corrupted by the yellow rimmed spectacles Eckleburg’s eyes – God or dream corrupted by the yellow rimmed spectacles

silver dream and reality dream and reality silver stars = romantic hope silver stars = romantic hope nickel on Gatsby’s car = wealth which corrupts the dream nickel on Gatsby’s car = wealth which corrupts the dream

grey reality corrupts the dream reality corrupts the dream Valley of Ashes Valley of Ashes Jordan’s grey eyes Jordan’s grey eyes Dan Cody’s grey face Dan Cody’s grey face

pink dream colliding with reality (red) dream colliding with reality (red) pink clouds when Daisy and Gatsby reunite pink clouds when Daisy and Gatsby reunite Gatsby’s pink suit Gatsby’s pink suit

red brutal reality beneath dream brutal reality beneath dream Gatsby’s rubies – dream Gatsby’s rubies – dream blood (both Myrtle’s and Gatsby’s) – brutal destruction of dream blood (both Myrtle’s and Gatsby’s) – brutal destruction of dream

lavender indulgence indulgence Daisy’s hat when she reunites with Gatsby Daisy’s hat when she reunites with Gatsby lilac tree Daisy parks next to lilac tree Daisy parks next to rooms in Gatsby’s house rooms in Gatsby’s house one of Gatsby’s shirts one of Gatsby’s shirts

variety of colors wealth, attempt to impress Daisy wealth, attempt to impress Daisy multicolored lights at Gatsby’s parties multicolored lights at Gatsby’s parties Gatsby’s shirts brought out to impress Daisy Gatsby’s shirts brought out to impress Daisy