The Great Gatsby Color Green Analysis

The Western society is peculiar. It is different from other cultures, as it’s a combination of a number of different cultures from around the world. For many of these people, it is the land of opportunity. "The American Dream," as some call it, can be perceived in a number of different ways. It may be associated with wealth and the idea that if one works hard enough, anything can be achieved without any limitations. For others, it is beyond materialistic possessions, and more regarding America being a destination with unlimited opportunities to succeed. Adam Smith's’ theories behind self interest and the invisible hand, so well describe what people think when it comes to an individual's success and class, regardless of the potential negative

outcomes which could occur like crushing another hopeful’s dreams at the expense of one’s own success. In the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald challenges the idea that hard work will guarantee success, and illustrates that one will always be defined by their social class, regardless of how hard one is willing to work. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald’s reference to this idea is shown through three recurring colors; yellow and gold, green, and blue. Each one contributing a symbolic significance to the novel in their own way.

Yellow is a prominent symbol from the beginning of the novel. This color is something Fitzgerald constantly uses to clearly define the divide in social class for characters who were unable to achieve success. Fitzgerald shows that traits of fake gold, old money versus new money and corruption are prominent through the influence of yellow in the novel. During one of Jay Gatsby’s dashing parties, there are girls dressed up in yellow dresses dancing to yellow cocktail music. Here, Gatsby is trying to create a vision and connection between old wealth and new wealth. The ladies dressed up in their yellow, symbolizing gold-like but to a lesser degree. Dresses are from old wealth, while dancing to the yellow cocktail music at Gatsby’s extravagant event that represents new wealth. Numerous aspects of Jay Gatsby’s life correlate to the color yellow: his luxurious car, the tie he wears at parties and even “his bedroom [despite being] the simplest room of all - except where the dresser was garnished with a toilet set of pure dull gold.” (Fitzgerald 91) Nick describes the environment in which Gatsby lives in to create imagery, while better enforcing the abundance of yellow found in the mansion. Yellow is also used to demonstrate appearance versus reality. Gatsby possesses objects that are yellow, which gives the appearance of gold, but in reality is fake gold. The accumulation of fake gold gives the appearance of Gatsby’s wealth, but because it will never amount to anything else but the color yellow. It brings about the idea that he will never reach that old and authentic social class represented by Daisy and Tom. Daisy is a character perceived as innocent and a prime example of the ideal lady in that day and age and was the end goal for Gatsby. Since the beginning, she was a luxurious golden like girl that was born into wealth, yet possessed shadowed characteristics such as greed and cowardness. This can be depicted by Daisy’s name, as it pertains to the Daisy flower. Despite the appearance of a white color, signifying innocence, there is still a yellow center on the inside, representing the idea of a fictitious representation of her exterior character. Nick describes Tom and Daisy as “careless people [...] they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” (Fitzgerald 173). Nick notices Daisy’s careless behavior and actions towards the latter part of the novel, and describes her involvement in the death and downfall of two characters; Jay Gatsby as well as Myrtle. ‘’The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue The Great Gatsby blue and gigantic—their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose. When, later in the novel, Wilson, staring at these same eyes, says, ‘God sees everything,’ and Michaelis contradicts him, that’s an advertisement,” it is clear that Fitzgerald wants us to view T. J. Eckleburg as a symbol of the corruption of spirit in the Waste Land—as if even God has been violated by materialism and hucksterism—reduced to an advertisement.’’( Schneider, Daniel J) Schneider provides an in depth analysis, more imagery for the reader and specifically references T.J Eckleburg, as a witness to the killing of Myrtle. What is important to note is the spectacles of his glasses are yellow. Those two characters were stemmed from a lower class, and both ended up dying. Despite their hard work and persistence, it was not possible for them to overcome the structural class gap and wealth. The color yellow can also symbolize the season fall. During that time of year, trees shed their leaves and fall, correlating with the downfall and eventual death of Jay Gatsby. Gatsby was doomed, unaware of the implications of a golden girl that originated from the upper class. His ultimate death also took with it the failure of the so called American Dream.

Blue is a color that can be associated in a many ways and is symbolic throughout the novel. Lonely, illusions, fantasy are three words that are exemplify themes within this color. Jay Gatsby’s illusions throughout the novel are evident, he is chasing relationship that is not meant to be with the wealthy Daisy. Upon the realization that Daisy had married Tom Buchanan, Gatsby took it upon himself to change significantly. The change is influenced by a man named Dan Cody, the transformation occurs at sea and Gatsby is given a blue coat by Mr. Cody. ‘’"A few days later [Dan Cody]took him to Duluth and bought him a coat, six pair of white duck trousers and a yachting cap." (Fitzgerald 100) Gatsby is now obsessed with the wealth and lifestyle that Cody lives, that correlates with Daisy and her wealth. Once again Gatsby is in the midst of his illusions; chasing a dream that cannot be attainable due to his difference in class, despite his efforts of reinventing himself with a new name at sea and bootlegging mischief for wealth. Yellow is the color that expresses Gatsby’s fake outer self and image but blue represents his inner feelings throughout the novel. The water that is separating Gatsby and Daisy is called the blue lawn. ‘’ He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.’’ (Fitzgerald 149) It is symbolic as it shows just how distanced, and unrealistic this American Dream Gatsby has is. Water being blue once again emphasises the this is really just a fantasy, and how he truly is misled into think she in in love with him. Upon Gatsby’s death it is raining at the funeral, further showing the loneliness, sadness and downfall of this American Dream. ‘’Carefully placed flashbacks fill in the vague outlines of Gatsby’s past, but the mystery is preserved until the end when we finally learn who Gatsby really is and just how far he had come to find his dream.‘’(Prigozy, Ruth) Gatsby’s pursuit for that dream was in the end just a series of fantasies and illusions he hoped to come to reality but didn’t come about as a result of the divide in class. Gatsby went to great lengths for Daisy, throwing dashing parties in his blue garden hoping for his fantasy to come about but was faced with reality when the difference in their class was exposed over the course of the novel. Blue represents unhappiness and sorrow, further shown at the actual funeral and with how little people show up. Gatsby was lonely, people were using him for the parties and the rain at the end is symbolic in showing the sorrow.

When one thinks of the color green, some things that come to mind are spring, nature, jealousy, and wealth.

The way Scott Fitzgerald made the color green prominent was by implementing and representing the idea that the large gaps and difference in social class can render one incapable of living out their dreams and fantasies. Upon their first encounter, Nick notices “Gatsby’s often watch[ing] and reaching for the green light at the end of Daisy's dock in East egg across the water. He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and [when Nick stole a glance he saw] nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.” (Fitzgerald 20). Thi first encounter creates curiosity and thought for Nick that perhaps Mr. Gatsby is hoping to pursue what he is looking so far away at. The green light symbolizes the idea of a Daisy’s heart, a goal so unattainable and unreachable, that Gatsby chooses to participate in actions such as bootlegging to match her wealth and class; as well as a rebirth to Jay Gatsby. The desire and admiration Jay Gatsby has towards Daisy dates back to the connection they had before she had married Tom Buchanan. Coincidentally in that time period called the Roaring Twenties, a man in Michigan developed and implemented the first operating traffic light with green illustrating to go forward. This could perhaps tie into the reasoning behind Gatsby’s persistence in pursuing Daisy while knowing full well the difference in wealth is prominent. ‘’If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay," said Gatsby. "You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock." (Fitzgerald 92). This conversation takes place while the two are at Gatsby's house. He is convinced by her being there, that she is from now on the only significant thing in his life, and the thought of their relationship being a dream fades. He has now achieved what he wanted with her. Gatsby’s

efforts, and the extremes he went to, showed the persistence he had to ultimately realize his goal of marrying Daisy. The idea of one being hindered by social class is evident with Myrtle. She was not as driven to achieve class criminimally, like Gatsby, but more so used the resources she had available to her; Tom Buchanan. Green is so often in society associated with jealousy, and throughout the novel, Jay Gatsby’s want for Daisy’s love is unattainable as a result of Tom, his rival. Jay ultimately takes on the color green, while Tom, is represented by the color gold, one of old money and upper echelon. “The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, that symbol which Fitzgerald explicitly identifies with the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. Being green, the light summons Gatsby and his fellow Americans to Go Ahead to run faster, stretch out our arms farther (Schneider, Daniel J).” Schneider with this quotation tries to essentially put into context the theme of fantasies in Gatsby’s head VS reality. Throughout the insight he expands on how the result of a mixture of yellow and blue together actually make the color green and how they all correlate in that blue is what Gatsby wants to occur but is unaware of it solely being a dream.

Ronald Reagan, an American president once described The American Dream as; "It's not that every man must be level with every other man. The American Dream is that every man must be free to become whatever God intends he should become." Reagan intended to re establish America as a whole and he believed they possessed opportunities that could not be found around the world. However what he failed to expand on was the fact that society continues to go towards the idea that America the land of opportunity and do not realize the truth of how coming to America does not guarantee wealth and success. Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby the author F. Scott Fitzgerald uses three specific and recurring colors to exemplify the idea that hard work in the novel will always be obstructed because of one’s social class. Gatsby’s life and pursuit for Daisy can be compared to the great Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, he possesses basic needs including a beautiful home, however can not advance his life to the eventual end goal of being self actualized as Gatsby can not overcome the obstacle of finding love. Gatsby seemed to have been modelled as the typical person looking to achieve that American Dream but in the process of his quest for Daisy he was exposed, which eventually let to his downfall.