Color Imagery In The Great Gatsby
As learned in the past, colors are used in literature to convey themes that aren’t shown through actions or words in the plot. Personally, I believe that the use of color imagery provides an in-depth understanding of The Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby’s character is associated with the color green countless times. Green represents hope, freedom, and growth, all of which coincide with Gatsby’s character. By using color imagery, Fitzgerald is able to show a side of Gatsby’s personality that is not shown through actions or words. The repetition of the color green emphasizes the uncommunicated hope that Gatsby has to fulfill his dreams for the future.
Throughout the novel, there are several significant instances in which the color green appears. For
example, Gatsby says to Daisy, “You always have a green light that burns at the end of your dock.” Later in the paragraph, Nick says (of the green light) “It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock.” (Fitzgerald 92-93) Gatsby is enchanted by the green light on the dock while he has Daisy with him. However, when Daisy is beside him, she manages to stay just beyond his reach. This urges Gatsby to long to push harder toward the fulfillment of his dreams. Additionally, the green light at the end of the dock represented Gatsby’s need to grow and feel complete. It was his finish line at the end of the race of life.
Similarly, one cultural connotation of the color green is rebirth. After meeting Daisy, Gatsby remade himself into a person that she would desire to be with. The novel ends with another appearance of the color green. Nick contemplates, wondering “... when he first picked out the green light.” (Fitzgerald 180) This shows that Gatsby spent the last 5 years of his life chasing after a dream. He had hope that one day he would reach the green light. Unfortunately, he never did.
Throughout the novel, there are several significant instances in which the color green appears. For
example, Gatsby says to Daisy, “You always have a green light that burns at the end of your dock.” Later in the paragraph, Nick says (of the green light) “It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock.” (Fitzgerald 92-93) Gatsby is enchanted by the green light on the dock while he has Daisy with him. However, when Daisy is beside him, she manages to stay just beyond his reach. This urges Gatsby to long to push harder toward the fulfillment of his dreams. Additionally, the green light at the end of the dock represented Gatsby’s need to grow and feel complete. It was his finish line at the end of the race of life.
Similarly, one cultural connotation of the color green is rebirth. After meeting Daisy, Gatsby remade himself into a person that she would desire to be with. The novel ends with another appearance of the color green. Nick contemplates, wondering “... when he first picked out the green light.” (Fitzgerald 180) This shows that Gatsby spent the last 5 years of his life chasing after a dream. He had hope that one day he would reach the green light. Unfortunately, he never did.