Green Symbolism In The Great Gatsby
In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the film directed by Baz Luhrmann both involve color symbolism relating to setting and costume. Fitzgerald uses green, white and yellow/gold in a particular way. For example, the color green is used to represent money and envy. In chapter one, Nick notices Gatsby “stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way (Fitzgerald 16).” Gatsby is reaching out towards a green light at the end of the Buchanan's dock, green represents Gatsby’s desire, Daisy and money.
Similarly, in the film directed by Baz Luhrmann he makes use of the symbolism of green. As for green symbolizing money, money affects every character in The Great Gatsby. It is what modeled Nick’s craving, shaped
Tom’s life and Daisy’s love, Jordan’s ideal, and Gatsby’s desire. Next, the color white represents innocence. Fitzgerald uses white in the book when Daisy first meet Gatsby, she was wearing white. “Across the courtesy the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water...(Fitzgerald 5).”
The Buchanan’s home is white, the white represents Daisy. The white also stands for a mask the characters are concealing. Daisy indicates a pure trusting image, she makes it seem as though what she does not know right from wrong. However, she does know what is right and wrong, “they were careless people, Tom and Daisy--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…(Fitzgerald 187).” In the movie, as well as the novel, Jordan Baker is often wearing white, her attitude is arrogant.
Though, yellow is the color to portray happiness. Gold is used to symbolize “old money,” Tom, Daisy and Jordan. Tom is seen as a gold person since he is old money. In contrast with Gatsby, who is green with envy of Tom/old money. Also, Fitzgerald uses gold to represent Jordan when Nick “rested my arm on Jordan’s Golden shoulder (Fitzgerald 90).”
Similarly, in the film directed by Baz Luhrmann he makes use of the symbolism of green. As for green symbolizing money, money affects every character in The Great Gatsby. It is what modeled Nick’s craving, shaped
Tom’s life and Daisy’s love, Jordan’s ideal, and Gatsby’s desire. Next, the color white represents innocence. Fitzgerald uses white in the book when Daisy first meet Gatsby, she was wearing white. “Across the courtesy the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water...(Fitzgerald 5).”
The Buchanan’s home is white, the white represents Daisy. The white also stands for a mask the characters are concealing. Daisy indicates a pure trusting image, she makes it seem as though what she does not know right from wrong. However, she does know what is right and wrong, “they were careless people, Tom and Daisy--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…(Fitzgerald 187).” In the movie, as well as the novel, Jordan Baker is often wearing white, her attitude is arrogant.
Though, yellow is the color to portray happiness. Gold is used to symbolize “old money,” Tom, Daisy and Jordan. Tom is seen as a gold person since he is old money. In contrast with Gatsby, who is green with envy of Tom/old money. Also, Fitzgerald uses gold to represent Jordan when Nick “rested my arm on Jordan’s Golden shoulder (Fitzgerald 90).”