color themes in "the Great Gatsby"
In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, colors play an imperative part of establishing themes and mood. Many things are described by colors, from the obviously color-inclined to the less apparent. Frequently, colors that would not automatically come to mind when describing an object are used, often heightening the literary value of the book. Many colors are used with colors that might be opposite each other, to show contrast. That is the main focus of this paper, the contrast between colors.Fitzgerald starts his color usage early in the text. Tom and Daisy are described as living in a "cheerful red-and-white" (pg. 6) mansion, perhaps evoking the two opposing colors to show the contrast between Tom, a true violent brute of a man, and Daisy, a almost angelic, airy being. Indeed, Daisy and Jordan are later both described as both wearing white in the very first scene in which we meet them, and both are subsequently is described in terms of light colors throughout the rest of the text. Daisy especially is dwelled on as such. Yet, in that same first scene, she points out her hurt knuckle, which is described as "black and blue" (12). She claims that this was caused by Tom. This I see as being
Primary colors such as yellow and blue seem to a be recurring themes in the text. Later, when Wilson himself alludes to their godlike presence, they are described as merely "pale and enormous" (160) as opposed to standing out as a distinct color. In the start of chapter two of the book, we are confronted with more references to the color gray then are easily countable. Still, all this seems to falter in the face of harsh reality, in which Daisy's purity and virtue are called into question. Whereas before, it was described as gr!ay and pale, it now it shifts to "blue" (160), which is an arguably more vibrant color. All through her previous references, her coverings, mostly isolated to virginal white, define her. It evokes almost biblical imagery, such as !original sin, which is punishment for the pursuit of humanity, and even the fallen angels, whose virtuous beings were forever stained. This is perhaps an ironic statement, seeing as though the color gray, the true intermarriage between black and white, is so prevalent in the text. But his concern nearly comes down to a racial issue, one that is attempted at being diffused by Jordan in her following comment of "we're all white here"(130). But what is most interesting in the usage of color is the fact that, in her first description in the chapter, Daisy and Jordan as depicted as "silver idols weighing down their own white dresses" (115). This is used to heighten the godlike, voyeuristic presence of the eyes. Throw in a bottle of whisky, and needless to say, this is unsuccessful, and it turns into a whole mess ending in vehicular-homicide. Another cryptic reference to Daisy's purity though use of color takes place in chapter 7. E to the clouds, this change is a complete 180 from before in which the very landscape itself is a dull, lifeless gray swarming with equally dreary colored human beings, and that the only things of any definition are the brightly colored 'eyes of god', so to speak.
Common topics in this essay:
Daisy Jordan,
Colored Empire,
Dr Eckleburg,
Scott Fitzgerald,
Tom Daisy,
James Gatz,
Tom Throw,
Daisy Nick,
Daisy Gatsby's,
daisy's purity,
,
intermarriage black white,
relationship gatsby,
daisy jordan,
intermarriage black,
black white,
white dresses,
described terms,
gatsby's relationship,
described terms light,
terms light,
vibrant color,
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Acceptance Essays
