Great Gatsby Synthesis Essay

The Great Gatsby is full of symbolism, particularly colors. Throughout the book the author uses them to represent different themes of the novel, and F. Scott Fitzgerald had the intent of applying color imagery to reflect a certain theme. Each particular color, chosen by Fitzgerald, issued to depict the thematic issues concerning the ideal to reality, as well as to show wealth and social status, as it pertains to personal desires. Many examples of color are used in this novel, each with a significant meaning behind them. Three of these colors stood out vividly from the rest. These colors are White, Gold and Green. All of these colors symbolize a certain meaning that relates to the common goal of Gatsby's thirst for re-uniting with Daisy. White is one of the symbolic colors in The Great Gatsby that stands out from the rest of the colors by representing purity, innocence, and honesty. The story reads ''...two women in the room...they were both in white...'' (Fitzgerald 8). White, being the color of innocence and its how Gatsby views his dream of being with Daisy. In his eyes, she is perfect,yet in reality, she is tainted by her affair.White is also used when Gatsby dresses himself in white when he reunites with Daisy after five years of separation. In preparation, the story describes Gatsby's outfit,"Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie, hurried in" (Fitzgerald 84). Obviously this meeting was overwhelmingly important to Gatsby, and he chose to wear white for the reason of presenting a sign of purity, innocence, and honesty in order to appease Daisy, and gain back their lost love. Jordan and Daisy are two characters that that also accurately portray the color white's symbolic meaning. Jordan, Daisy, and Gatsby are all corrupted individuals. Jordan cheats in golf tournaments, and it is said that "she had moved her ball from a bad lie in the semi-final round"(Fitzgerald 57) Daisy cheats on Tom and kills Myrtle Wilson without stopping