What Does Yellow Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

"A symbol, in the broad sense, is an image, an incident, or an item in a work that takes on a significance other than its evident objective meaning" (Lathbury 171). Symbolism assists a reader in understanding the true meaning of an object or event. It makes it easier for the author to create a tone that is easy to understand. Color is the clearest form of symbolism. Specific colors represent specific emotions or feelings. For example, red would show anger or violence whereas yellow would represent happiness. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, color symbolized joy, hopefulness and wealth that overshadows the hardships of life.
First, yellow symbolized the joyful moments in a depressing world. Yellow signifies joy and happiness. "Yellow helps energize people and relieves depression" (Color Symbolism and Culture). Fitzgerald used this color to describe many of the characteristics of Gatsby's parties. "The lights grow brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun and now the orchestra is playing yellow cocktail music and the opera of voices pitches a key higher" (Fitzgerald 40). Describing the music as "yellow" showed that the band was playing upbeat music. It was a party and everyone there was dancing and having
Gatsby devoted himself completely to having Daisy in his life. He waited for her till the very last moment of his life. "His gorgeous pink rag of a suit made a bright spot of color against the white steps" (Fitzgerald 149). He was wearing pink when he died which meant that he loved her till his very last breath. "Gatsby remains incorruptible, but his house and his clothes reveal the sordidness of the reality" (Schneider 253). He died wanting Daisy all to himself. He did not care about what happened to anyone else as long as he was with her. The pink suit showed that his love eventually led to his death because he didn't care about anything