Colour Symbolism Flashcards
Colour Symbolism in The Great Gatsby
What does White Symbolise?
Symbolises: Innocence and superficiality
Examples: Daisy and Jordan’s Dresses, white floating curtains at Tom Bucannon’s Residence.
Idea: Gatsby will never be good enough for Daisy
What does Gray Symbolise?
Symbolises: Harsh Conditions, The Working Class, Lack of hope and joy
Examples: The Valley of Ashes
Idea: Grey Symbolises George Wilsons unprosperous bare existence (being cheated on, being poor, living in the valley of ashes, no hope for his life)
What does Gold Symbolise?
Symbolism: Money & Pompous lifestyle of the rich / opulence. ‘Otherness’
Example: Gatsby’s Gold Rolls Royce, Gatsby’s Golden tie, DR. T. J. Eckleberg’s glasses.
Idea: Although gold symbolises wealth the main point is that it symbolises ‘otherness’ or difference from the rest. Meaning the wealthy are different/better than the rest or Dr. T.J. Eckleberg is completely detached from society.
wealth is both alluring and destructive.
Outside of wealth and ‘otherness’ what can the colour’s gold and yellow symbolise?
Corruption and materialism - Through out the film yellow is frequently used at extravagent partys and symbolises underlying moral decay.
What does black symbolise?
Symbolism: Mystery, Elegance, mourning and Foreboding
Examples: Black is used in evening/night time settings hints at the mysterious nature of Gatsby’s claim to wealth and the underlying tradgety of the film.
