The Great Gatsby

1. The Great Gatsby Symbolism

2. White Yellow Green Water Eyes Blue Grey Red Cars Eggs Colors

3. White • Represents: • Façade behind which characters hide • beauty, cleanliness, wealth, innocence, virginity and laziness

4. White • Examples • Daisy and Jordan’s clothes • Gatsby’s suit • Buchanan’s mansion

5. Yellow (Silver & Gold) • Represents: • Wealth, corruption, dishonesty

6. Yellow (Silver & Gold) • Examples: • The golden haired girls at Jay’s party • Daisy’s accessories • Jay’s car • Hair color

7. Green • Represents: • Hope, rebirth, to “go”, youth, longing, choice, serenity

8. Green • Examples: • Daisy’s dock light • The interior of Jay’s car • Nick’s grass • Nick talks about the green light at the end of the book he says "It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms out farther...."

9. Blue • Represents • Heaven, fantasy, lost time, unhappiness

10. Blue • Examples • Jay’s lawn –escape from reality • Tom’s car –unhappiness of marriage • George’s eyes –dreams of escape • T.J. Eckleberry’s eyes -God

11. Grey • Represents: • Industrialization, dreary, bleak, lifeless • Examples: • Valley of Ash

12. Red • Represents: • Death, abuse, violence, destruction

13. Red • Examples: • Tom Buchanan • Tom’s carpets • Myrtle’s nose • Myrtle’s death • Gatsby’s pool water

14. Water • Represents: • Barriers and boundaries • Gatsby’s restraints from Daisy • Abandonment

15. Water • Examples: • Oxford • Tea Party rain storm • Swimming pool • Gatsby’s funeral

16. Eyes • Represents: • Observant, omnipresent, watchful, non-judgmental • Examples: • Owl-eyes • T.J. Eckleberry • Nick • Moon

17. Cars • Represents: • Industrialization, status symbol, carelessness, recklessness • Examples: • The broken wheel • Jay asking Nick to set up meeting • Jay’s car • Tom’s car • The drive to NYC

18. Eggs(White covered by yellow) • Represents: • Pure façade, while rotten inside • Examples: • Daisy’s clothes & accessories • Jay’s suit & accessories • New vs. Old Money