1. Symbolism of Chapter 1 The importance and the role of light and colour in enhancing the different themes and moods of the novel

2. Nick setting the scene “And so with the sunshine…. I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” – Looking back onto his more youthful days, where his notion of life was far more optimistic, romantic and naïve Impression of East Egg and Buchanans’ house; “The white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water.” “ …a cheerful red- and –white Colonial mansion… burning gardens… bright vines… french windows, glowing now with reflected gold…” - This shows the opulence and more stately wealth that Nick is drawn in by as he is not accustomed to it

3. “…a bright rosy-coloured space… the windows were ajar and gleaming white… curtains in at one end and out the other like pale flags… the frosted wedding-cake of the ceiling… the wine –coloured rug…” -The pristine surroundings suggest the perfection of those living inside, an impression that Fitzgerald uses only to subvert later in the novel -The ‘frosted wedding-cake’ and ‘wine –coloured’ gives an impression of sumptuousness

4. Daisy “ They were both in white, and their dressed were rippling and fluttering… buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon…” -Gives strong impression of purity, because white was originally worn by debutantes and as they languish in casual splendour, we alongside Nick are captivated “Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth… For a moment the last sunshine fell upon her glowing face…” -Nick is in awe of Daisy; strengthening the idea of purity and highlighting her as innocent

5. ‘ Foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams’ The contrasting imagery of this phrase paints a disconcerting picture, it forewarns us of future events which may affect or be influence by other characters ‘floated’ suggests the idea that it spreads out and affects others but also that Gatsby might not have intended for so much tragedy to occur as a result of ‘his dreams’ ‘foul dust’ is a distasteful image; appealing to our senses, a possible allusion to the Valley of Ashes and the disintegration of the American dream, not just Gatsby’s ‘wake’ foreshadows possible tragedy in the novel

6. The green light “… nothing except a single green light, minute and far away…” -The mystery behind the green light, ends the chapter on a note of intrigue and expectation -Green can symbolise jealousy, the bitterness of soured dreams -Fitzgerald plays with expectations that a light in the darkness will be a guide and a positive influence, however the green suggests that this may not be the case -Nick is “alone again in the unquiet darkness.” Suggests that once the other characters leave Nick, the opulence will leave as well -The very fact that Gatsby vanishes at the end of the scene, highlights the illusory nature of Nick’s narrative and may be seen to link the final message at the end of the novel of Gatsby’s elusive dream