1. The Great Gatsby
Symbolism

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

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: Examples: Industrialization, dreary, bleak, lifeless
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: Examples:
Observant, omnipresent, watchful, non-judgmental
Examples:
Owl-eyes
T.J. Eckleberry
Nick
Moon

17. Cars Represents: Examples:
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

19. Prepared for The Great Gatsby
Devon Christopher Adams
© 2002