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In a time of mass immigration to the United States, citizens became overjoyed with the idea of the American Dream. This period of time was at the turn of the nineteenth century to mid twentieth century. There were many issues where people with old money (acquired wealth because of inheritance) were considered of higher class than people with new money (wealth acquired by hard work). Consequently, books were written on this topic, one of which being one of the best American authors of all time, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald used symbolism in many of his novels.
Symbolism is shown in F. Scott Fitzgerald s most well known novel The Great Gatsby by the colors green, gold and yellow, and white. Daisy's character is enhanced by Fitzgeralds use of the color white to indicate Daisy's freshness and innocence. He notes the gleaming white house, the airy, white rooms, and the red and white Georgian House (7 - 10). Daisy also talks of her white girlhood (20). Fitzgerald has two meanings for the color white: one is the traditional meaning of purity; the second is the empowerment of whiteness.
Daisy, as she is initially presented, represents both privilege and purity; a kind of princess figure. The use of white helps to characterize her as the unattainable enchanted princess in Gatsby s dream. However, the different shades of white indicate that Daisy may not be the epitome of purity and that privilege may have a corrupting effect, as an egg is white is white (pure and innocent) on the outside, but yellow (corrupt) on the inside. This example corresponds directly to Daisy's character. Green stands as the most prominent color Fitzgerald uses in The Great Gatsby.
Green is significantly associated with both the green light of Daisy's dock and the green breast of the new world which unites the hope and promise of Gatsby s dream with that of America itself. The color green is associated with spring, hope, and youth in the novel. The main use of the color green is to explain Gatsby s character and is probably the most meaningful in the story. One possible meaning of the color green is envy. Gatsby can be seen as an envious, jealous character. He once had the love of his life, Daisy, but now she is married to another man.
He spends all of his time and effort in an attempt to win back Daisy. He is also envious of many of the wealthy people around his home. He throws huge parties and extravagant get-togethers so he can relate with the wealthy. This leads one to believe that Gatsby is indeed green with envy.
It is also probable that Fitzgerald uses green to symbolize money and it s power in society. Money rules the lives of the people in the story. Gatsby needs money to live the life that he does. Gatsby also feels he needs the money to get back together with Daisy. Gatsby has a large green lawn and green ivy going up his house. Inside Gatsby s car, the passengers sit in a sort of green leather conservatory.
Later, Mr. Michaelis describes this death car as light green. All of these things represent the riches, as well as the importance of money in Gatsby s life. The use of a green light at the end of a landing stage to signal a romantic reunion is intriguingly similar to the green light at the end of Daisy's Buchanan s dock, which becomes a key image in The Great Gatsby. The initial appearance of the green light occurs when Nick sees Gatsby for the first time, standing in front of his mansion and stretching out his arms to a single green light, minute and far away that might have been the end of dock.
The light becomes, for Gatsby, the symbol of a reunion with Daisy. This is a wonderful and appropriate symbol of Gatsby s life. Gatsby is also striving to find a better world in the green light. Gatsby gets unbearably close to his dream, yet in all of his efforts, he comes up short in grasping the better life that he wanted. He hopes for the green breast of the new world, the peoples idea that tomorrow will bring a better day. This idea seems justifiable, yet it is far away from coming true.
Gold and yellow are colors that symbolize old wealth. The colors green and gold contrast each other in a significant way, as in old times people used gold as a means for exchange, but as a national currency was established green money replaced the gold, as gold no longer even backed the dollar. So, gold represents the old money and green represents the new. In the same way, gold symbolizes Daisy and Tom s old money and green symbolizes Gatsby s new money. One might say that Gatsby is green. To contrast this Tom is gold.
In the same way that green and gold contrast so do Gatsby and Tom. Jordan and Daisy are also represented by gold. Jordan s slender golden arm resting in mine and high in the white palace the king s daughter, the golden girl The golden girl is, of course, Daisy. Gatsby wants to be rich with old money so he can win the affection of his true love.
Gatsby buys a yellow car. But it did not fool anyone; Gatsby did not have old wealth.
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Research essay sample on F Scott Fitzgerald Green Light At The End
