"THE GREAT GATSBY" COLOR SYMBOLISM
In the Great Gatsby, gold symbolizes wealth, particularly old money, and the greedy, frivolous ways of the 1920’s. In the novel, Fitzgerald uses gold in imagery as displays of social status, and even fake personas- because “While the Gilded Age brought outstanding prosperity to some, it was also deeply tarnished beneath its gold veneer.” (The Gilded Age and the Progressive Era, 1)
GOLD
“It was full of money—that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it…. High in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden girl…” -Nick describing Daisy (120)
This quote combines two representations of gold in the novel- symbolism and characterization. Gold is used to symbolize the richness in Daisy, her social status and the attractiveness in her character, but it also points out the fallacy in her image- that all of it is built upon money.
“The front was broken by a line of French windows, glowing now with reflected gold and wide open to the warm windy afternoon” -Nick describing the Buchanan’s house (Fitzgerald, 6)
In this quote, gold is used in the imagery describing the Buchanan’s house- a massive and elaborate mansion in the East Egg. Fitzgerald uses gold to draw the reader’s attention to how even the smallest details, such as french windows, are lined with this ostentatious display of wealth.
"On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors d'oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold” -Nick describing Gatsby’s party (40)
Similar to the quote above, this is another over-the-top display of wealth, this time on Gatsby’s behalf. Gold is used to emphasize Gatsby’s money and social status- or perhaps his lack there-of- as we discover later in the novel that Gatsby’s socialite appearance is nothing more than a dreampt-up persona.
“With Jordan’s slender golden arm resting in mine, we descended the steps and sauntered about the garden.” -Nick (43)
“I put my arm around Jordan’s golden shoulder and drew her toward me and asked her to dinner.” -Nick (79)
Fitzgerald uses gold here as a characterization technique, rather than a symbol of wealth. By describing Jordan as “golden”, it implies that beneath her wealthy and gleaming appearance lies a person of tarnished values and fakeness, which is proved by the golf cheating scandal and her relationship with nick, both of which are mentioned later in the novel.
“An hour later the front door opened nervously, and Gatsby in a white flannel suit, silver shirt and gold-colored tie hurried in.” -Nick (84)
In contrast to how Fitzgerald uses gold to describe Jordan, in this quote it is used as a symbol of Gatsby’s wealth. Gatsby wears the gold tie to impress Jordan, and give her the impression of great affluence. However, like Jordan, Gatsby is hiding behind a layer of gold, as we discover his true identity and inheritance.