"THE GREAT GATSBY" COLOR SYMBOLISM
GRAY
The color gray pertains the aspects of lifeless and barrenness, and is used by Fitzgerald to describe the decay and degradation of the American dream, its falsity, and its implacability built upon the foundation of wealth. Fitzgerald also uses grey to show the colorless aspects of characters and their personalities, particularly George and Myrtle Wilson, Jordan Baker, and to exaggerate the qualities of the Valley of Ashes.
"When anyone spoke to him he invariably laughed in an agreeable colorless way" -Nick discussing Wilson (Fitzgerald, 136)
“ [Wilson is described as] mingling immediately with the cement color the walls” -Nick (29)
Fitzgerald uses the phrase “in a colorless way” to show Wilson’s lack of personality and dull appearance, lifelessness, and how insignificant Wilson is in the other character’s lives.Wilson is described with gray color through his physical characteristics, such as his suit, face, and eyes.
“Up-stairs, in the solemn echoing drive she let four taxicabs drive away before she selected a new one, lavender-colored with gray upholstery, and in this we slid out from the mass of the station into the glowing sunshine" -Nick (27)
Fitzgerald conveys that Myrtle is condemned to the lifeless barren of the valley of ashes, and she cannot escape the grey haze that blankets the valley. However, she still holds onto the hope that she may escape from this desolate place- if Tom will leave Daisy and take her away from the Valley of Ashes. Fitzgerald continues to use the color gray because Myrtle's situation is as hopeless as the others and her dreams are actually worthless.
"Occasionally a line of gray cars crawls along an invisible track, gives out a ghastly creak, and comes to rest, and immediately the ash-gray men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight" -Nick (23)
Gray is used by Fitzgerald to characterize the lower class and describe the poverty and isolation of those that live in the Valley of Ashes. Gray and dark imagery is used to exaggerate the ghostly, even haunting quality of the valley of ashes.
“[The Valley of Ashes is] a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of house and chimneys... and ash-grey men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud..." -Nick (23)
Again we see gray used to characterize the Valley of Ashes. The valley of ashes represents the lack of morality and the decline in social habituality which is hidden from the actions and attractive facades of the rich (the Eggs) whom desire money through corruption and greed. The atmosphere of the Valley of Ashes is one of hopelessness and despair because the inhabitants desire the life of the upper class, but it is an unattainable goal.