"THE GREAT GATSBY" COLOR SYMBOLISM
The color red has always been a symbol of sex, sin, passion, ambition, violence, carnage and in the case of "The Great Gatsby", the downfall of the American dream. Red is used to show an extreme emotion rather than intellectual ideas. Fitzgerald may use this ancient philosophy to show the lack of intellectual action in the mindless pursuit of the American dream. Fitzgerald uses the color of red usually contrasted with the stark whites, yellows, and grays of the novel to demonstrate the tinge of corruption and violence in the realm of the rich.
RED
“From Louisville. Our girlhood was passed together there. Our beautiful white-” -Daisy (19)
Daisy describes how she grew up with Jordan as a “beautiful white girlhood”, emphasizing the innocence they both held, in contrast to the people they are now. White in this quote represents the purity and ignorance Daisy and Jordan once had. The mention of “girlhood”, can be compared with the following dialogue in which Tom abruptly (and indirectly) questions Daisy if she discussed his affair with Nick- a contrast representing how her once “white qualities” may have been tarnished by Tom and the affair- giving the reader a glimpse through Daisy’s facade of innocence.
"We walked through a high hallway into a bright rosy-colored space" (Fitzgerald, 13); "A cheerful red and white Georgian colonial mansion overlooking the bay" (13); "Wine-colored rug" (13) -Nick describing the Buchanan’s house
The color red is associated with life, joy and love, but it also represents passion, heat, and sin. This quote describes the inside of the Buchanan’s house as a “rosy” red. This reference of red. which is found all over and inside the house, establishes the upper class and wealthy lifestyle of the Buchanans. In this case, the red also connects the house too Tom Buchanan- a strong, arrogant, and sometimes fiery and sinful character.
“ A white ashen dust veiled his dark suit and his pale hair as it veiled everything in the vicinity - except his wife who moved closer to Tom.” -Nick narrating Wilson (26)
This is a continuation of white in the Valley of Ashes, which we saw in the previous quote. Fitzgerald places huge emphasis on the white ash the covers everything- representing the veil of innocence that drapes over the dirty, dark, and grimy setting. The white ashes also coat Wilson, but notice Fitzgerald is quick to say they do not coat Myrtle. This could also symbolize the ignorance of Wilson in contrast to Myrtle, who is characterized by her impure nature (notice the contrast of Daisy’s white to Myrtle’s absence of the color).