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Color Imagery In The Great Gatsby

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Color Imagery In The Great Gatsby
As learned in the past, colors are used in literature to convey themes that aren’t shown through actions or words in the plot. Personally, I believe that the use of color imagery provides an in-depth understanding of The Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby’s character is associated with the color green countless times. Green represents hope, freedom, and growth, all of which coincide with Gatsby’s character. By using color imagery, Fitzgerald is able to show a side of Gatsby’s personality that is not shown through actions or words. The repetition of the color green emphasizes the uncommunicated hope that Gatsby has to fulfill his dreams for the future.
Throughout the novel, there are several significant instances in which the color green appears. For

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