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What Does The Gold Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

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What Does The Gold Symbolize In The Great Gatsby
Jesica Jurj
Mrs. Tancredi
Honors English 10
May 12 2016
Gatsby: Story of Symbolism
Sometimes a symbol is all you need to say a thousand words. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby the lavish lifestyle of many of the characters ultimately leads to major consequences as their actions play a part in the crumbling American Dream. The tragic story of love, greed, and secrets exploits the toxic lifestyle of Gatsby, Daisy, and others in both West and East Egg. The significance of the many symbolic elements in The Great Gatsby reveals the themes that led to the downfall of many of the characters.
To begin, the haunting green light represents Gatsby's own American Dream and the struggle of trying to achieve it.. The green light at the …show more content…
The repeated use of gold and yellow reveal more about the characters and attempts at the American Dream. Nicks observation that Daisy was Gatsby's "golden girl" illustrates the use of gold to represent Daisy's old wealth and how she's Gatsby's living dream (120). Gold is authentic and traditional old money of the East Egg and the vivaciousness of their lifestyle. Yellow, on the other hand, is fake gold and is used for show. Yellow is especially connected to Gatsby, as his parties play "yellow cocktail music" illustrating his illusion of wealth and success at the same level of the East Egg (40). Gatsby's car is also yellow which stands as a big symbol of his desire to be accepted into the high society of the old money in East Egg, and his failure to do so because of his "fake" lifestyle of wealth that is tainted yellow and not thriving in gold. Also, the use of white reveals more about the personality of the characters, specifically Daisy. The description of Daisy's house as "windows ajar and gleaming white..." and even her own appearance as "Daisy's white face came up to meet his own" present her as morally unblemished and innocent. However as the story plays out it is evident the use of white to describe Daisy is not the best choice. While Daisy is often associated with white, it masks the true moral sins she possesses and is a symbol of false purity in her own pursuits of her money-hungry American Dream. The colors used all reveal the underlying traits that led to the downfall of the
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