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Sam Esho April 16th, 2014 Ms. Randolf 5th hour The Great Gatsby and the Color Blue Whether it is irony, motif, foreshadowing, symbolism or any other literary devices, they all have one common point, conveying a deeper meaning for the readers. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, many colors were used to symbolize many different meanings and show his ideas. One of the most important ones that changed the meaning of the book in the middle is blue. The color blue symbolizes romances, depresses, and most importantly illusions which all helps to develop the main character Jay Gatsby. The first time that the color blue is mentioned in the book is in chapter two. Fitzgerald used it to describe the blue and gigantic eyes of Doctor Tom Eckleburg, "peering out over valley of Ashes" (p.23). This resembles something that is dark and less vitality which leads or gives the impression of depresses. In the end of the novel, Eckleburg's eyes were described as the eyes of God that see everything that a person does. Gatsby's feelings of depression were also presented, "Slowly the white wings of the boat moved against the blue cool limit of the sky"(Nick.p.118), as he thought or felt that everything was going against his wishes no matter how hard he tried. And even though that it is hard to accomplish his dream of being with Daisy, he still want believes that he will win at the end.

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The grave yard where Gatsby is buried is also described as blue as Nick comments that "he had come a long way to his blue lawn"(189). Gatsby here express his depress or angriness because after all his hard work to get Daisy, he could not accomplish his dream of being with her. The blue is also used as symbol of beauty mixed with unhappiness, "her face, above a spotted dress of dark blue crepe-de-chine, contained no facet or gleam of beauty," (Nick. P.25). here Myrtles, Wilson's wife, wearing the blue dress makes her appears as an aware woman who knows sending a sensuousness energy to others. The romantic side of the color blue is symbolizes in the dreams and the promises that are covering the reality of Gatsby's life. Another example of illusion that is represented by the color blue is when Gatsby was throwing parities for the people who were also trying to escape the reality and the real world. "In his blue garden men and girls came and went like moths among the whispering and champagne and the stars"(Nick.p.39). Most of the people in his parties are there to enjoy the enchantment which most of them believe is the American Dream. His blue garden represents a fantasy land. At the same time, blue represent the collar working classes, chauffeur's uniform. Beside the blue color, silver is also used as symbols in The Great Gatsby. Silver represents jewelry and richness. "The moon has risen higher, and floating in the sound was a triangle of silver scales" (Nick. p. 48), when Nick mentioned this quote, he was describing how the wealth that was presents in the parties.

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In conclusion, Fitzgerald used many different colors in his book The Great Gatsby. The color blue was used in describing Gatsby's character and was more related to him than other color. This color represented the unreality that Gatsby was living, the illusion of love that leads him into depression. However, Gatsby died before accomplishing his dream of being with his true love, Daisy. The fact that he fights hard to get her did not help him but only hurt him and people around him.

Work Cited Fitzgerald, Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner's Son. Print