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What Does The Color Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

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Color throughout history has been used to represent a variety of things. From social class to individuality, color has played an important role in identifying people or objects. Color holds a great amount of symbolic value, not only in real world situations but also in novels and visual art. Much like how color in the real world can demonstrate wealth or style, color within The Great Gatsby symbolizes important factors of the text. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses color in association with characters, objects and the world in order to give the text deeper, symbolic meaning. In The Great Gatsby the color green is used in order to symbolize several things, but especially the aspects of jealousy and longing in relation to Gatsby. For instance, during Gatsby’s youth, when he was still James Gatz, he had a deep longing for wealth and growth, “It was James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach that afternoon in a torn green jersey and a pair of canvas pants, but it was already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a row-boat, pulled out to the TUOLOMEE and informed Cody that a wind might catch him and break him up in half an hour.” (pg. 105). Fitzgerald uses the color green in Gatsby’s jersey to display the longing he has to have wealth, much like Dan Cody, who he then pursues. Gatsby wanted to grow away from the poor farm boy he had been his entire life and become someone who could afford luxuries for himself and the people around him. The actions Gatsby takes

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