Color Symbolism

            The colors mentioned in The Great Gatsby each have an important underlying meaning. One of the first examples of color symbolism is the color of the shutters on Daisy and Tom's house."Their house was more elaborate than I expected, a cheerful red and white Georgian Colonial mansion, overlooking the bay." The red represents the corruption/hostility in their marriage. In chapter two Myrtle shows a new side to herself. " Mrs. Wilson had changed her costume some time before, and was now attired in an elaborate afternoon dress of cream-colored chiffon..." The cream color is close to white but not completely, in the same way Myrtle tries to disguise her impurity. The color of Gatsby's suit shows what he is trying to convey in chapter five. Upon meeting Daisy for the first time in years he dresses to impress her. "-Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie, hurried in."The silver and gold represents the wealth he has obtained to become a part of Daisy's lifestyle. Daisy on the same day also dresses according to her lifestyle. "Daisy's face, tipped sideways beneath a three-cornered lavender hat..." The color lavender is seen on Daisy many times to show her fairytale way of life.