Motifs and Color Symbolism in
The Great Gatsby
Mr. Rodgers
ENG 9
March 2015
Fitzgerald in the midst of Modernism

F. Scott Fitzgerald is
considered a key player
amongst the writers and
artists of the modernist
movement.

Modernism emerged after
WWI and was used to
capture and depict the
contradictions and
complexities of life.
Modernism (cont.)

Modernist art often reflected the feelings of its creators; the
writing or art showed a feeling of disconnect and cultural crisis
from the traditions of the past.


Modernist art usually deals with some feelings or concept of
isolation or separation from society.



This resulted in many writers and artists doing things in an
unconventional way, or “breaking tradition.”
Fitzgerald and many others left America to work in Paris.
Within Gatsby, the narration is isolated (only Nick’s perspective), and
Gatsby is often seen as isolated.
Fitzgerald used many extended metaphors, color associations,
and symbolism to add depth to his message.
Motifs

In general, a motif is “a distinctive feature or dominant
idea in an artistic or literary composition.” Motifs repeat,
and can be musical, but we have been focusing on
recurring symbols.


Motifs already discussed from Gatsby: the green light, the eyes
of Dr. T.J. Eckelburg (to be discussed later)
Remember, modernists heavy use of symbols also applied
to characters, not just objects. Repetition of symbolic
characters would also make them motifs, in essence.
Gatsby as a Symbolic Character

James Gatz is a fully
realized character if you
consider his back story and
what drove him to become
Gatsby.

However, Gatsby himself is
symbolic in his consistency.
He is a representation of
opulence, infinite wealth,
and a zeal for what he
wants without
compromise.
What about the “Owl-Eyed Man”?

Owls have, over time,
represented different things:



Most commonly, they
represent wisdom and
knowledge.
A more outdated idea, but
one that Fitzgerald was
probably familiar with, was
the owl as a harbinger of
death.
Owl-eyes may also simply
represent a very observant
person who sees things as
they are.
“Owl-Eyed Man” (cont.)

Owl-eyes may also simply represent a very observant
person who sees things as they are.


For this one, as well as wisdom, consider our first glimpse of
the owl-eyed man. Even in his drunken state, he could see
how much of a production Gatsby was putting on by
examining the library, and was very impressed.
A more outdated idea, but one that Fitzgerald was
probably familiar with, was the owl as a harbinger of
death.

At the end of that party, where do we see this man? He was
stumbling out of a car that lost it’s wheel.
The Eyes of T.J. Eckleburg


An eerie old billboard
from an optometrist is
referenced a few times in
the story.
As a greater symbol, it
represents that many of
the characters, while
perhaps doing illicit things,
are always being watched,
even if it is without
consequence. This way, T.J.
Eckleburg may represent
the eyes of God.
Color Associations: White




White is often used in The
Great Gatsby to portray a
sense of purity---even if it is
to cover up corruption.
Jordan and Daisy are often
seen in white, and we are
introduced to them this way.
Gatsby chooses to wear
white when he reunites with
Daisy at Nick’s.
Gatsby’s white steps have an
obscene word scrawled on
them at the end of the book,
which Nick erases.
Color Associations: Gold/Yellow




Gold or Yellow (fake gold) can
be seen to represent abundant
wealth or riches, but once
again can be a distraction to
what is truly underneath.
Jordan and Daisy are described
as “golden girls,” and Jordan is
physically described as golden
by Nick at times.
Turkey at Gatsby’s parties are
“bewitched to a dark gold.”
Yellow is the color of Gatsby’s
car, which kills Myrtle (rich
destroying poor, carelessness).
Color Associations: Red



Red can be seen as a
color of passion, violence,
or aggression.
Much of the red in this
story is linked to Tom
Buchanan---the interior of
his house, the blood he
sheds when he hits Myrtle,
etc.
Gatsby’s blood in his pool
after being shot is another
example.
Color Association: Grey


Grey is used in a contrast
to the glittering gold and
silver of the rich.
George and Myrtle Wilson
live in the “Valley of
Ashes”---characters and a
place seen in grey. Myrtle
only gains colorful
descriptions when she is
with Tom.
Green and “The Green Light”



Green can mean many
things, and can represent
money or envy, but in the
case of this book, it often
represents reminiscing about
the past, or hope.
We first see Gatsby longing
for the green light, which we
later find is on Daisy’s dock.
Nick, caught up in Gatsby’s
gift for hope, says that the
green light “eluded us,” but
“tomorrow we will run
faster, stretch our arms out
further…”