Show:
Colors
Places
1920's: Corruption of the American Dream
Automobiles
Miscellaneous
100
This color is often used to symbolize wealth and paper money.
What is the color green?
100
"New money" lives here.
What is West Egg?
100
The neglect of rules in the novel symbolizes the same attitude of those in the 1920's who ignored this Act.
What is Prohibition?
100
This car represents the calm, cool, collected character who drives it.
What is Tom's blue coupe?
100
Owl Eyes notes that Gatsby's books are "real," thus determining the man Gatsby to be "real" as well. We later see Owl Eyes in another scene, where he has no grasp of reality whatsoever. The irony here is this.
What is Owl Eyes, who should, by name, be "wise," has a distorted sense of reality much like the wealthy of the 1920's party scene?
200
This color is used to symbolize brightness as it relates to summer, sunshine, full life, and mid day.
What is the color yellow?
200
Old money lives here.
What is East Egg?
200
This character is an allegory for the infamous Arnold Rothstein who allegedly "fixed" the World Series in 1919.
Who is Meyer Wolfsheim?
200
This character doesn't own a car, symbolizing his removal from the corruption of the company he keeps.
Who is Nick?
200
The eyes of Eckleberg might symbolize the eyes of God in this way.
What is the eyes on the billboard are rimmed in yellow circles (halos?) and the eyes are bright blue (water? purity? truth?) and the eyes are overlooking the result of the corruption that has come to a head in the Valley. Daisy might be able to get away with murder on earth, but not in Heaven? We may not be held accountable for our actions here, but there will be consequences in the end?
300
This color is used to symbolize "hope" for Gatsby. It encompasses all of what has gone into creating "Jay Gatsby." Quick wealth (new money), the dream of being with the girl he has loved in his youth, and a persona created in the summer of his life. Considering his age at the time of death, he will forever be in the summer of his life.
What is the color green?
300
This is where the underprivileged live. It is dirty, dusty, run-down and ABANDONED, much like those who were not of the upper class in the 1920's. The wealthy simply pass through here, not caring what impact they leave behind. There is a reference to this in the Bible as it states, "As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." (Also lyrics to a Coolio song, by the way...)
What is The Valley of Ashes?
300
The invention of this is said to not only "helped but hurt America." Symbolically, it represents hurt in the novel.
What is the automobile?
300
This car is driven by one who seeks a very self-centered existence.
What is Gatsby's yellow car?
300
The use of the term "egg" symbolizes this.
What is things are born from eggs? Eggs are pure and white and whole, and then they crack, open, and become "messy" much like the lives of the characters?
400
This color symbolizes, ironically, full life. Life at "full speed." Carelessness of youth and the entitlements that come with being wealthy, privileged, and a "golden child."
What is the color yellow?
400
"Jay Gatsby" is "born" on this, lives on this, dies IN this, all symbolizing the baptism and final rites of the man named Gatsby.
What is water?
400
Women in the 1920's were, for the most part, either flirty and feminine (flappers) or masculine and strong-willed (those who fought for Prohibition & Women's Suffrage). This female character is an allegory for the women of the '20's who concerned herself with no greater cause, human rights, or the good of the American society at large.
Who is Daisy? (Weed of American soil. No concern for others what-so-ever.)
400
The color of this car symbolizes the deaths of three people, each of whom died before the "fall" of their lives.
What is yellow?
400
This is why Gatsby throws his shirts and why Daisy bawls while cradling them.
What is Gatsby is showing Daisy what he is worth and she is lamenting the loss of a life she could have had?
500
These two colors symbolize, ironically, innocence and youth while simultaneously symbolizing that Daisy, with her hair, clothes, house, "girlhood," was driving "the car," therefore is in the "middle" of it all. Like the the center of a daisy. Which is a weed, by the way.
What are the colors white and yellow?
500
This place is symbolic of the character who lives here in that it is a nondescript, nonthreatening abode where one can observe without being much noticed.
What is Nick's house?
500
These two men of the 1920's are made allegories in the novel by the characters who are used as scapegoats and, ultimately, are victimized for actions of which they are not guilty.
Who are Sacco and Vanzetti?
500
Tom teases Wilson with the promise of a car, making Wilson see Tom as a savior. The irony of this is...
What is Tom does deliver a car, but it is a car that destroys Wilson's life rather than helps it?
500
Pammy and the dog can be discussed synonymously in this way.
What is they are both youthful, living beings neglected by the careless people who are supposed to be nurturing them. They might be allegories for the younger generations watching the Roaring 20's set the scene for up-and-coming generations?