Gatsby’s car is yellow and happens to be the cause of Myrtle’s death. The color yellow symbolizes corruption and recklessness of wealth.Green is specifically placed on the deck of Daisy’s house to show Gatsby’s hope of being with Daisy. As mentioned before green is a symbol of hope. The most obvious color is the color Green as it is in the green light on Daisy’s dock. There are many different colors which have different meanings.Gatsby’s flashy car evidently leads to unfortunate downfall of his dream as his car kills Tom Buchannan’s mistress, Myrtle. His car also represents corruption that money brings.This represents the hollowness of the upper class because it shows that in order to get people to take interest in one, one must flaunt off one’s wealth. Gatsby’s wealth is important to him because he wishes to impress Daisy in the hopes of winning her back.Gatsby’s car is a symbol of his status.
Its flashiness is the perfect way to catch Daisy’s attention which is just what Gatsby desires.
In the time period of the 1920’s where the book takes place there is the concept of the “American Dream”.The eyes stare down on the characters as they disregard their morals and judge them for their careless behavior. ‘That’s an advertisement,’ Michaelis assured him.(Pg.159-161) Eckleburg, which had just emerged, pale and enormous, from the dissolving night. “Standing behind him, Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of Doctor T.J. This is shown in his conversation with Michaelis. After Myrtle is killed in the car accident Wilson relates the eyes of T.J.Nick also thinks of the eyes as watchful and all knowing he says, “The giant eyes of Doctor T.J.They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nose.” (Pg.23) An advertisement for an oculist’s practice they are described in the Great Gatsby as, “blue and gigantic- their retinas are one yard high. They are a pair of eyes on a sign in the valley of ashes, an area about half way between West Egg and New York. Eckleburg as referenced throughout the Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby’s dream is crushed in the end due to being unable to satisfy Daisy’s shallow and superficial lifestyle.He fears if he loses his money then Daisy would not want to be with him The green light at the end of the books feeds into Gatsby’s need for wealth.
The symbolism of the green light changes however from promising to detrimental.When Gatsby would look for the light he would reminisce about his relationship with Daisy, wanting to go back to the past meanwhile life still continues to move on.Tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.” (pg.180). Nick states “ Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgasticfuture that year by year recedes before us. Gatsby hopes to renew his old relationship with Daisy. Gatsby hopes to reconnect with Daisy and dreams of having a relationship with her as he had once before he left for war.Gatsby looks at the green light and reaches for it in attempt to reaching his dream which is Daisy.It can be seen at the end of the Buchannan’s dock. The green light is an important symbol in The Great Gatsby.The Great Gatsby:Symbols & Motifs By: Tim Brenner, Daniela Herrera, Ryan Morales & Rianna Scanlon