Mexican Rights

Question: How do The Great Gatsby and The Color Purple use symbolism to convey meaning?

Thesis: The symbols in The Great Gatsby and The Color Purple help bring more meaning to both novels.

Symbols of Colors in The Great Gatsby

Blue

Blue = Illusion vs. Reality

“Her face, above a spotted dress of dark blue crepe-de-chine, contained no facet or gleam of beauty…” (25)

Myrtle wants to be rich by having a relationship with Tom. However, blue is just an illusion and we know she will never obtain it.

Red

Red = Bloodline

“There house was even more elaborate than I expected, a cheerful red and white mansion, overlooking the bay.” (6)

Through the color red, their house shows that through their family there will always be an old money mindset.

Green

Green = American Dream

“Involuntarily I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far way, that might have been the end of the dock.

Gatsby’s American Dream = point of the book. Gatsby is trying to reach out to the dock just like as we reach out for our own dreams.

Gold

Gold = Money/Rich

“With Jordan's slender golden arm resting in mine" (44)

Since money causes corruption, it shows how Jordan is starting to corrupt Nick.

The Color Purple

a.) Blue

i. Bruises = Unhappy

ii. “Plenty red but she say, Naw, he won’t want to pay for red. Too happy lookin. We got choice of brown, maroon or navy blue. I say blue.” (21)

iii. Since Celie has a blue dress, it show that she is unhappy as a person at this part of the book.

b.) Red

i. Bright powerful color

ii. “She go with me in the store. I think what color Shug Avery would wear. She like a queen to me so I say to Kate, Somethin purple, maybe little red in it too.” (20)

iii. Since Shug is wearing red, we know she is a powerful strong willed person.

c.) Purple

i. Purple = Rarity (Mix between red and blue)

ii. “Everything in my room purple and red except the floor, that painted bright yellow.” (284)

iii. Since Celie...