Untitled Storyboard
Storyboard Tekst
- Lysbilde: 1
- Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby thoroughly uses bright and dull colours to describe specific emotions and ideas that readers can use to identify hidden meanings behind characters or events.
- Chapter 8 of Scott McCloud's graphic novel supports these ideas as he mentions,"Others like Kandinsky, believed that colors could have profound physical and emotional effects on people" (McCloud 185).
- Hopefully, my interpretation of Fitzgerald's particular use of colours deepens your understanding of his intentions!
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- At the beginning of the story, we’re introduced to Nick’s visit to the Buchanan’s house. Looking at the quote, "...a cheerful red and white Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay" (Fitzgerald 9). Fitzgerald uses the colours red and white to contrast warmth and tranquility. Red is usually used for intense feelings, potentially describing the romantic love Tom and Daisy are expected to have. White, on the other hand, is used to reflect a calm and elegant environment.
- Together, these colours excite the readers to expect a luxurious, perfect lifestyle of the couple, before we are introduced to their flaws.
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- The description, “The front was broken by a line of French windows, glowing now with reflected gold” (Fitzgerald 9) emphasizes the wealth and exquisite lifestyle that Daisy and Tom possess. The glowing sensation also helps create strong imagery, as McCloud even mentions, “We live in a world full of colors, not just black and white. Color comics will always seem more real at first glance” (McCloud 192).
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- When Nick is invited to the Buchanan’s house, he discovers Daisy and Jordan seated in the lounge, wearing white dresses that were, “rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house” (Fitzgerald 10). The colour white, usually representing perfection or purity, portrays the beauty reflected off the two women, creating an illusion of wealth at the moment.
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- While Nick, Tom, and Daisy discuss life in Chicago, Nick sarcastically speaks of how many people must miss Daisy’s presence, following the quote, “The whole town is desolate. All the cars have the left rear wheel painted black as a mourning wreath and there’s a persistent wail all night along the North Shore” (Fitzgerald 12). In most cases, the colour black represents grief, mourning, or death, shifting emotions to a more serious mood.
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- One of the most important parts of the story is the green light. The significance of the bright green light is used to emphasize optimism, namely, Gatsby’s dream of winning Daisy back. However, Fitzgerald concludes the first chapter by leaving Nick alone yet again, letting the darkness swallow him,“When I looked once more for Gatsby, he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness” (Fitzgerald 24-25). This sets a contrast between Gatsby’s hopes and what reality is actually like.
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- Right back to where we started! I hope this clarified Fitzgerald’s symbolism behind his chosen colours and according to McCloud, “color has been a powerful, even predominant concern of fine artists everywhere” (McCloud 185) showing how different colours can change the reader’s interpretation of a story.