It has been said that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. This sentiment, which is linked to the ancient times of the Greek philosopher Plato and widely known as quoted by author Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, infers a subjective point of view when people consider what exactly defines beauty (“Eye”). Similarly, individuals can also fluctuate on their interpretation of what is actually seen. In the case of colors, responses may vary based on how the eye perceives the image. For some, the color green may look more like blue. For others, red might appear orange. This may seem to be a rather unimportant component of daily living. However, it is actually ironic just how much color plays a role in people’s lives. For example, many individuals contemplate…show more content… In literature, authors use different colors to help the readers feel a connection with the written words. Whether writers use subtle approaches or more repetitive methods, the inclusion of color allows the readers to emotionally connect with the characters, mood, and setting of the story. Consequently, readers are able to feel the emotions that the author is purposely trying to convey, such as happiness, sadness, or anger. Common examples of symbolic word choices include using white for goodness, black for evil, and red for danger (Parker 5). A classic literary example which proves that color can successfully be utilized to express emotion and convey a mood is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This novel was written in 1925 and highlights the mood of the Jazz Age. Along with the extravagance of the period, also known as the Roaring Twenties, came corruption and immorality. A gap also existed between social classes while a forfeiture of faith created a feeling of despondency. This mood was significantly represented through Fitzgerald’s critically acclaimed book by using the colors yellow, white, red, grey, blue, and green (Zhang 38). The color yellow is used repeatedly with the main character Jay Gatsby to communicate a feeling of wealth and status. Some examples include Gatsby’s yellow house, tie, and car. However, yellow also had negative connotations and was used to represent tragic emotions. Additionally, the color white is often used with another main character named Daisy to convey a feeling of shallowness, self-centeredness, and heartlessness. According to Haibing Zhang, Daisy represents, “The spirit and mood of the Jazz Age and the hypocritical values and moral standards of the bourgeois.” Furthermore, Zhang claims, “White symbolizes Daisy’s emptiness, hypocrisy, and ignorance” (42). Likewise, the color red is written into the plot to evoke a feeling of danger and fury in correlation
