The Great Gatsby
Visual Resources
Jay Gatsby's yellow Rolls Royce
This is a picture of Gatsby’s yellow Rolls Royce which Tom, Nick, and Jordan drove to the Plaza hotel and which Gatsby and Daisy hit Myrtle with on the way home. In his article, Daniel Schneider describes the yellow of Gatsby’s car to symbolize “money, the crass materialism that corrupts [Gatsby’s] dream and ultimately destroys it.” (13). On page 68 of Gatsby, Tom describes the color of Gatsby’s car as “a rich cream” color combining white (the color of dreams) and yellow (the color of money). Though after it was used to hit Myrtle, it is described simply as “the yellow car”, the white color of dreams stripped from the description.
Gatsby’s choice of car reflects on his reputation and character throughout the book. Although Gatsby thinks that his yellow Rolls Royce will advertise his wealth and new status, it really just categorizes him as one of the nouveau riche of west egg or as an outsider. Getsby’s car also relates back to the theme throughout the book of Gatsby holding onto dreams and not allowing them to change with age as his car reflects an ideal formed by a teenager that was never questioned again.
tom Buchanan's Blue Coupe
This is a picture of Tom Buchanan’s blue coupé, the car that Gatsby and Daisy drove to the Plaza Hotel and that Tom, Nick, and Jordan drove home in chapter 7. The blue color of Tom Buchanan’s car symbolizes “romantic idealism, a continuation of the white imagery that denotes Gatsby's dream.” In his analysis of color in The Great Gatsby, Daniel Schneider argues that because blue symbolizes romantic idealism, which is part of Gatsby’s dream, Tom was the ideal Gatsby was straining towards.
The simple definitions of the Buchanan’s cars also symbolizes their comfortableness with their wealth and status unlike Gatsby who almost seems awkward in his status. The Buchanan’s do not feel the need to show off their wealth and status by driving “gaudy and showy automobiles.” (27).
Character Map
This is a map of all the characters and their connections to one another. Starting with Nick Carraway, the narrator, he is related to Daisy Buchanan as they are cousins, which we learn in the first chapter. Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan and they have a child together Pamela 'Pammy' Buchanan. Tom's mistress is Myrtle Wilson who is married to George Wilson who is friends with Tom Buchanan. Daisy Buchanan's lover is Jay Gatsby who is friends/neighbors with Nick Carraway. Nick is also dating Jordan Baker who is friends with Daisy and Tom Buchanan.