Reliving the Past
At one point, Daisy and Gatsby dance in the light of a single candle. Jay is dressed in his military uniform, the clothes he was wearing when they first met. This imagery shows that the memories the couple once shared are coming back to life and the love between the two are rekindled. It gives the impression of going back in time, of escaping the present in order to relive beautiful romantic memories.
Stars in Her Eyes
Myrtle tells the story of how she met Tom, and Clayton films her with lights shining into her eyes so brightly that her eyes sparkle as though stars are in them. The imagery evokes the sense of magic and possibility that she feels about being with a man of such great wealth. It shows how she is overwhelmed with her infatuation with him and can see nothing else, foreshadowing the fatal mania she experiences at the end of the film.
Surrounded by Silver
When Nick and Jay await Daisy's arrival for tea at Nick's home, Gatsby has sent over a silver tea set to impress Daisy. It sparkles brightly in Nick's quaint home, contrasting with the simplicity of the cottage. Nick's ordinary life is now overtaken by glimmering silver and the imagery shows that this simple, humble man is now surrounded by great wealth, that he is caught up in a complicated situation regarding class and wealth.
The Sunset
When Nick gets back in his boat after visiting Daisy and Tom for the first time, the sky is a deep, almost radioactive pink-orange color. The landscape is at once beautiful and disorienting, almost like Nick is returning from another planet. The vivid boldness of the colors in this moment contribute to the idea that Nick is entering an entirely new world, exploring a place (at once beautiful and uncanny) that is completely unknown and unfamiliar to him.
