Colors have been used through out literature and history as an easy way to get symbolism across. Interestingly, some cultures did not have certain words for colors, such as the ancient greeks, who substituted the word "blue" for the phrase "the wine-dark sea" in the Odyssey (this depends on which version you read).
Red: Red is one of the easiest colors to identify in terms of both literature and real life. It stands out from other colors. It signals danger and is the color of blood, of fire, of anger, and of violence.
Blue: Blue is seen as a calming color, owing to its association with the sky and water. In western culture, is traditionally affiliated with the male sex, usually at birth. It is the most popular color. Side not: Many early civilizations settled by sources of water.
Green: Green is the color of life, but in past times, it was also the color of sickness. This is why Death in Revelations rides a "pale horse"; pale, in the time the book was published, did not mean pallor as used in modern times, but meant instead a sickly green color. Disease, remember was (and still is) the deadliest killer of mankind, rivaled only by ourselves.
Yellow: Yellow is linked to happiness, but also too cowardliness in the western world (why you got to pick on yellow?)
Purple: Purple was a difficult shade to make in the ancient world, and thus was expensive. As such, only the wealthy could afford it, and it became shorthand for royalty. Roman senators wore togas with purple stripes to indicate their rank, and the rich elite flaunted their wealth by possessing garments and decor that was purple.
Gold: Gold is associated with wealth, but also sometimes with the sun. It is also an excellent conductor of electricity.
Silver: Like gold, silver is associated with wealth, but also with the moon and stars.
Orange: Orange is, like yellow, affiliated with happiness, but also with activity, warmth, fire, and passion and is traditionally associated with the autumn season.
Brown: Brown is the color of earth and stones, as well as wood. Many animals have brown pelts to help them blend in with their surroundings.
Pink: Pink is associated with love and sexuality; blushing is an indicator of attraction, but also of embarrassment. Pink is associated with femininity, particularly with young girls.
Black: Black is the abundance of all color; in many societies, it is indicative of malevolence, night, shadows, darkness, death, and the unknown.
White: White directly opposite black, being the absence of all color. In the western world, it is seen affiliated with purity, while in Asia it is akin to mourning.
Grey: Grey is located in between black and white. It is sometimes and ominous color, signaling a storm, but is more often correlated with modesty, old age, boredom, and neutrality. It is also the color of ashes, and as a result is a biblical symbol of mourning and repentance.
Magenta: A reddish purple color, the color of wine. Fun fact: It does not actually exist, your brain made it up to distinguish between it and green.
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The Book of Fictional Writing 101
NonfiksiA handy lexicon of terms used in and applied to literary fiction and what they actually mean, as well as some ideas on how to improve your writing.
