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Considering the Colors

Now, how about colors? Colors have shown to be symbolic and influential. Trowa's color scheme is black, light blue and gray. In variations it can also be navy blue, dark greens and off white.


Shirts:

Trowa's turtleneck is always along the lines of a lightly faded black. To the casual observer it would ultimately be a black turtleneck. Still, in other cases depending on lighting and how one's television screen is adjusted it dominantly looks navy blue. On occasions, like in art books, it appears to be a very dark green. Thus, I decided to look at all possibilities.


Black:

As noted, his turtleneck is likely mostly seen as black. In Eastern cultures black symbolizes career, evil influences, knowledge, mourning and penance and self-cultivation. Now, if one looks at career as a way of passage or moving through a path from point to point. If so, it could indicate he takes life as it comes. He thinks not of the future or of the past, but of what he must do now. What will be, will be and was has happened, happened.

As for evil influences nothing comes to mind. In truth it seems more the opposite. He avoids influences that are or can be perceived as negative. His emotions are muted because they seem to not be needed in war and can weaken a person. He shows no sorrow because it doesn't help in his cause. He shows no anger as it too can hinder a person from their objective and is considered a negative feeling.

He never allows depression even when he winds up with amnesia. If anything, he tries to get rid of anything that is of evil influence, but does not do such with anything evil about his actions or thoughts.

Knowledge is next. He shows knowledge through wisdom and intellect. His wisdom lays in battle which was cultivated from experience. His intellect stemmed from battle for capabilities as a soldier. His intellect also seems to be of natural ability as well as from being observant.

Mourning and penance will go hand-in-hand. Perhaps it could symbolize mourning those he has killed, the actions he has done in his short life, his lack of existence and so forth. If he does show such, his actions of today are his ways of showing penance. He fights for those who cannot, he performs to bring smiles to others and he lives so those who care about him will not cry.

The last listed is self-cultivation. Well, Trowa has always looked after himself. While he has been taken in by some, most of his life had very little interaction in regards to a deep relationship between friends, family or otherwise. He observes others and hopes to make himself better. Such is seen with how he takes to Heero. He sees his flaws and wishes to improve himself.

So far, black seems to suit him well. It is said black deals with self-confidence, power and strength. While it is not to say that Trowa lacks in physical, mental or emotional strength, he does show at times doubt in himself. As noted, he knows his limitations and can see his flaws when comparing himself to others. He lacks a background, a name and a family. He has no roots. In those cases, I can see him having insecurities. Perhaps black helps hide those feelings.

Psychologically it can be comforting and protective, which seems quite similar to Trowa�s disposition with those who care about him and vice versa. It is known to be a color of mystery and is associated with silence and sometimes death. Well being the quiet sort as well as the Silencer, that seems to go in hand with the silence and death part. The latter certainly dealt well with Duo.

Lastly black can be considered passive and can prevent us from growing and changing. Trowa has been described as passive in some cases and has shown a sort of passiveness with others. He is not one to make trouble or make a big deal about things some or most people will. As for the lack of change and growth, it is quite true in Trowa's case. Throughout his life his disposition is the same. He always gave off a solemn air from when he was a child to a teen. While he has been seen as one who adapts to change easily, he never seems to change. Even when infiltrating his mannerisms are the same. He does not even seem to act when it comes to his uncover missions. Perhaps it is a good thing he only wears one article of clothing in the shade of black.


Navy Blue:

Another color that his turtleneck seems to be is a dark navy blue. As some people will know, it is hard to differentiate navy blue from black. Well, at times his shirt looks very much to be of a blue hue. In Eastern culture blue symbolizes wealth and self-cultivation. While the self-cultivation has been addressed, wealth is an entirely different matter. At first though, wealth seems to have nothing to do with Trowa. He is a wanderer, an orphan and has worked since a small child to be able to eat. Still, perhaps it can mean something else. Perhaps he is looking for wealth and this is not by means of money. No, he looks for wealth in love, affection, feelings, freedom and belonging. Who wouldn't wish to have those things in abundance?

As for the influential aspect, it is said that blue is calming, lowers blood pressure and stimulates the pituitary gland. Well, blue certainly reflects how Trowa is and maybe he turns to the color blue for its soothing properties. The physiological aspect of blue that deals with blood pressure is a plus considering the stressful life he lives and the stimulating of the pituitary gland helps regulate our sleep patterns. In any case, all are important.


Dark Green:

The third color his turtleneck can be seen as is a dark, almost black, shade of green. Green represents eternity, family, harmony, health, prosperity and peace in Eastern cultures. In Japan it symbolizes life.

Well, it is hard to place eternity with Trowa unless one looks at his ability to narrowly avoid death and thus continues to live. Another look is his eventual status as a Gundam Pilot. His actions help change history and the lives of people and the later lives of the future, thus making his presence along the lines of eternal as all those who make a great impact on multiple human lives.

Family is next and hidden deeply within Trowa's heart he seems to have always longed for a family and shows great protectiveness and concern over those who are close to him almost as though he is an older brother.

While Trowa's life in general lacks balance, his actions are usually balanced, thus creating a sort of harmony. He keeps himself cool and steady, rarely going to various extremes in regards to emotions.

As for health, all the Gundam Pilots show excellent physical condition. They are all active and healthier than most athletes likely. Trowa is acrobatic, possesses considerable strength, and an active mind. He would be an example of optimum health if he didn't weigh so little. Perhaps it is just his genetic makeup though. It isn't like he has much body fat. He is all lean muscle.

In all his searching and wandering, it looks as though Trowa has prospered in the many things he lacked as a child and as a human being. He found a home, a family, friends and a purpose for living. Over time he grew and began to regain the feelings he locked away in order to survive while as a child.

As for life, he slowly began to learn how to live like noted in prosperity. Like in eternity he constantly managed to survive seemingly impossible situations. In time perhaps he'll live his life to the fullest.

Green is said to be good for one's heart physically and emotionally as it helps it bring one physical equilibrium and relaxation. It has a relaxing effect and helps one's breathing. Again, there seems to be influences for balance in the color green. In this case it is physical form. With both the mind and body at such a state he is clear minded and in perfect focus. His mind is also alert from the well regulated oxygen. All three do well for his line of work as a soldier. In all his fighting perhaps green helps promote level-headedness and fights off anxiousness.

Now, psychologically green can create the feelings of comfort, relaxation and calmness. A possible unconscious effort might be taking place here. How often did Trowa receive comfort while growing up? With what settings he lived in where is the relaxing and calm times? It doesn't seem like such happened much. Green could be a very beneficial color to him, but he�d require lighter shades of it.



Pants:

Now, the next item of clothing to look at is his jeans. They tend to give the idea of the very light blue jeans one saw back in the early nineteen-nineties. At the same time they look like they could be just plain white.


Blue:

First off there is the possibility of blue. While blue has been explained already in regards to the turtleneck shades of blue can have various influential effects as well. It is said that people who wear dark blue are intelligent, self-reliant and take on a great deal of responsibility. People who wear light blue are said to be analytical and have a practical approach to life. Such combinations of both shades seem to fit Trowa well.

Blue is associated with the sky. When gazing at it night or day one can feel calm and relaxed. Lighter shades are said to make people feel quiet and away from the rush of the day. Trowa seems like that. He is calm, cool, collected and going at his own pace.

Fashion wise, if one combines the light blue of his jeans with the navy blue turtleneck, it can convey trust and truthfulness. Together they can also give a conservative and sophisticated look. Again, that seems to suit Trowa. Out of the Gundam Pilots he is one of the most mature as well most reserved. When one gains his trust, an example would be Quatre, he tends to give it fully.


White:

Now another possibility is that his jeans are white. In Eastern cultures white is worn at funerals, thus a symbol for death. It also symbolizes helpful people, children, marriage, mourning, peace, purity and travel.

Well, if he wore just white, I suppose the funeral thing could go in hand with mourning. Trowa has much to mourn for and while he won't allow such to really occur emotionally, it isn't to say he doesn't mourn in other ways unconsciously.

Trowa seems to fit with the helpful part. He always tries to be helpful it seems. Such is especially noticeable when he has amnesia.

The connection with children is hard to place really other than that he feels at peace when he is able to make them smile when performing at the circus. Perhaps it could also show that he too was once a child or perhaps is still one waiting to go home.

Marriage also seems to have little to do with Trowa unless there is a chance he hopes to one day marry and make a family for himself.

Again, mourning works in hand with the funeral part.

Peace meanwhile is something Trowa strives for perhaps not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well. He fights for peace. Looking at the life he has lived he seems to repress or simply find solace in apathy, but is he really at peace with himself and all the killing he has done? If not that, perhaps he really is at peace and this symbolizes such.

Then there is purity... in war there are bloodied hands and many deaths. Despite this, as Noin had noted, all the Gundam Pilots are pure souls. Their intentions are pure and they follow their beliefs. They are genuine. Thus, perhaps white symbolizes the purity Trowa still possesses.

Last is travel. Trowa has always been a traveler. He wanders as a child, was always taken in by those who traveled for a living and has mostly been a wandering soul looking for a place to belong. In this case, white definitely suits him.

Psychologically white is said to influence feelings of peace and comfort as well as dispel shock and despair. Again peace and comfort seems to follow everywhere in this, but to help dispel shock and despair would be ultimately beneficial in regards to his times of fighting, killing and losing. Perhaps white gives a sort of psychological shield for him. After all, while Trowa does give off a solemn air, he never seems depressed.

White also can give a feeling of freedom and uncluttered openness and evokes purification of thoughts or actions. Perhaps that is why his tight jeans are white� freedom and openness. Still though, it is interesting the white would shroud his legs. His legs are indeed his finest instruments. When he uses them correctly he defies gravity and flies through the air when doing his acrobatic stunts.

Perhaps the white quietly expresses his civilian self. There he lives less restricted and more at ease. He isn't focused on a mission or whether he will die that day. It hints that there are times where he is not always wary or schooling his expressions.

In terms of purification, that seems to ring true for all the Gundam Pilots. As noted earlier about Noin seeing them has having pure souls, perhaps the white also helps with the focus and unwavering of that purity.

To his luck though, Trowa only wears one item of white. Too much white can give off a feeling of coldness and separation. Still, it isn't to say he doesn�t likely feel that half of the time.

One thing I read a while ago said that white "enables fresh beginnings". It often makes me think of his constant change of personas when infiltrating, as well as his various roles in life. His adaptability also seems to play into this. Ultimately, he did find a fresh beginning when he found his home and a new life to live after the war.



Shoes:

Lastly are his shoes. They are a gray color of medium shade. It is as simple as that.

Well, what does gray say? In Eastern culture gray symbolizes helpers and travel. Such things have already been addressed. Thus, what does it indicate psychologically? It is a color of independence and self-reliance. At the same time though, it indicates separation, lack of involvement and loneliness.

It seems like the gray shoes tell everything here. Trowa has been independent at a very young age. He knows what he wants and easily makes decisions. In all of this he mainly looked to himself. Later in the series he does show differently when it came to Heero, but before all of this it was merely him.

The other things listed seem to reflect how he is with others. There is always a certain detachment about him. Though he has lived with many people surrounding him, none of them were very close seeming. Until there were the Gundam Pilots and Catherine, he really seemed to just keep to himself. He was very much the loner but slowly did he ease into trusting Catherine and producing a tendency to work with the other pilots when at the beginning he was always wary.

Another thing to look at in regards to separation is his past. He was separated from his family, thus his origins and the knowledge to his real name. He possessed no true background and it was all due to being separated by those who knew him and should have been there to raise him.

In all of this, the symbolism of gray psychologically seems to ultimately lead up to the last word, loneliness. He likely felt like one in a million. He was an outcast. There was no one to truly love him or guide him. It was only when he was in his mid-teens did he find people to ease away his loneliness. He found those who cared and those who were like him.




Sources:
Blue Symbolism: Personality
Psychology and Physiology: Colors
Asian and Psychological Color Symbolisms



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