Green Light In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald utilizes the symbol of the green light to represent Gatsby’s hopes and dreams in order to demonstrate Gatsby’s character development. The mysterious Jay Gatsby is describing to his long lost lover Daisy that she “always has a green light that burns all night at the end of her dock” (Fitzgerald 92). Daisy’s house is right across Gatsbys; he points out the green light on her dock. Before Gatsby mentions the green light, he notices a change in the weather: “If it wasn’t for the mist” usually they would be able to “see [Daisy’s] home across the bay” (Fitzgerald 92). The weather is now foggy and they cannot see the green light as clearly as it regularly would be. Getting back Daisy is all Gatsby wanted for five years, it is his vision
of the American dream. Now that he is reunited with Daisy, the green light is distorted. Gatsby has an idea of his perfect life, but since he achieves it with reuniting with Daisy it is not the same as it was before, therefore the green light that was once bright is now unclear. Shortly after, Gatsby points out the green light, while Nick narrates, “Possibly it had occurred to him the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever” (Fitzgerald 93). Gatsby is wrapped up in his own mind and has a realization that since he now has Daisy the meaning of the light faded. Immediately after Nick continues to narrate, “Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her” (Fitzgerald 93). Prior to their meeting the distance between them used to be very far but now Daisy and the green light are close to him. Gatsby perceives the green light as Daisy, she is his American dream, since they met the significance of the dream is not there anymore. From a distance, the green light that is his dream of Daisy seems to be perfect, but in reality she is not the golden girl he thought she was.
of the American dream. Now that he is reunited with Daisy, the green light is distorted. Gatsby has an idea of his perfect life, but since he achieves it with reuniting with Daisy it is not the same as it was before, therefore the green light that was once bright is now unclear. Shortly after, Gatsby points out the green light, while Nick narrates, “Possibly it had occurred to him the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever” (Fitzgerald 93). Gatsby is wrapped up in his own mind and has a realization that since he now has Daisy the meaning of the light faded. Immediately after Nick continues to narrate, “Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her” (Fitzgerald 93). Prior to their meeting the distance between them used to be very far but now Daisy and the green light are close to him. Gatsby perceives the green light as Daisy, she is his American dream, since they met the significance of the dream is not there anymore. From a distance, the green light that is his dream of Daisy seems to be perfect, but in reality she is not the golden girl he thought she was.