The Great Gatsby

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Everyone has a dream of what they want their future to entitle, one thing that would make them happy that they do not currently have. In the novel The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald illustrates Gatsby, a wealthy man, as a character whose only dream is to be reunited with the love of his life. Gatsby is controlled, and later destroyed, by a green light that symbolizes his yearning for something he can no longer have.
At the beginning, the green light illustrates the great distance between Gatsby and Daisy, and also his hope to be with her again. Nick spotted Gatsby as, “He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward – and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far way, that might have been the end of a dock” (21). In this quote, Gatsby is actually physically reaching his arms across the bay, towards Daisy, at the green light and shows the symbolism between the green light and Daisy for the first time. The color green is often associated with envy showing Gatsby’s lust and envy to relive the past and be with her once again. Later on in the novel, we find out that "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay" (149). This quote shows that the only reason Gatsby purchased that house was to be able to see Daisy and in hope for them to be together once again. Gatsby threw extravagant parties only inspite of his optimism that Daisy would one day wonder in and they would be reunited once again. Every decision and move that Gatsbys makes is for a reason; everything that Gatsby does is to regain his relationship with Daisy.
In the middle of the novel, the green light symbolized how...

... middle of paper ...

...t our arms farther…. And one fine morning —” (180). Gatsby chased illusions and ignored reality, leading to the downfall of all he ever wanted, Daisy’s love. Gatsby’s optimism that he could overpower time and re-create the past in the present was destroyed by Daisy’s rejection of him due to his suspicious past. Gatsby was not left with the love of his live, nor the green light to imagine her, but rather Gatsby was left with nothing. Gatsby was left with death.
The symbolism of the green light may change over time, but always has some time towards the love of Gatsby’s life—Daisy. This is made apparent throughout the novel. It starts off with Gatsby reminiscing on the past, reaching for Daisy. Then the space between them vanishes and they’re reunited once again. Lastly, not only does Gatsby not have the green light to reminisce Daisy, but he is also left shot dead.mgc

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