The American Dream is the ideal that if one works hard, he or she will gain success and prosper in life. Based on many outcomes of the American Dream, one 's dream is often very personal and subjective. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 American novel, The Great Gatsby, he utilizes the green light, the Valley of Ashes, and the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg to portray the central theme of the hope and hopelessness of the American Dream.
In his novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald shows how the American Dream can be achievable and personal through utilizing the green light. In the 1910s and 1920s, red-green traffic lights had first begun to be installed in the United States. In relation to those traffic lights, the symbol of the green light in Fitzgerald’s novel means “go”. In the context of the plot, it represents Gatsby 's desire to "go" after his dreams. Gatsby starts to become successful and sees wealth as a false God. He uses this as his ego to be with Daisy. He acquires an extravagant lifestyle and throws wild parties that he believes he needs to impress Daisy., his lost love. While staring at the green light on Daisy 's dock, Gatsby longs to be reunited with her as Nick narrates in chapter nine, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no
…show more content…
F. Scott Fitzgerald strongly depicts the hope and hopelessness of the American Dream through the use of symbolism. He uses the green light to portray the aspirations and despondency of the American Dream. This symbol also shows how one never gives up and keeps chasing after his/her dream. What really matters in life is the relationships one has and the contributions one makes to this world. Fitzgerald also uses the Valley of Ashes to convey how the American Dream can be nearly unattainable, and the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg are used to represent how morality is more important in the eyes of God and the awareness of money can corrupt the American