Significance Of The Green Light In The Great Gatsby

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the word "imitation" in the sentence suggests that Gatsby is not really content with being alone, but is only pretending to be. This could be seen as another indication of his loneliness and isolation, as he may feel that he has to put on a mask, hiding his true emotions, because he has no other choice than to be lonely. As minutes pass by, Gatsby “stretched his arms towards the dark water in a curious way... and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away that might have been the end of a dock,” Nick concludes (20-21). The green light serves as a motif that runs throughout the novel, representing Gatsby's dream of being reunited with Daisy, the love of his life. Despite the fact that Daisy is married and living a different life, …show more content…

The green light serves as a reminder of his deep-rooted passion and dedication towards her, even in the face of insurmountable obstacles. His one and only dream “finds its focus in the remote and mysterious green light at the end of Daisy’s dock” that he is eager to have (Friedman). Gatsby repeatedly tries to be with her, but does not work out. He invites her over and tries to reconnect, hoping to revive the past. However, he remains unable to release his grip on her, yearning for that which is unattainable. To Gatsby’s disappointment, he often feels “far away from her... It’s hard to make her understand’” his feelings (109). Even when he is finally reunited with Daisy, he is unable to fully connect with her, as she represents an unattainable ideal rather than a real person. Gatsby finds himself disillusioned and dissatisfied with his relationship with Daisy due to his lofty expectations. He desperately clings to the past, yearning for what they once shared. In his imagination, he constructs an idealized version of Daisy, which is unattainable for her. He never anticipates the possibility of their relationship falling short and fails to even entertain that as a potential outcome. He invests himself