The Use Of The Green Light In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

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In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he writes about how having a dream in life is one of the most meaningful things. Throughout the novel dreams begin to alter as reality is applied, to show that no dream can make up for one's imagination. Fitzgerald uses the green light show that reality falls short dreams, while Gatsby's and Daisy's lives are a reminder that dreams give meaning to their lives. The use of the green light helps show the change in Gatsby and Daisy's relationship throughout the novel. The green light serves of a symbol of Gatsby's dream. When Nick first meets Gatsby he “stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way” (20) looking at the green light towards East Egg, where his dream shines in front of him. His posture suggests him reaching and longing for his dream. Later Nick learns that Daisy has “a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock”(92), connecting the green light to Daisy and reinforcing that she is, in fact, his dream. Gatsby is reaching for daisy when he is “standing alone on the marble steps looking”(50), during his extravagant parties waiting for daisy to arrive. The green light is a symbol of his dream because Gatsby was reaching for Daisy's green light, and Daisy is his dream. …show more content…

Once Gatsby is with Daisy a mist come between the green light and Gatsby, this change in the light shows the “significance of that light had now vanished forever” (93). While Gatsby was reaching for Daisy “his life had been more confused and disordered”(110). He notices “Daisy tumbled short of his dreams” (95) because she she is married, has a child, and untimilty can not choose Gatsby over Tom. “A change had come over him”(97) as he saw saw Daisy for the last time. As the green light faded in the mist, Gatsby's dream of Daisy faded with the green