The color green is arguably the most iconic and recognizable in American literature and this is due to the green light, which comes up in the novel quite often. The color itself can represent many things on a basic level, such as greed, money, envy, or even hope. The symbol is first introduced when Nick sees Gatsby for the first time and says, “I glanced seaward- and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away…” (26). Gatsby is standing on the edge of the dock reaching out towards the light, but he is also reaching out for his dream: Daisy. Gatsby’s house is in West Egg, home of the new rich, while Daisy lives directly across the bay in the classic East Egg. The light is at the end of Tom and Daisy’s dock, and it …show more content…
He gets Gatsby and Daisy together for tea at his place and the sparks are reignited. Gatsby takes them to his mansion to show off his lifestyle and it is almost too much for Daisy to take in. He brings her to the balcony to point out the location of his home in relation to Daisy’s and says, “You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock” (98). Now that he has Daisy, the symbol has changed slightly to being Daisy herself. The color green reflects nature and the freshness and vitality it has, just like Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship in this moment. Fitzgerald is bringing this symbol up again halfway through the book to remind the reader of how the story is developing. After Gatsby’s death, Fitzgerald writes, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us… tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…” (189). By this point so much has happened. Tom learns of the affair, Daisy finds out how Gatsby makes his money, Tom’s other woman is killed, and the widower kills Gatsby. Even through all this drama, Gatsby remained determined, and the green light shows both the hope of his dream and the greed of