What Does The Green Light Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

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“Can’t repeat the past?…Why of course you can!”(Fitzgerald). In The Great Gatsby, there are many examples of symbolism, but the most prominent one is the green light. Jay Gatsby is in love with Daisy Buchanan who lives across the bay on East Egg. She has a green light on the end of her dock that Gatsby often stares at, and even reaches for. Gatsby and Daisy used to be together, but he went to war and she moved on. He moved close to her and would throw lavish parties, hoping she would show up for one. With Gatsby staring and reaching for the light, it represents the American dream. Even though Jay Gatsby was really rich, he did not have all that he wanted. What he really wanted was Daisy's love, which would mean that he had reached the American dream. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is always looking and reaching out for the green light on Daisy’s dock, representing his need for love, the final piece of the American Dream. …show more content…

However, he did not have the perfect family and wife that he desired. He loves Daisy, but she moved on and does not feel the same about him. Jay Gatsby feels that she is the only one for him and he has always been in love with her. "It was a strange coincidence," I said. "But it wasn't a coincidence at all." "Why not?" "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay”(Fitzgerald). Gatsby does everything for Daisy even though she doesn't realize it. The parties are thrown for her, with him hoping she would show up to one and he moves to be close to her. However, Jay got lucky after Nick Carraway moved into the cottage beside