What Does The Green Light Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

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A symbol in a novel is a concrete object that represents an idea or a set of ideas. Choose 3 symbols in the book and explain what they mean and how they function together to support a central theme.

The Great Gatsby novel has various numbers of symbols that are descried and each symbolise very different things. Three symbols that this essay is going to further investigate are the green light, Gatsby’s gold and silver suit and the Valley of Ashes.
The green light is used to represent multiple things. The first thing it represents is Gatsby’s desire, his dream which is Daisy. To win Daisy would help Gatsby accomplish his American dream. The first time the green light is seen in the novel is when Nick sees Gatsby for the first time, Fitzgerald describes it as, "he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward – and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away." The green light is depicted as 'minute and far away ' which conveys the impossibility of achieving the dream. This turns out to be true for Gatsby. Another thing is symbolising is the society’s needs and desires and the impossible materialistic American dream. Lastly, the colour green also signifies wealth and the old wealth in the East Egg area in Buchannan’s habitat. The green light sets an ominous mood, particularly in the beginning. By then in the novel neither Nick nor the

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