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Will Portalla

Mr. Pace

Honors junior literature composition

21 november 2022

The green light

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, green light is used to demonstrate the

relationship Gatbsy has with Daisy and the future in which Daisy and him are not separated by

the interruptions that led them to be so far apart. Green light first appears when Fitzgerald writes

““You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock”(Fitzgerald 92). The

meaning of green light in context to Gatsby announcing the green light to Daisy is the first time

in which Gatsby truly says its relation to Daisy and her house, as though he's been watching and

waiting for her, that he's never forgotten his love for her. This is further demonstrated when the

juxtaposition between Gatsby's attitude before he talked with Daisy again and after has left him

closer to the reality in which he wants to live. Another instance of green light occurs when Nick

thinks “Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now

vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had

seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now

it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by

one”(Fitzgerald 93). In this example, green light vanishes, reflecting that gatsby doesn't need to

wait for his future and love anymore. It is all coming to him as he dreamed. Nick, throughout the

book, is very watchful and isn't one to make quick judgements but he realized as did with Gatsby

that they realized his dream and Gatsby had Daisy’s love. Although Gatsby was so close to his
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dream the universe was never gonna let him live his dream but stop everything he has worked for

and leave him dead. Towards the end of the novel, green light appears again, as Fitzgerald writes

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It

eluded us then, but that’s no matter – tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms

farther…And one fine morning –”(Fitzgerald 180). Green lights’s purpose illustrates the

connection between dreams and reality. It is a contemptoius feeling to stiive for your

dreams and goals, yet has the power to control your dreams and goals. Green light is hope

and yet faith ius nit guaranteed. Gatbsy’s life was devoted to daisy and yet at the cost of it all

he was the one left hurt. The meaning of green light is associated with the tranquility and hope

in which Gatsby strived for. the reward to all his risk. The end to his story and the girl of his

dreams. Gatsby worked so hard, he gave his all, gave his very last drop, till his last breath, just so

he could be the one in which Daisy loves. Green light represents the conscientious ideas and

vestige of the feelings of Daisy that he never wants to let go.