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Delaney Guillou

Mr. Pace

Honors Junior Literature and Composition

November 18th 2022

Symbolism Paragraph

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

the hope Gatsby holds out that he will get Daisy back together one day and everything will

go back to how it was. The green light first appears in chapter one when Nick first sees

Gatsby and quotes, “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, that

might have been the end of a dock.”, (Fitzgerald, 21). The meaning of the green light is

associated with the love Gatsby has for Daisy and the distance between them even when

they live so close to each other. This is further demonstrated in chapter five once Gatsby has

reunited with Daisy. Another instance of the green light occurs when Gatsby is standing

with Daisy on his dock looking out at the water at the mist. Gatsby quotes, “If it wasn't for

the mist we could see your home across the bay,” said Gatsby. “You always have a green light

that burns all night at the end of your dock.” (Fitzgerald, 117). In this example, the green

light reflects the rekindling relationship of Gatsby and Daisy on this day and end of Gatsby's

longing. Although, by the end of chapter nine we see the relationship did not work out quite

like Gatsby hoped. Towards the end of the novel, the 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
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our arms farther…”, (Fitzgerald, 180). The green light’s purpose illustrates the significance

of hope Gatsby had for him and Daisy until his last breath. Fitzgerald’s use of the green light

clearly highlights the lengths people can go to, to achieve their dreams and find love.