Symbolism Of The Green Light
In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald explains the symbolism of the green light on Daisy's dock and why it is important to the novel. The color green is used frequently in this novel. Envy, money, and hope are several characteristics that the color green portrays. The green light on Daisy's dock represents the hopes of Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of the story.
Daisy and Gatsby were acquainted with each other prior to the beginning of the novel. When Gatsby went off to war, Daisy promised to wait for him to return. However, when Gatsby returned from the war, Daisy had married Tom Buchanan, and from then on, Gatsby devoted his life to getting Daisy back. He realizes the only way to get Daisy to love him again was through money. Thus, he made money through crime. Gatsby showed his longing for Daisy when "he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way" (25) and Nick, the narrator of the story, having seen him do this, "could have sworn he was trembling" (26). Gatsby's reaching for the green light on the dock represents his hopes Daisy will be with him in the future. To Gatsby, Daisy is this perfect woman, who is beautiful and intelligent, however in reality she is not as perfect as Gatsby makes her out to be.
All through the novel Gatsby gets closer to his dream of recovering Daisy's love. When Gatsby had an affair with Daisy, he believed she would leave Tom for him. Also, when Daisy ran over Myrtle Wilson, the women Tom was having an affair with, in Gatsby's car, Gatsby took the blame for Myrtle's death. For Gatsby, his dreams and hopes "must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp them" (189).Yet, at the end of the novel when Daisy had to choose between Tom and Gatsby, she chose Tom, and Gatsby is left with the feeling of loss, despair and envy, another symbol of the color green. Gatsby never achieved his goal because George Wilson kills him since he was believed to be the killer of Myrtle.
Similar...
View Full Essay
