“You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.” (Fitzgerald 98)
The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock is a significant symbol in The Great Gatsby and is mentioned numerous times throughout the novel. The colour green, we can associate with many things. Some of the more positive associations are: spring, life, and the words “Go”, are the first that come into people’s minds. A darker association is the colour of money - green American dollars. Money is everything for Gatsby, it puts him food on the table, a roof over his head, friends to avoid loneliness, and even a false sense of confidence that money gives him.
The green light for Gatsby is the physical distance that separates him and Daisy. Reaching the green light would mean having Daisy, so in perspective, it is Gatsby’s primary goal, his dream. The green light is visible through his own bedroom window, which reminds him everyday how close he is to having her.
Once Daisy is in his house, with him, Gatsby realizes that the symbol has now vanished. It is only a green light at the end of a dock “…the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever” (Fitzgerald 98).
The green light can also represent envy in a physical form. For example, the green light is not only associated with Daisy, but with Tom as well. This makes Gatsby envy Tom, who is the one that is truly connected to Daisy through marriage.
ReplyDeletei definetly agree that the green light symbolizes Gatsby's envy of Tom. i like how fitzgerald describes the light being across the lake, it makes it seem like Gatsby's hope of getting back together with daisy is almost unattainable.
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