The green light is used in The Great Gatsby ultimately to symbolize hope. As Gatsby peers across the bay towards Daisy’s home, he is thinking about his old flame and the love that they used to share. He is constantly throwing parties in hopes that she one day wanders into them, so he can possibly work his way back into her life which he eventually succeeds at. The green light is most prominent in the beginning of the book when he has not met back up with Daisy, so him looking at the light and focusing on this life that he used to share with Daisy can exemplify this notion of hope that the light symbolizes. He hopes that he will be able to live out his old glory days with his love Daisy even though he knows she is now married. He hopes that finding and getting back with Daisy will give his life meaning again because of the emptiness he feels from losing her. He peers out across the bay hoping ultimately to be happy again with Daisy.
A good connection to the modern day of this symbol would be Kanye West buying the house across the street from his now ex-wife Kim Kardashian. Instead of peering across the bay, I imagine Kanye is watching from across the street hoping that he can get back with his love Kim. Instead of a green light, just the act of watching from afar across the street would be symbolizing Kanye’s hope to get back with Kim Kardashian.