The Green Light

In The Great Gatsby, the green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock is a recurring symbol and it has significant thematic and metaphorical importance throughout the novel. I found the green light to be much more important after being able to see it in the movie.

The green light represents the unattainable dream of a future with Daisy. Gatsby lives on the other side of the egg from Daisy’s mansion, and the green light is positioned at the end of her dock. It is a beacon that Gatsby reaches out toward, both literally and symbolically, as he longs for his future with Daisy. Regardless, the green light is just out of reach, this is symbolic of Gatsby’s dream of being with Daisy is always just out of reach.

The green light also serves as a symbol of the American Dream, which is a main theme within the novel. The green represents Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth, success, and social status to win Daisy’s love is a physical manifestation of the elusive American Dream. The green light reminds us as readers that this dream while tempting, is elusive and ultimately impossible to attain.

The green light, like much of the world in the novel, meshes the line between illusion and reality together. Gatsby’s dream of being with Daisy is built on a fake illusion, and the green light serves as a constant reminder of the line between the dream world and reality.

I found the green light at the end of the dock to be a powerful symbol that is able to encapsulate themes of the unattainability of the American Dream and the tension between illusion and reality. The light serves as the beacon that draws Gatsby towards his impossible goal of a future with Daisy and serves as a constant reminder of this.