Significance Of The Green Light In The Great Gatsby

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (Fitzgerald Chapter 9). This famous quote is the last line straight out of one of America’s favorite novels from 1925, The Great Gatsby. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby, there is a reoccurring symbol, the green light. Although it is mentioned very few times throughout a few chapters, the significance of this symbol is very important to what the author is trying to get across. It also plays a very big role in letting the reader in on the emotional state that the main character, Jay Gatsby, has obtained. This green light that is referred to by the characters in this story symbolizes the desires in Gatsby’s life.

In the first chapter of this story

The truth was that Daisy was driving his car but as far as George was concerned, he was told that the car that hit his wife that night belonged to Jay Gatsby. In an act of rage, George had gone over to Gatsby’s house and shot him while he was in the pool waiting for Daisy’s phone call. Nick Carraway is the only one who knew not only what really happened that night but also knew how great Gatsby was as a person. Nick reflects back and says “I thought of Gatsby’s wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it” (Fitzgerald Chapter 9). This shows that Gatsby did all in his power to make a plan, go through with the plan, and seek what he has wanted for so long. He did not give up or lose hope that he and Daisy could continue what deep love they had for each other in the past. That green light was just a green light until Gatsby saw it because then it was a goal. It represented how the only thing that’s bright in the dark of night is his desire, his want for Daisy’s love and