In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald developed many motifs that span the whole book, Since a motif is a recurring image, detail, occurrence, etc. that an author develops to unify an idea and/or explore an idea, I chose the green light found throughout the book. The green light represents Gatsby’s dream to be with Daisy again and the perfect future that he strives for with Daisy. This idea is found throughout the book especially when Nick sees Gatsby alone at the end of chapter one, when Nick was brooding over the world, when Gatsby shows Daisy and Nick his backyard, and also on the second to last paragraph of the book.
“... he reached out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily, I glanced seaward- and distinguished nothing except a single green light…” (Page 20-21) Before the reader even knew much about Gatsby, Fitzgerald gave a hint as to what Gatsby wanted and what his dreams were. This is another passage that shows how Gatsby is, …show more content…
‘You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.’” (Page 92). At this moment, Gatsby had Daisy right next to him, which is his dream that he’s been longing for so long. The mist covers their view of the green light, which almost erases Gatsby’s symbol for his dream (it can’t be seen anymore because Gatsby finally had achieved his dream). And on the top of page 93, Gatsby seems to realize how significant the light was to him. However, mist only lasts for a certain amount of time and when it goes away, Gatsby will have lost his dream once again. This occurrence further explores the idea of Gatsby’s dream and how it coincides with Gatsby’s actions throughout the book. Fitzgerald unified this moment with the rest of the book by showing Gatsby’s symbol for his dream disappearing when he actually had his dream, Daisy, right next to
“... he reached out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily, I glanced seaward- and distinguished nothing except a single green light…” (Page 20-21) Before the reader even knew much about Gatsby, Fitzgerald gave a hint as to what Gatsby wanted and what his dreams were. This is another passage that shows how Gatsby is, …show more content…
‘You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.’” (Page 92). At this moment, Gatsby had Daisy right next to him, which is his dream that he’s been longing for so long. The mist covers their view of the green light, which almost erases Gatsby’s symbol for his dream (it can’t be seen anymore because Gatsby finally had achieved his dream). And on the top of page 93, Gatsby seems to realize how significant the light was to him. However, mist only lasts for a certain amount of time and when it goes away, Gatsby will have lost his dream once again. This occurrence further explores the idea of Gatsby’s dream and how it coincides with Gatsby’s actions throughout the book. Fitzgerald unified this moment with the rest of the book by showing Gatsby’s symbol for his dream disappearing when he actually had his dream, Daisy, right next to