The Great Gatsby Light Analysis

The imagery light can produce makes it a symbolic component of many novels, incorporated to heighten the dreams and realities of a character. Whether it is the light at the end of the tunnel or a hopeful light in the sky, the luminous detail is a common metaphor which can hold vastly different meanings depending on the overall message of a story. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the symbol of light is an essential element that not only represents the life of Jay Gatsby, but also represents all his aspirations and what he stands for. Light gives birth to hope and new beginnings, and, to Gatsby, this light represents his faith for his dream becoming a reality; however, the light proves to be an illusion as it is an impossible task for Gatsby to possess his dream. Whether­­ it is the light illuminated from Gatsby’s parties, or the green light shining across the calm sea, the bright glow deceives Gatsby into thinking he will one day be …show more content…
In Gatsby’s scenario, the truth about the light of hope had not been proven to be an illusion until his life was in danger and his dreams were crushed. Gatsby spent his life using the hope from the light of his parties and the green light across the bay to become a man of success and ultimately gain the love of the woman of his dreams. Gatsby had a slight intimation that his life was not turning out the way he dreamed as evident through the discontinuing of his parties as the bright lights ceased to shine through his empty mansion. It was not until he was killed that it was clear his dream was impossible to possess as he was stuck in the past unable to achieve his goals; his intention, the green light, was behind him. Throughout The Great Gatsby, the recurring symbol of light as an illusion is incorporated in the novel to further develop the gilded idea of hope to the idea of being hopeless as seen in the light at his parties and across the