What Does The Green Light Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

There are many themes portrayed throughout the novel The Great Gatsby. These themes are illustrated across the book using symbols. One of the major themes in the novel is that identity is not who you are. An important symbol that helps represent this idea is the green light. The green light helps show Jay Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future of being with Daisy. In the novel, there is a green light placed at the end of Daisy’s dock visible from Jay Gatsby’s lawn. Jay is in love with Daisy and wishes to be with her. He often stares from his lawn at the green light. In chapter one, it says “he stretched his arms toward the dark water in almost a curious way, and as 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..” (pg.25-26). This quotes helps support how staring at the green light across the water from Gatsby had a superior meaning to him. In the novel, Nick Carraway thinks of Gatsby as an easygoing soul who seems to be continuously happy. The theme that identity is not who you are comes into place when Nick describes how he saw Gatsby reaching towards the green light. It is …show more content…
In the novel, Gatsby says to Daisy, “If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across the bay, you always have a green light burning all night at the end of your dock”(pg. 96). After Gatsby says this to Daisy, the novel says “Daisy put her arm through his abruptly and seemed absorbed by what he had just said” (pg.96). This shows how Daisy is impacted by Jay. Jay is now feeling comfort because he no longer has to reach across the bay and is actually touching Daisy now. This symbolizes that Daisy still has love for Jay even though throughout the novel she tries not to show