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Green Light In The Great Gatsby

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The Light In The Eyes
Will wishing on a star make hopes become reality? How can wishing on something so small bring something with such great meaning? When is wishing on a star different than wishing on a rock? What has to happen in order to make an object have meaning? What makes a star more important than a rock, or a green light at the end of a dock? In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the green light and the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg are symbolically different for everyone in the novel.
The green light that appears at the end of Daisy Buchanan's dock represents Gatsby’s hopes and wishes. "He stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way..."(Fitzgerald 20). Gatsby is seen reaching out towards the green light, …show more content…
"Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever" (Fitzgerald 93). Gatsby is taken back by Daisy's reaction to what he told her about the light. Daisy did not realize the light even existed until Gatsby pointed it out to her. "Only when Daisy has an affair with Gatsby, showing that she is a flesh and blood person with her own desires, fears, and flaws, does she separate from this idealized symbol of hope" (Wulick). Gatsby learns that Daisy does not have a symbol for her hope of them being together like Gatsby does. Gatsby has a realization that not everyone has a symbol to remind them of what they want. Consequently it is only after Gatsby is gone, that Nick realizes the impact the light had on him. "I thought of Gatsby’s wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock… Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us" (Fitzgerald 180). At this point in the novel, Nick begins to think outside the box. Nick thought like Gatsby did about his life when he had first become successful. It was at this moment when Nick finally realizes the meaning of the light and what Gatsby's symbolic connection to the light

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