THE GREEN LIGHT
"Daisy put her arm through his abruptly, but he seemed absorbed in what he had just said. Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one." page 93
The importance of the light to Gatsby was gone because he had the real thing now. He didn't need to imagine her from afar anymore because she was right there. He had broken the barrier of talking to her and he didn't need to use objects (the light) to feel like she was a part of his life, because now she really is. KC
The importance of the light to Gatsby was gone because he had the real thing now. He didn't need to imagine her from afar anymore because she was right there. He had broken the barrier of talking to her and he didn't need to use objects (the light) to feel like she was a part of his life, because now she really is. KC
"Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one." (pg 93, ch 5) SL
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< After Daisy had come over to his house that evening, and Gatsby had spent time with her face-to-face after five years, that light's meaning was so greatly depleted compared to her presence right in front of him.
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The importance of the light diminishes after Gatsby talks to Daisy again after the five year separation. Daisy was the light for Gatsby; everything he did and all the wealth he had gained was for her. The light symbolized something that was just out of his reach, almost like the light at the end of the tunnel. He knew she was there, but could never reach out and go to her. Now that he has overcome his fear and talked to Daisy again, the light lost it's importance because he has the real thing instead of just the idea of Daisy. :KC
The green light Symbolizes Gatsby's hope for Daisy. Some think that his dream of reuniting with Daisy symbolizes the American dream. It shows just how much people are willing to give to reach that dream, even if it is just a vague light in the distance. EJ
Slideshow - SL
"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. it eluded us then, but that's no matter--to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning---" Chapter 9, page 180 EJ
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The green light is always so far and vague it seems. No matter how close Gatsby gets to that light, to Daisy, he always wants to be just a little closer. What Gatsby fails to realize is that once he has Daisy, she is actually uninterested and thinks the idea of being with Gatsby dull, much like the reality of the beautiful green light simply being a light at the end of a dock. EJ
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The above quote from the end of the book shows us who Gatsby really was and why Nick liked him. He was a dreamer. He worked for a better future with the one he loved and refused to give up to the very end. He was in love with Daisy and that was never going to change for him, no matter if she was with Tom or not. He knew what he wanted and he was never going to give up. KC