Examples Of Green Light In The Great Gatsby

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Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby concludes with Nick Carraway’s narration of the following words: “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 – tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther … And then one fine morning – … ," (Fitzgerald 193). Left for only readers to interpret, this passage is said to no one in particular, as Carraway only refers to Jay Gatsby’s idea of the American Dream; his way of living. The “green light,” and the “orgastic future” are symbols that the narrator uses to express Gatsby’s heartened view on life in order to establish the theme of the American Dream. Symbolic for hope, green also represents one’s …show more content…
The theme of achieving the American Dream is evident through Carraway’s diction because it voices that Americans remain in such optimism towards reaching their goals and creating a bright future, that they are unaware they are constantly reliving their past. This is an example of irony because Buchanan had left Gatsby due to his financial situation. However, when he returns five years later with a much improved fiscal state, Gatsby is unaware that he wishes to create a relationship only with his idealised memories of Buchanan and not the woman she has become after her marriage. The irony becomes evident through Carraway's metaphor of the boat, specifically when he says "…So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past," (Fitzgerald 193). In these words, Carraway refers to Gatsby's oblivious character towards his own destiny. He indirectly states that Gatsby had been so fixated on developing a future with Buchanan that he did not realize he lost his battle with fate long ago; from their previous relationship, Gatsby should have known he was not destined to be with