Just a Little Farther

The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald is one of the most important American novels, denominated as a great classic of American literature. One of the highlights of this novel is its use of symbolism, key in conveying the author's message to his readers.

This novel is narrated in order to describe the speeding world of the "The Roaring Twenties" that occurred in America during that period.

One of the most outstanding symbols in the story is the green light at the end of East Egg's dock. It is barely visible from Gatsby's mansion, and it stands next to the Buchanan's house, right were Daisy lives.

This small green light that flashes dimly in the night could represent Gatsby's desperate dream of winning Daisy back. Back when he was a soldier in World War I, Daisy had promised she would marry him. However, the prospect of having a secure future of wealth and comfort with Tom Buchanan led her to break her promise and marry him instead. Gatsby's strong desire to regain her love led him to dedicate his whole life to do so. He got involved the bootlegging of alcohol business and became very rich. He bought a mansion in West Egg, in which not only did he hold opulent parties of wealth and luxury, but he could also see this little green light sparkling in the distance. He would stand in his lawn at night and embrace it as a little beacon of hope, wishing that someday he would win his beloved Daisy back.

Sadly, the amount of effort he spent in the accomplishment of his goal would never be enough. The green light would remain distant and out of reach be out of reach as Daisy sunk in the shallowness of the wealthy and superficial society in which America had driven into. Nick realizes this as he pondered:
"He had come a long way to this blue lawn and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him."(p. 193).
 Not only does the green light represent Gatsby's unattainable dream of winning Daisy back, but it also represents the unattainable American dream that so many people experienced during that age. The yearn to live the sweet life of parties and extravagance led many people to dedicate their lives to it, regardless of what it demanded, or what they left behind along the way. As the American society sailed towards this faint light shining in the distance, the values of its people were regrettably lost.
This conclusion is well defined at the ending of the novel, with Nick's final thought that read:

"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—
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."(p.193).