Gatsby’s Green Light

The Great Gatsby is commonly regarded as one of, if not the best, work by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In the novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald delivers the compelling story of Jay Gatz, otherwise known as Mr. Gatsby. Mr. Gatsby is a rich American living in West Egg; a flashy, status-driven, new money community whose residents love to flaunt their wealth. In West Egg, appearances are everything, and Gatsby has just that. No one knows where he came from, how he got his wealth, or even who he is, but the rumors of him grow to become their persona. Inklings of murder, drug rings, and other highly illegal activities float through the crowd of parties like cigarette smoke, even within the walls of Gatsby’s home. Through these rumors, Gatsby emerges, and while it’s unclear just how legitimate his earnings and lifestyle are, it is clear that he is special. It’s clear that Gatsby is special because he is an avid believer in the ‘green light’ as stated in the novel. From this, the question arises; what is the green light? The green light can be characterized as one’s majestic hope for the future, despite the constant reminder of the reality that looms behind. However, before reality came to view, Gatsby believed.

Gatsby, with all of the money, notoriety, and luxury that he had, still longed for something that he once held in the past. His previous relationship with Daisy, was brief and exciting as the two explored each other with an undertone of scandal between them. This relationship with Daisy that Gatsby thought to be so true, ended one-sidedly, as Daisy left Gatsby for her now-husband, Tom. This tragic breakup only fueled Gatsby, however, and made him have unrealistic expectations for what Daisy should be for him. Daisy recognized this and was quick to understand the flaws that lay beneath the surface. She calls out Gatsby claiming, “Oh, you want too much!” she cried to Gatsby. “I love you now — isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past.’”. (Fitzgerald 102). Daisy’s blatant disregard for Gatsby’s feelings, as she lashes out against him verbally, shows that Gatsby has pushed her too far, even without laying a finger on her. Rather, he does this with every action that he makes, by trying to encapsulate Daisy’s complexities as a human into the perfect image that he holds of her past self. As Daisy cries out, ‘I can’t help what’s past.’ She expresses that her past self is incomparable to her now, and what’s done is done, and the impossibility of resurrecting their past relationship. This dilemma does not phase Gatsby, as his beliefs are not as grounded in reality as Daisy’s, but rather is fantasy.

The ‘green light’, is mentioned rarely throughout the novel, used so sparingly that it escapes the minds of many. Nevertheless, its infrequent use highlights the importance of the green light and the view that Gatsby has upon it. In reality, the green light was a simple green burning lantern that sat on the dock of Daisy’s home across the bay. However due to the mist that clouds the bay, Daisy’s home is blocked from view. Still, the green light shines bright, and it becomes the only way Gatsby can find refuge, recognizing that Daisy remains close to him, even through the distance. The issue only arises for Gatsby, the moment he looks out at the light, with Daisy’s arms familiarly. To Gatsby, “His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one,” when the light was finally extinguished (Fitzgerald 72). The use of the word ‘enchanted’ suggests that Gatsby had in his mind, an image of a woman even more majestic than his most desired lover. So now that he has the lover in his arms, exactly as he envisioned, the magic is missing, as it was never there in the first place. Gatsby had built the memory of Daisy with skewed ideals and expectations, and so what he had built in his imagination contained unrealistic elements. These elements that are the foundation of Gatsby’s future expectation of Daisy, crumbled when met with the hard truth of reality.

The reality of the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy has always been apparent. Daisy, although semi-reluctantly, moved on from Gatsby and went on to marry Tom Buchanan, and although things weren’t the best between Tom and Daisy, she still managed to tough it out, and even have a child together. Through this, Gatsby believes that he is still the only one Daisy ever loved. Gatsby holds this to be so true, that he even begins to coerce Daisy into admitting this, by saying ‘You never loved him.’ in front of her husband. But the harsh, cold, and unforgiving reality is far different from his fantasy. She valiantly proclaims, “‘Even alone I can’t say I never loved Tom,” she admitted in a pitiful voice. ‘It wouldn’t be true.’” (Fitzgerald 101). Daisy’s inability to admit her apathy towards Tom is proof that it has been her reality during all of her recent interactions with Gatsby, as not only was she able to say it in this instance, but also before Gatsby had arrived. Through the weakness of her ‘pitiful voice’, in a room where she felt powerless sitting next to an abuser and a homewrecker, she still slaps Gatsby with the truth that was always glaring at him. Gatsby was too ignorant to see this as fact, and while in disbelief, could only mutter back ‘You don’t understand,’, because no one could understand the dissensions of a broken man encapsulated in his twisted imagination.

Through its mysterious meanings, the green light felt as if it would provide insight into the scrupulous life of many characters in the book. Believed to be the meaning behind many life questions, and existence, but ultimately being a decrepit brain taking Gatsby hostage, and inserting false expectations where a wishful memory once lived. The green light, disappointing as it may be, is a lantern. Yet it remains to teach one thing, somebody desperate can turn simple objects into majestic hope, even when reality threatens to blind them.