Green Light in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel that is takes place in the United States during the Roaring Twenties: a time of prosperity with shifting social culture and artistic innovation. Fitzgerald writes, "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 further...And one fine morning-"(300). Fitzgerald leaves this sentence unfinished to denote Gatsby's incomplete life and the suddenness of Gatsby's death, which goes against Gatsby's ideas of invincibility and the ability to repeat the past. Despite Gatsby's tragedy, he believes in the "green light" or the hope and motivation towards what is to come, and constantly desires improvements of his current state. Gatsby has infinite goals and never ceases to try to attain them. This unique quality sets him apart from others. These hopes and dreams ultimately become the cause of his death.
Gatsby's dreams have been apparent since he was a child. He reinvents his identity because he is not content with his current status and wants to completely alter who he is known as. Ironically, people attending his parties come up with all sorts of stories and rumors about who Gatsby is, but even when he is of high status, he is a man of mystery. People know of Gatsby, but do not know who he is as a person. Gatsby's father, Mr. Gatz notes: “Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something” when showing Gatsby's well planned out, strict schedule to Nick (289). The book says "Save $5.00 [crossed out] $3.00 per week" (289). Most children are not conscious of saving money as they quickly spend it on fun things such as toys. Gats...

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...ces and aftermath of the car accident, he could have taken preventative measures to save his life. Instead, Daisy left him alone to die.
Gatsby's death is representative of his quality of always wanting more and never being content, as well as his sacrifice and desire to constantly please Daisy. He was born with a unique motivation and discipline that not all people have, and as he changed his identity it pushed it to another level. Gatsby allowed himself to deteriorate by becoming so enveloped in living in excess. Daisy did not reciprocate the level of love and affection that Gatsby presented to her. Ultimately, she betrayed him and aided in his death. Gatsby became so embedded in reaching the green light and attempting to repeat the past that he allowed himself to fall apart.

Works Cited

Bloom, Harold. The Great Gatsby. New York: Schribner, 2004. Electronic.