Light And Dark In The Great Gatsby

Life can be described in just two words – light and darkness. Light often represents the optimism of life: purity, mortality, hope, and truth. While darkness exemplifies negativity: death, evil, mystery, and fear. In fact, in The Great Gatsby, the light and dark has played a major role in contrasting the death of two very different yet resembling characters. Gatsby and Myrtle both come from an indigent household and end up having an affair with one of the Buchanans; however, if you pay close attention to both of their death, Gatsby dies “in the light” (day time) in his pool at home where as Myrtle dies “in the dark” (at night) ripped apart being run by a car. This two distinguished portrayal of death highlights the fact that adultery is a sin

men were forgiven, but woman were not. Fitzgerald displays the effective use of light and darkness as a key binary opposition which constantly appears throughout.
The first description of Gatsby come with the green light on Daisy’s dock.

“He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling.

Involuntarily I glanced seaward — and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness.”

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic 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.”

The green light resembles Gatsby’s hope towards his future with Daisy, including his desire to own a house in East Egg one day, and live the ultimate American Dream.

The color green is traditionally associated with the image of wealth. Thus it is only fair to infer that not only Gatsby is envious of Tom’s marriage life with Daisy, but also his unquestionable wealth. The significance in this scene however, lays in the “unquiet darkness” after the green light vanishes in front of Nick’s very eyes. Implying an important massage of light only being able to see where there is darkness. In comparison to the green light, the bright light on Gatsby’s house deserves an attention.

“Two o’clock and the whole corner of the peninsula was blazing with light, which fell unreal on the shrubbery and made thin elongating glints upon the roadside wires. Turning a corner, I saw that it was Gatsby’s house, lit from tower to cellar… lights go off and on again as if the house had winked into the darkness.”

This light symbolizes Jay’s hope to impress Daisy by showing off his wealth. However, it describes the light as “unreal on the shrubbery” implying how Gatsby’s wealth it self seems fake.

The lack of daylight is another important factor we notice throughout the novel.

"In two weeks it'll be the longest day in the year... Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss

it."

The “longest day” here refers to true happiness (perhaps, true love), and how Daisy seems preoccupied with materialism and luxury that she misses it. Missing out on the “longest day”, the rest of the days become shorter and darker, which implicit the rest of Daisy’s life as a down hill. Also, speaking of daylight, Tom’s confused rant about the sun getting hotter (or colder) each year should be noted.

“I read somewhere that the sun's getting hotter every year," said Tom genially. "It seems that pretty soon the earth's going to fall into the sun--or wait a minute--it's just the opposite--the sun's getting colder every year." 

If the sun symbolizes happiness (as daylight did), the sun getting colder each year implies that Tom and Daisy’s marriage is becoming colder, growing far apart each year.
Not only hopes and happiness does light resemble, but it also reveals the truth. In contrast, darkness contains the image of mysteriousness hidden inside. Which leads us to the final argument of the Valley of Ashes. The Valley of Ashes is introduced in a rather darkish, grayish tone. Which make total sense sine it is where Tom “hides” his mistress. Symbolizing Tom’s loss of loyalty towards his wife for his own greed of power. Though if you pay attention to the details, Tom and Myrtle see each other at the Valley in the day time – when there is still light.
Although the light and dark imagery is commonly used as a comparison of life and death, Fitzgerald manages to remind us that where there is light, there is darkness. Even it is impossible for light and darkness to co-exist, light wi