the great gatsby

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The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel based on Gatsby’s dream and hope. In order to enrich the story, symbols are used to emphasize what the author is saying and they create a curiosity in the reader as they are frequently used throughout the story. These three symbols – green light, valley of ashes and the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg are not connected to each other but each of them represents important things in the story. The green light which is situated at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes Gatsby’s hope to be together with Daisy. Nick noticed how Gatsby often stared at "a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock” (Fitzgerald 25). Furthermore, during the meeting between both of them in Nick’s house, Gatsby told her that “if it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across the bay. You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock” (Fitzgerald 90). It is clear that he always observed Daisy from his house but all that he could see was the green light. He could only hope and dream about having Daisy by his side. This is before Gatsby finally met Daisy. When, at last, he met Daisy in Nick’s house, it seems that “the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever” (Fitzgerald 90). He had Daisy next by his side therefore “his count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.” (Fitzgerald 90). Not only does the green light represent Gatsby...

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    Throughout the novel, Gatsby expresses hope in various ways, but the most evident of all is when he reaches out with his hands toward the green light. When the narrator, Nick Carraway, is introduced to Gatsby in the beginning, he watches Gatsby stretch out his arms toward ".a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock"(Fitzgerald,25). Gatsby pointing toward the end of the dock signifies hope, but also his desire to be with Daisy. Just across the bay from his mansion, the Buchannan's house is visible where the green light is situated....

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