Gatsby Symbolism Paragraph

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the green light is used to resemble many different
things that further develop throughout the book. It depicts growth, hope, and desire, as well as it represents
being on the right path, or being steered in the right direction.
The green light first appears when Nick is observing Gatsby as he stands on the end of his 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 the dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished,
and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness” (Fitzgerald, 26). The green light is significant to Gastby. It
resembles his growth, regarding the life he has created for himself, and being on the right track. Nick notices
Gastby almost trembling as he reaches out towards the water, demonstrating that Gastby has a great desire for
something. Fitzgerald wants to convey to the reader the importance of this symbol and that it holds a greater
meaning than just a green light across the bay.
Another instance of the green light occurs when Gastby reunites with Daisy after many years. He takes
Daisy to his extravagant mansion and points out her house across the bay, which is also home to the green light;
“If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across the bay,” said Gatsby. “You always have a green light
that burns all night at the end of your dock” (Fitzgerald, 98). In this example, we learn that green light is
associated with Daisy, and the fact that Gastby’s house is right across from her’s is not a coincidence, even
though he tries to make it seem like it is. Fitzgerald’s purpose is to hint at what Gastby’s unknown desire really
is.
Further into the novel, the green light appears again; as Fitzgerald writes, “Possibly it had occurred to
him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that
had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a
star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by
one.” (Fitzgerald, 98). The green light depicts the reconnection between Daisy and Gastby. Since Daisy was
now so close to Gatsby, the green light that Gastby associated with her had lost its significance. The importance
of the symbol had been reduced because Gastby’s desire for Daisy had been fulfilled. Fitzgerald’s purpose is to
demonstrate the significance of symbols in Gastby's life and how he links important things with specific objects.
This raises the question, does Gastby have a different image of Daisy that he has held in his head if he has
connected Daisy with this green light for so many years?
Fitzgerald develops the meaning of the green light throughout these few chapters as we learned that it
resembles Gastby’s hope and desire to reunite with Daisy. Now that Gastby's dream has been fulfilled, their
reconnection foreshadows a change in the importance of the green light as it is no longer an “enchanted object”.

Skill Exemplary Proficient Emerging

Identifies the prompt and Identifies a symbol and a Identifies the book
makes a specific claim theme
about the connection
Topic Sentence
between a symbol and a
theme
 Includes specific and Includes 3 pieces of Includes two or
meaningful evidence evidence from the text fewer pieces of
evidence

Evidence

Explains the figurative Explains the figurative Summarizes the

significance of the significance of the symbol evidence and
symbol and how that and a theme in the novel. mentions an idea in
Analysis
contributes to the the novel.
development of a
theme.

Follows paragraph Follows paragraph Includes elements of

Organization organization and is organization, including a paragraph
organized to show how transitions between ideas
ideas build on one and a concluding sentence
another

All quotes are correctly Most quotes are correctly Shows evidence of
integrated integrated and cited basic proofreading

Shows evidence of careful All sentences are complete

Conventions proofreading
No personal pronouns used
(I, you, us, we)

Shows evidence of
proofreading

Nice job Callie