The Great Gatsby: Green By Matthew Norman, Whitney Stubbs, and Kelsie Watson

“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 Chp 5). “It was James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach that afternoon in a torn green jersey and a pair of canvas pants, but it was already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a rowboat, pulled out to the Tuolomee, and informed Cody that a wind might catch him and break him up in half an hour” (Fitzgerald Chp 6) “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 one fine morning---” (Fitzgerald Chp 9). ). Quotes

“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 Chp 5). Objects: Dock, Mist, Green light Characters: Daisy and Gatsby Meaning: Start of dreams- Here, the green light represents dreams that have not been thought of yet; will always have time to be dreamt of. Excerpt 1 (Whitney)

“It was James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach that afternoon in a torn green jersey and a pair of canvas pants, but it was already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a rowboat, pulled out to the Tuolomee, and informed Cody that a wind might catch him and break him up in half an hour” (Fitzgerald Chp 6) Objects: Torn green jersey Characters: Dan Cody and James Gatz Meaning: Youthful Hope- Here, the green represents youthful hope for the future. Excerpt 2 (Kelsie)

“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 one fine morning---” (Fitzgerald Chp 9). Objects: Dock, green-light Characters: Nick (thought of Gatsby) Meaning: False Hope- Here, the green light represents false hope; the green is Gatsby’s dreams, were the light with it is artificial and not pure (false). Excerpt 3 (Matthew)

Excerpt 1 (Whitney)  “If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your house across the Bay,” said Gatsby,”You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your Dock.” (Fitzgerald Chp 5).  Objects: The green light, the Dock  Characters: Daisy, Gatsby  Meaning: That daisy has a lifetime to dream and hope.

Throughout the novel, the color green symbolizes false hope. This is proven by the three quotes that link the color green to Daisy’s dock, changing of Gatz’s name, and Nick’s mourning of Gatsby. What all of these three elements have in common is that they are places, things, and people who will never see there dreams accomplished. Furthermore, those affected by the color green will never find what they “think” they are hoping for. Central Meaning

Gastby In The Great Gatsby, the green light symbolizes false hope. For example, Nick states in the final paragraphs “ I became aware of the old island…-a fresh, green breast of the new world” (180). Nick compares the green new world to Gatsby’s green light. He indicates that the “green breast” will feed the hopes of the newborn sailor’s dreams. However, the green light is not as pure as the original American Dream. Instead, the green light is false, because in the novel light is man- made and artificial. Therefore, Gatsby’s dream is artificial, because he never loved the real Daisy.