Hope

In my opinion, the most beautifully written line in The Great Gatsby is said when Gatsby and Daisy meet again for the first time. After touring his mansion, Gatsby says to Daisy, "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 our dock."

Throughout the novel, the green light represents hope for Daisy and Gatsby's future together. The symbol first emerges at the end of chapter I when Nick catches Gatsby as "he stretched out his arms" towards Daisy's house and the mysterious green light. The fact that Gatsby can see Daisy's green light in the distance represents the hope for a relationship that Gatsby can see in the future. For Gatsby, "his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it." He continued to try and 'reach' for the green light, for it seemed so close to him.

However, the mist referenced to in the quote represents the time and obstacles keeping them apart. Both time and the fact that Daisy married Tom and had a child with him are reasons there is a divide between them. Gatsby states that without the mist, he would be able to see Daisy's house, but because it is there, he can only see the green light. In other words, the time and other obstacles keeping them apart is the reason they cannot be together, and without these things, they would be able to start a new relationship. Additionally, Gatsby still has hope for their future because he can still see the green light, but there is a giant divide between them. This deep symbolism is why the quote is the most well-written line in the novel.


Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 5, 2017 at 8:13 AM

    I love that you used multiple quotes to analyze and explain why you found that one so well-written. This quote is beautiful but it also makes me sad, as in the end all of Gatsby's dreams for a life with Daisy die. Nice analysis, well done!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownNovember 5, 2017 at 12:10 PM

    Really nice analysis Emily! I like how you focused on the meaning of the mist and how it represented all the obstacles keeping Gatsby and Daisy apart. Very well done!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rima LahdhiriNovember 5, 2017 at 1:26 PM

    I like how you went into detail about the mist - I never realized that before! It really is sad how Gatsby was so hopeful and determined and even dies for Daisy, yet he was unable to attain his one goal in the end. Nice work Emily!

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownNovember 5, 2017 at 4:01 PM

    Great analysis of the quote! You did a really good job explaining the meaning of the light and mist. The picture was a nice added touch.

    ReplyDelete

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