Green Means Go?
"If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay," said Gatsby on page 92. "You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock."
I found this selection intriguing. Throughout the entire story up to this point, Gatsby peered out the windows of his mansion towards the green light on Daisy's dock. Gatsby was overcome with anticipation of seeing Daisy when he would look at this light, and the fact that it was green probably symbolizes that Gatsby should "go" and get her. Now that they are finally together, there is a veiling mist that prevents them from seeing the green light. I think this is foreshadowing the fact that Gatsby and Daisy may have waited too long, that destiny may not allow them to live blissfully ever after.
http://jerz.setonhill.edu/EL267/2009/02/fitzgerald_the_great_gatsby_1/
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Jennifer Prex on Green Means Go?: I remember hearing about the g
April Minerd on Green Means Go?: I hadn't paid much notice to
April Minerd on Green Means Go?: I hadn't paid much notice to
I hadn't paid much notice to the mist before. The green light is a reoccurring symbol in the book. It is even emphasized at the end: "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us." At first I thought the color green was chosen for the light because green is associated with envy and Gatsby wants this life that Tom has with Daisy. But green carries another association with spring and renewing of life (I gathered that in part from the Foster reading). So if you think of the light as representing the future. It really works with your idea that the mist signaled a change in Gatsby's destiny. Maybe this is where the dream began to slip away from Gatsby.
I hadn't paid much notice to the mist before. The green light is a reoccurring symbol in the book. It is even emphasized at the end: "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us." At first I thought the color green was chosen for the light because green is associated with envy and Gatsby wants this life that Tom has with Daisy. But green carries another association with spring and renewing of life (I gathered that in part from the Foster reading). So if you think of the light as representing the future. It really works with your idea that the mist signaled a change in Gatsby's destiny. Maybe this is where the dream began to slip away from Gatsby.
I remember hearing about the green light symbol before when I studied this book in high school, but the idea with the mist is new. That's interesting. It is possible that Fitzgerald did use the mist as a foreshadowing technique. As Foster wrote, weather often is more than just weather.
Just as a side note, I also remember learning that there was the use of yellow and red to complete the symbolic use of traffic light associations: the yellow car that killed Myrtle Wilson and the red circle of blood in Gatsby's pool, I believe.
I agree that the green light could have symbolized Gatsby's envy of Tom, but it also symbolized the fact that Gatsby felt like he needed to go outwards and get her himself. The fact that Gatsby never actually pursues her, but rather throws elaborate parties hoping Daisy will one day wonder into one, makes me wonder what kind of guy Gatsby really is. If he loved her so much and envied Tom, why would he not make more of an effort. One would think he actually would GO after her, but apparently not.