Theme

The overall theme of The Great Gatsby can by tied to the mysterious "green light" at the end of Daisy's dock. In the beginning of the novel, Fitzgerald dictates, "But I didn't call to him, for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone--he stretched our 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 [...]" (21). This far-off green light sits in the water between Gatsby's estate on the West Egg and Daisy's home on the shore of the East Egg. It represents Gatsby's unreachable goal of belonging to Daisy's world of old money and prestige. At the very end of the novel, Fitzgerald comes back to this green light, claiming, "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recede before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter--to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther....And one fine morning-- So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" (180). The green light represents an unattainable goal that people strive for. No matter how much one will "run faster" or "stretch out farther", they will never be able to reach this dream because they are held back by their past. Humans are like boats, endlessly pushing forward to this end goal, but yet they will ultimately be held back by the "current", which is representative of the past. In order to move forward, individuals must accept their past mistakes and grow with them, rather than attempt to hide and avoid them.