Question

A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

In the novel “The Great Gatsby”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a symbol that emerges is the green light. One night, Nick, the narrator, sees his mysterious neighbor Gatsby reaching out to a green light that shines on the other side of the bay. At this point, Nick still does not know what that light represents, much less that it has a certain coincidental connection with him.

It turns out that the light is placed at the dock of Daisy’s mansion. The wealthy, beautiful, charming Daisy with whom Gatsby has been in love for five years. As he left to fight in the war, Daisy ended up getting engaged to Tom, an “old money”, entitled, prejudiced man. Gatsby writes Daisy a letter asking her to wait for him, but it is too late. She marries Tom.

Throughout those five years, Gatsby worked hard – but criminally – to become a rich man. That is what prevented him from coming back to Daisy. He thought he was undeserving of being with her unless he could be as wealthy as – or even wealthier than – she was. Upon finding out that she is married, Gatsby concocts a simple, naive and yet ambitious plan to attract Daisy. He throws grand parties in order to lure her in some time, which never happens.

Nick ends up involved in Gatsby’s scheme. He is not only Gatsby’s neighbor, but also Daisy’s cousin. Gatsby uses Nick to approach Daisy, and the two begin an affair. Nick finally understands the meaning of the green light: it represents everything Gatsby hoped for, the masterpiece that would be the result of his plan. The green light is money, fame, power, and – most importantly – Daisy. The green light is calling Gatsby, singing to him, promising him the delights of the perfect life he has always dreamed of.

However, it has meaning to him and no one else. One day, Gatsby tells Daisy about the light that he sees at her dock. She does not know about the light’s existence, and its meaning is absolutely lost on her. That moment works as foreshadowing to the disaster that will be brought on by their relationship. Daisy does not want the same things as Gatsby. She does not need them. While he wants her to nullify her marriage and start from the beginning with him, she would rather just run away, elope.

Gatsby is not powerful enough to take Daisy away from Tom. As a matter of fact, Tom breaks him, his image, his spirit. The green light is shattered; it was just an illusion, a promise of a new land, full of natural beauties, a utopia that never came to be. Nick watches as Gatsby loses himself and, eventually, loses his life for Daisy. At the end, there is no one by his side other than Nick.