The Mystery of the Green Light; The Literary Brilliance of The Great Gatsby by Lauren

The Mystery of the Green Light; The Literary Brilliance of The Great Gatsby by Lauren - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic 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… So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” This quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, "The Great Gatsby" perfectly epitomizes the poetry, the symbolism, and mystery within the pages of the novel. By examining the most important aspects of "The Great Gatsby", it will become clear that all high school students should be required to read this incredible work of literature before they graduate.

"The Great Gatsby" is a candy store of figurative language and beautiful poetry. Not only is it fascinating to read, but it is unique from other works of classic literature that students will encounter in their education. It eloquently uses the struggles and forbidden love of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan to completely define an era; the highs and lows of the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age are exposed in the most enriching and enthralling way. Without realizing it, readers are gaining an inside look to 1920’s historical, cultural, and societal themes.

In contrast to the tragic protagonists, Nick Carraway, the narrator, is a distinct symbol of integrity. Thus, he is often caught in between the conflict. In a time where unfettered sensuality, materialism, and the emptiness of the culture is so extreme, Carraway is one of the few moral characters, seeing a situation for what it really is and rising above the moral decline of the age. He stands as the anchor in the sea of unstable ethics and the storming social elite. Students can gain perspective from this important character as an example of how standing alone and going against the grain can be difficult, but in the end integrity is more important than anything else.

The distinct regional difference in the story also exemplifies the societal rift between the characters. Gatsby, an originally poor young man from the North, finds ways to reinvent himself and gain an incredible wealth so that he might reunite with the woman he loves, Daisy. But because she comes from a wealthy, aristocratic family and is married to a millionaire from the east coast, there is an unbreachable social divide between them. To highlight this ideal, Gatsby is settled in the less “respectable” side of town called West Egg, while Daisy lives across the water in the upper-crust neighborhood of East Egg. This accentuates Gatsby’s so-called “illegitimacy” to the high-class society. Thus, much like many individuals in the 21st century who are the victims of prejudice and racism, Gatsby is restricted and can only watch from afar; the green light across the bay at the end of Daisy’s dock is his distant, beckoning American Dream.

While the plot is captivating, the most powerful aspects of the novel are clearly its figurative language and symbolism, whether it be the dialogue between characters or Carraway’s descriptions to the audience. That flashing green light in the distance may have many meanings, but mysterious though it may be, anyone can sympathize with the heartfelt longing and struggles of Gatsby. From its historical contributions, to its literary brilliance, to its lessons of morality, Fitzgerald’s "The Great Gatsby" is a timeless tale that will positively influence every student who reads it.