In the book the great Gatsby written by f Scott Fitzgerald the green light that Gatsby gazes at across the bay plays an important role as a representation of the american dream, it also represents the envy of poor people looking at rich people and it is also shown as being far away and unreachable.

“He stretched out 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, minute and far away, that might have been at the end of a dock.” The green light is the representation of the american dream. the green light stands across the bay from Gatsby’s house shining like a beacon of hope for those who seek to become well of but it is a false hope as it is impossible to actually reach, it mas seem like it is something that can be reached but in reality you cannot do it on your own. the green light also looks quite close but in reality when you try to reach it is very far away.

the colour green is historically the colour that represents envy, in this case it represents the envy people have for those who are better off than them. this an important part of the american dream because the american dream is built on and fueled by envy because people in america are always envious of people who are richer and “more successful” than them, this is because american culture values wealth over most other things, this relates to Gatsby because Gatsby is envious of the people across the bay who have more wealth than him. “That many men had already loved daisy – it increased her value in his eyes.” this shows that Gatsby sees daisy an item of value and the fact that she has been possessed by other people makes him envious of what those other people have had.

“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…. And then one fine morning—So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” This quote shows us that even though he has seen how corrupt and untrue it is nick still somehow believes in it as it is such a tempting prize not to try and grasp. This quote also gives us an insight into the american dream itself as the boat described in the last sentence is a representation of people trying to achieve the dream but it is going against the current and the bit between the dashes is saying that next time they will get to the american dream but they never do but they keep trying because it is so tempting and they truly believe that they will get there next time but next time never comes.

the green light in the great Gatsby serves as a symbol of the american dream but also as a symbol of the envy that powers it, it also serves as a beacon for people who want to achieve the american dream to look forward to if they can make it there.