Saturday, March 5, 2016

What does Nick think the green light means to Gatsby at the beginning of Chapter 5? Why does he feel Daisy has fallen short of Gatsby's dreams?

Nick appropriately realizes that Daisy's green light symbolizes Gatsby's American Dream.  The light does not simply represent Gatsby's quest for Daisy's love; it envelopes the idea of what it means to be part of Daisy's aristocratic class: sophistication, acceptance, respect, power.


Daisy falls short of Gatsby's dream because no human could ever fulfill a dream such as his and because she is tarnished and disiillusioned by Tom's treatment of her.  She is no longer the golden American Dream.

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