IRJE-#3 The Great Gatsby

In ¨The Great Gatsby¨ by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a quotation stands out when Nick Carraway reflects on Gatsby’s dreams.

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 one fine morning-So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. (p. 180)

This passage occurs at the conclusion of the novel, as Nick ponders Gatsby’s relentless pursuit of his ideal future, which was built on the fantasy of reclaiming his past with Daisy. The ¨green light¨ symbolized Gatsby’s dream of rekindling their romance, but it ultimately represents the larger American Dream-an elusive vision of success that continually slips away. This final reflection is poignant because it underscores the tragic irony of Gatsby’s life; despite all his efforts, the future he dreamed of was unattainable. I like this quote because it captures the novel’s central theme: the tension between the past and the future, and the futility of chasing after an idealized version of life. The metaphor of ¨boats against the current¨ is particularly striking, as it conveys a sense of inevitable defeat and the futile struggle against forces beyond one’s control, leaving a haunting reminder of them human condition and the impossible pursuit of perfection.