F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the classic American novel The Great Gatsby in an era of partying, defiance of Prohibition, and wasteful spending. Fitzgerald had warned that these actions would have consequences, and just four years later the stock market crashed, engulfing America as a whole. The modernist novel The Great Gatsby managed to be not only a classic American tale, but a literary masterpiece that lives on today. Although the novel is considered a cult classic today, it was not a success at first. Being not only a commercial failure, but initially receiving mixed reviews, many believed it "debunked the notion that Fitzgerald was one of the greatest writers of his generation" (Lang). The Great Gatsby cements itself as a spectacular show. From the beautiful imagery to the symbolism, we capture the beauty the author seeks to demonstrate. The green light is one of the most popular aspects of the story, and for a reason. It symbolizes many things, but to Gatsby it represents Daisy and his means of winning her over. “…he stretched his arms out into the dark water in a curious way, and no matter how far I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling” (Fitzgerald 24). This quote shows how much light means to him. For others it could represent the American dream and how difficult it is to achieve due to the distance. We read passages from the novel and our imagination runs wild. The green light is a recurring image in the novel, and immediately as readers we want to experience what the characters think and feel. “Gatsby believed in the green light, in the orgastic future that year after year recedes before us” (Fitzgerald 193). This quote demonstrates the impact light has on people, especially Gatsby. I believe the author uses Gatsby's obsession with the green light to show us that even the simplest things can be used as a source of inspiration and hope. Our humanity grows when we look at the characters' actions and suddenly think twice about our own. We are angry at the cruel nature of people like Tom and empathetic towards others like him