light that Gatsby reaches out for symbolizes his longing for Daisy, money, and acceptance and no matter how much he has he never really feels complete. This green light therefore is part of Gatsbys America Dream. It symbolizes Gatsbys constant searching for a way to reach that goal just off in the distance. As Nick described it, Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but thats no matter tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther . . . and one fine morning borne back ceaselessly into the past (189).One aspect that plays a major role in Fitzgeralds development of The Great Gatsby is missed opportunities in which he fails to accomplish in his life and therefore accomplishes through his character, Gatsby. First of all, as seen throughout Fitzgeralds life, he is a major alcoholic. As his life progressed, his tendency to drink increased, although he always wrote sober. But Gatsby on the other hand does not drink at all. On the reverse side though, Gatsby appears to be encompassed within the bootlegging business of the illegal selling of alcohol. Fitzgerald portrays Gatsby as a nondrinker intentionally because this is something that Fitzgerald could change in his life to make it seem less strenuous. Also, Fitzgerald and Zelda had a bad tendency to spend money before they earned it. Fitzgerald, the author who wrote so eloquently about the effects of money on a character, (221) was unable to control his own finances. But through his character, Gatsby never really encounters the problem of spending money. Fitzgerald organizes his novel this way because he wished to endure upon a lifestyle similar to Gatsbys although it was just out of his reach. Finally, at the age of eighteen, Fitzgerald joins the Army and plans on going to war. Although, to his disappointment, he never gets to see combat and is discharged just two years later. Due to the...
