While believing in the green light, Gatsby believed in “the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. Actually, this green light shows the essence of the American Dream implying that no matter how much you have, you never feel complete. As the light seemed to be so close and similarly, Gatsby seemed to be so close to fulfilling his dream. It symbolized also his lodging for a wealthy life, acceptance, and happiness. His longing for Daisy is symbolically depicted through “a single green light” towards which Gatsby “stretched out his arms” every evening (Fitzgerald, 1986, p.21-22). Thus, Daisy was actually a symbol of everlasting hope for Gatsby, an incredible ambition that made him thirst for searching the opportunities to attain the dream.
She filled his existence with a constant meaning, from the moment he met her being a poor soldier to his last day when he waited for her in his huge luxuries mansion even though she had already left him for a wealthy and quiet life with his husband (Fitzgerald, 1986). Gatsby worked hard on developing and improving himself because of his longing and love directed towards Daisy. Such character traits of him as a thirst for adventure, an ambition, and the hard work to accomplish it are closely connected with the qualities that are considered necessary to become an American hero. The evolution of the American Dream is represented through the life of a title character James Gatsby, who made all-out efforts to fulfill his dream.