The end to the first chapter brings to our knowledge the first symbol in this book : that mysterious ‘green light‘. In our first mentions of the light, we see Gatsby reaching out for it, almost worshipping it. Later, we find out that this green light is at the end of Daisy's dock, and symbolizes Gatsby's dream and the hope for the future. Green is the color of promise, hope, and renewal. Gatsby's dream of a future with Daisy has been shown physically in the novel by her green light.
Fitzgerald compares Gatsby's green light by saying that it is the "green breast of the new world" which compares Gatsby's dream of uncovering Daisy true self, just as the explorer's discovery of America and the promise of a new continent. Gatsby's dream is tarnished by his materialistic unrealism. The end of the novel brings about lustful decay, when Gatsby's dream dies because of the careless and superficial minds of Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby himself.
The green light on Daisy’s doc that Gatsby gazes full of yearning from his own house across the water represents the unaccomplished dream. But the green light also represents the foggy future that is forever hard to comprehend, as Nick claims in the last page of the novel, "Gatsby believed in the green light, the great future that year by year leave right before us.”
https://www.msu.edu/~millettf/gatsby.html
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