Abstract：In The Great Gatsby, the depictions of light have special meanings and play a unique role in the whole story. The complex connections between light and reality, differing from one situation to another, can be regarded as boosters that exaggerate specific plots or set the mood of the story, and indirectly indicate what characters may think about. Furthermore, the depictions of light, which are also the symbol of dream and reality, show the gradual disillusion of dream, and on the contrary, reveal how cruel and cold reality is. With the foil of different depictions of light, the mood of two protagonists, Gatsby and Nick, also changes from one plot to another, and the disparity between illusion and reality also becomes broader and clearer. Finally, under the guidance of the light of reality, Gatsby and Nick reach the recognition of the ego of themselves, of the truth and of the real world.

Keywords: The Great Gatsby; light; reality; self-recognition

《了不起的盖茨比》中的现实之光

摘 要：在《了不起的盖茨比》中，光的描写具有十分特别的作用与意义,曾一度被忽略或仅有局限的理解。 光线与现实、幻梦具有诸多联系，它们都虚无缥缈、难以捉摸，都有此消彼长的强弱的变化。不同情况、 不同场合下的光能起到烘托渲染的作用，推进剧情的发展；也能间接暗示人物的内心所想、情感变迁， 最终达到突出幻梦的破灭，展示现实之残酷清醒的目的。在不同的光线衬托下，主人公盖茨比、尼克的 心境也发生着相应的改变，梦想与现实之间的矛盾和落差也随之变得越来越明显。最初，他们跟随着自 己心中的幻影，沉醉于美好的假象之中，但随着幻梦之光的消退，现实之光的升起，盖茨比和尼克也终 于打破了假象的虚假，认清了自我、他人以及当时那个浮华躁动的世界。

关键词：《了不起的盖茨比》；光影；现实；自我意识

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 An Introduction to the Chosen Motif----Light 1

1.2 Literature Review 2

2. The Meaning of Light 3

2.1 Connection between Light , Illusion and Reality 3

2.2 Light of Illusion 4

2.2.1 Light from Buchanan’s Palace 4

2.2.2 Light from Gatsby’s Mansion 4

2.2.3 Light of New York 5

2.2.4 Light of Gatsby and Daisy’s Meeting 6

2.2.5 The Green Light 7

2.3 Light of Reality 7

2.3.1 The Disillusion of Love 8

2.3.2 Light of Self-recognition 9

2.3.3 The Green Light 10

3. Conclusion 11

Reference 12

1. Introduction

1.1 An Introduction to the Chosen Motif----Light

As an excellent masterpiece deserving further research from variable dimensions, The Great Gatsby is superb of the use of symbols. In this novel, Fitzgerald applies a host of symbols, for instance, the color gold and green connote wealth and hope respectively. Traditionally, the use of symbols in this novel attracts most concerns in observation because every symbol like the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, the cars, the colors and so on, plays an important role to reveal characters’ emotions and social reality of that era. This thesis chooses light as a symbol, and focuses on the depictions of light to illustrate the connection between light, reality and illusion. There are a great many descriptions of light in the novel from cover to cover which have been constantly neglected, however, these details have noticeable effect of suggestions and explanations.  Besides the indication of the clasping American Dream, the contradiction between illusion and reality may be another theme of The Great Gatsby. Aimed at illustrating the contrast between illusion and reality, thorough and meticulous analysis about the descriptions of light will be fully demonstrated in further works. The depictions of light serve as a foil to set off the atmosphere and general condition. It is apparent that the shifting emotion or mental action of characters can not invariably be read through their words or behaviour. On the contrary, their mental action, beyond explicit portrayal, is embedded in the background, in which light plays an essential role to trigger off some vital decisions or major transitions.