In this novel, the light of illusion or reality illuminates not only what happens in the plots, but also the journey of self-finding. Enlightened by the light of reality, the characters, mainly Nick and Gatsby, gradually recognize the real feature of the era, the people, and even themselves. The author does not mention the abstract light of illusion or reality directly, however, but the descriptions of specific light, like the evening glow, the lamplight at night and the green light in the mist, combing with particular plots in which such descriptions occur, can be interpreted as the moral action of characters, moreover, imply the changing of abstract light of illusion or reality. On the basis of this interpretation, a new comprehension towards this novel, which transcends the ordinary presentation of disillusion of American Dream, will reach a more abstract and deeper level of meaning beyond current understanding. In this novel, numerous descriptions about light are available for analysis, and these descriptions, embedding in given spots, have deeper meaning that the author does not mention bluntly. These depictions of light may reflect characters’ awakening consciousness about the reality, moreover, imply the process of stepping out of the illusion and recognizing the true world again. In what follows, after a very brief review of what other scholars have already talked about on related topics, this thesis tries to look at the different aspects of the depictions of light in this novel, arguing that the function of light is

to reflect the emotion change of characters, and furthermore, to indicate their recognition of reality.

1.2 Literature Review

Comparing with other symbols, the depictions of light in this novel do not attract much attention. Some precedent studies do notice the special use of light in this novel, however, these studies sorely put their focus of concern on the partial depictions of light in given plots, thus ignoring the collective importance of light from the beginning to the end. They hold the opinion that the light, mainly referring to the green light on the dock, is a representative of American Dream in 1920s or Gatsby’s pursuit of love, and it is in no position to reflect the complicate mental action of the characters. Green is traditionally associated with spring, hope and youth,  thus it is natural for readers to relate the green light with dream and hope. This implication of green  light symbolizes Gatsby’s ideal and hope. The initial appearance of green light occurs when Nick sees Gatsby for the first time, at that time the green light is a symbol of the hope for his reunion with Daisy. The second time the green light appears when Gatsby and Daisy are in his mansion, and the green light is no longer a remote goal, but turns into a beautiful woman in front of him. In the end of the novel, the green light appears again, indicating the gradual fading of American Dream.( 蒋伟平, 2016: 160) Yet this perspective loses sight of the deeper meaning that the light, as a crucial proportion of the general background, is not only a booster of plots, but also the allusion of reality or illusion.

Some studies connect the depictions of light with impressionism and hold the opinion that Fitzgerald uses different light to dramatize the plots, enrich portrait of characteristics, express the contradictory vision and deepen the theme of disillusion of American Dream. Regarding this novel as series of pictures of impressionism, that study tries to analyze light from the perspective of impressionism, as if the author were an artist.( 胡泓 , 2009; 周哲 , 2009) However, this thesis believes that light in this novel does not indicate any features of expressionism, neither merely refers to the green light, but the major depictions of light from cover to cover. The connotation of light, directly or indirectly relating to special plots, surpasses the superficial representative of American Dream or love, works for arousing characters’ cognition of reality and implies the collapsing of impractical dream. In favor of analyzing the change of characters’ cognition of reality, this thesis endeavors to combine light with the context and characters’ behavior, trying to find the connection between them from a unique standpoint. A spectrum of depictions of light, which always parallel with the dedicate change of characters’ emotion and their cognition of reality or illusion, can be picked out from even every chapter of this novel. The major mission of this thesis is to elucidate the deep connection between light, reality and illusion, furthermore, to illustrate the process of characters’ regaining the consciousness of reality.