There are many symbols present in The Great Gatsby that F. Scott Fitzgerald uses to either add or detract from the overall effectiveness of the novel. Some main symbols Fitzgerald focuses on are the green light at the end of Daisy's dock and the Doctor T. J. Eckleburg sign. Both of these enhance the overall effectiveness of the novel and show Fitzgerald's ability to place easily recognized symbols in the novel.
             The first symbol that improves the overall effectiveness of the novel was the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. This green light, which was hardly visible from Gatsby's estate, represents Gatsby's struggle with Daisy and the distance he will forever have from her. Fitzgerald first introduces this struggle for Daisy in Chapter 1 when Nick narrates what he sees Gatsby doing. "...He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward-and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock"(Pg. 25-26). Fitzgerald is very clever in the way he introduces this mysterious green light. At first, readers are very confused by this light because of how Fitzgerald does not describe its full meaning. He cleverly places this passage at the end of Chapter 1 to make the reader constantly think, "What does this green light have to do with anything?" Once the reader realizes Gatsby's and Daisy's past relationship, everything falls into place. Fitzgerald also uses one word that shows Gatsby's emotion and how the green light must affect him. He portrays Gatsby as trembling, which shows how Gatsby is very uneasy and shaken by whatever is on the dock. Although this is the main point of this symbol, it also shows how wealth does not bring happiness. Even though Gatsby was probably the wealthiest of all peop...