Merton college library- Gatsby recreates.Recreates relates to illusion

Recreation is a form of illusion, the fact that the library is a ‘fake’ version of a prestigious place links to the persona Gatsby has created for himself. The library is full of real books (owl-eyes says so in c.3) representing the effort that Gatsby is putting into creating himself. The use of real books could also represent the fact that Gatsby honestly believes in his fantasy persona.

“If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across the bay,” said Gatsby. “You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.”

The mist- The rain means that it is washing away the past./the past stand between them. Green light-symbol of Hope: Gatsby hopes for a life with Daisy.

The hope that Gatsby has around a life with Daisy is blacked by the past. The mist representing the 5 years that they have spent apart,shatters the illusion of the green light( the hope for the future) By masking the light, we are faced with the reality that we can never take back our past and therefore shapes the reality of our future, sometimes despite the dreams/hopes that we have.

“colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way. No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart”