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The Green Light (excerpt)

By F. Scott Fitzgerald
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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.

Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning—

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

Comprehension Quiz

Check your understanding

1. The green light most likely symbolizes:
2. The phrase 'boats against the current' uses primarily:
3. Fitzgerald's diction in the closing line ('borne back ceaselessly') conveys: