However, the end of the novel shows the demoralization of society as people forget how to feel emotions for their fellow man and live their lives of luxury without a care in the world.
Through the use of metaphor, Fitzgerald links ultimate aspiration and desolation to the various characters in the novel. There are three prime examples that exemplify the above statement. The first one is the green light at the end of the Buchanan's dock. The green light exemplifies Jay Gatsby's ultimate aspiration, which is to attain the love of Daisy Buchanan. Nick sees Gatsby for the first time at his house, looking at the green light. Nick states, "But I didn't call to him for he gave a sudden imitation that he was content to be alone--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 singlke green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock." However, once Gatsby and Daisy become reunited, a mist covers the green light, which visibly affecting Gatsby. Nick states, "Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It has seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one." Now that Gatsby and Daisy have been reunited, Gatsby must deal with the truth of who Daisy Buchanan is, instead of the image that Gatsby believes her to be. Gatsby believes Daisy to be an angelic being, to an extent; however, Daisy Buchanan is far from angelic with the defects in her personality.
The second use of metaphor is shown in Gatsby's house. This image serves as another symbol of aspiration, reflecting both Gatsby's success as an American self-made man and the mirage of an identity he has created to win Daisy's love.