But I didn’t call to him, for he gave a sudden intimation 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 single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness.
Gatsby’s reaching from the darkness toward the light, creates
fear and loathing.
sadness and loss.
sympathy and insight.
mystery and interest.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is mystery and interest.
In this passage from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the image of Gatsby reaching out toward the green light in the distance symbolizes his longing, his unattainable dreams, and his obsession with the past. The passage is filled with a sense of mystery, as Gatsby’s behavior is enigmatic—he is distant and seemingly disconnected from the world around him, yet drawn toward the light in a way that hints at deep personal significance. The green light, far away and faint, represents Daisy’s presence for Gatsby, an idealized, unreachable version of the past he desperately wants to reclaim. The mystery lies in what exactly the light signifies to him and how his pursuit of it shapes his identity and actions throughout the novel.
The mysterious nature of this scene, combined with the uncertainty of Gatsby’s disappearance, draws the reader’s attention and piques interest in his character. The “minute and far away” light, along with Gatsby’s trembling gesture, suggests an unattainable goal or a romanticized vision of something that is ultimately beyond reach. This uncertainty around Gatsby’s desires and motivations creates an aura of intrigue. The reader is left questioning what Gatsby truly seeks and what the light represents, reinforcing the novel’s themes of illusion, desire, and the American Dream.
While there is an element of sadness and loss inherent in Gatsby’s pursuit of an idealized vision, the tone of the passage focuses more on the elusive nature of his dreams, which draws readers into a deeper exploration of his character. Therefore, the passage evokes mystery and interest, as readers are compelled to understand the depth of Gatsby’s longing and what it means within the larger context of the novel.