The Valley of Ashes: A Symbol of American Decay
The Valley of Ashes serves as a crucial setting in The Great Gatsby, positioned between West Egg and New York City. This industrial wasteland represents the decay of the American Dream theme in literature through its stark imagery and symbolic elements.
Definition: The Valley of Ashes is a grey industrial dumping ground that represents the moral and social decay beneath the glamorous surface of the 1920s.
Highlight: The setting's physical description of "ash-grey men" and "fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat" emphasizes both literal and metaphorical decay.
Quote: "Cars crawling" represents the monotonous life without direction, symbolizing the trapped existence of those living in the valley.
Example: George Wilson, described as a "blond, spiritless man" who "doesn't know he's alive," embodies the victims of the failed American Dream.
The T.J. Eckleberg eyes representation in The Great Gatsby is particularly significant, as the billboard's yellow eyes overlook Wilson's garage, symbolizing both divine judgment and the commercialization of faith. The eyes serve as a constant reminder of the characters' moral failings, particularly regarding Tom's affair with Myrtle and her subsequent death.
Vocabulary: Hedonistic lifestyle - pursuit of pleasure as a way of life, represented by the contrast between the valley's desolation and the wealthy characters' excessive parties.
The yellow brick building housing Wilson's garage represents corruption and false promises, while Myrtle's tragic death in the valley reinforces the impossibility of escaping one's social class. This location serves as a powerful critique of the American Dream's hypocrisy and the moral bankruptcy of the era.
