The Great Gatsby Greed Quotes

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“They were careless people… they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made,” (179). The book “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is set in the roaring 20s and is about a man named Gatsby who throws gigantic, extravagant, and luxurious parties that many people flock to, but if you take a closer look, you'll find the deeper truth. Nearly everyone is shallow and has a lackadaisical lifestyle filled with amoral behavior. The way that you are able to peer into this darker side is through the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg and The Owl-Eyed man. They reveal the truth, they see through everything. …show more content…
George Wilson, looking at the billboard of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, tells his wife Myrtle who was having an affair, that “God knows everything you've been doing. You may fool me but you can't fool God!” (159). George makes the connection between the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg and how they are a parallel to God. God observes all of the reprehensible and immoral actions of the characters, but doesn’t intervene. In another part of the book Nick describes Doctor T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes as “dimmed a little by many paintless days under the sun and rain, brooding on over the solemn dumping ground,” of the Valley of Ashes where Nick “first met Tom Buchanan’s mistress,”(24). Since the billboard is described as dim and lifeless, and is located in the Valley of Ashes which is described as a “dumping ground”, it makes the billboard seem insignificant and like a piece of junk. Doctor T.J. Eckleburg represents God, so it implies that God is in the background and he is sinking down into “eternal blindness”(24). The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg observe the characters being involved in extramarital activities. There is also another parallel to God and Doctor T.J. …show more content…
Eckleburg and the Owl-eyed man appear in the text it reveals some corruptness or shows a darker side to a character. In one paragraph “Doctor T.J. Eckleburg’s faded eyes came into sight down the road…” (122) that Nick, Jordan, and Tom were driving on to go to New York city. They then stopped at George Wilson’s gas station where George, conversing with them, told them indirectly that he knew of his wife’s infidelity and that “the shock had made him physically sick,” (124). While this was happening “the giant eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg,” were brought up again and were compared to religion by stating that they were“[keeping] their vigil,” (124) like they were keeping watch or praying. In both these scenes Doctor T.J. Eckleburg is present as the scenarios unfold, showing the significance of the events, and because faith is mentioned, it provokes the reader to think about morals and sin. This along with the climax of the plot approaching and all of the affairs being brought to light makes the audience question the morality and ethics of all the characters. Another noteworthy part of the novel is when Nick and Jordan go to the library in Gatsby’s house and find a “stout, middle-aged man, with enormous owl-eyed spectacles,” making odd remarks. Being compared to an owl, which is usually associated with wisdom and knowledge, makes it seem as though the Owl-eyed man is astute and perceptive and may have knowledge that others do not possess. The Owl-Eyed
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