What Does The Valley Of Ashes Symbolize In The Great...

F. Scott Fitzgerald uses multiple symbols to convey the theme of his classic novel, “The Great Gatsby.” A symbol can be defined as a literary device that contains several layers of meaning, often concealed at first sight, and representative of several other aspects, concepts or traits than those that are visible in the literal translation alone. Symbolism is using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning. A symbols purpose in a story is often to stand for something abstract like a force of nature, an aspect of the world, or an idea. Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly. A themes purpose in a story is typically to communicate on a common …show more content…
The Valley of Ashes is a long stretch of forsaken land that was created by the dumping of industrial ashes. The “lower class” people all live in the Valley of Ashes and all want to leave but cannot. In Chapter 2 page 35, Nick refers to the valley of ashes as a “solemn dumping ground.” It represents the moral and social deficiency that is the result from the rich pursuing wealth with no regard for anything but their own happiness. The Valley of Ashes also shows how the American Dream is impossible to achieve. For example Myrtle Wilson dies trying to escape the Valley of Ashes. The Doctors’ Glasses are another symbol used in “The Great Gatsby.” The glasses of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are painted on a faded billboard over the Valley of Ashes. The eyes are “blue and gigantic” as it says in Chapter 2 page 35, and “They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nose.” The glasses look down upon the Valley of Ashes as if God looking down and judging society and what its become by their constant demand for wealth. This connection between the spectacles and God is especially present in the mind of George Wilson. Also in a sense the glasses show the corruption of the people of America. As the

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What Does The Valley Of Ashes Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

What Does The Valley Of The Ashes Symbolize In The Great Gatsby