How Does The Valley Of Ashes Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

Since the light at the end of the dock is green it gives the perception to go or move forward as you would when a traffic light turned green. In psychology, the color green is referred to as the color of stability, harmony, and growth. For instance, in spring all things begin a new cycle of life by blossoming and regrowing. The green light on the end of Daisy’s dock give Jay Gatsby the sense that it does not matter where he came from as long as he can prove he is worthy to the people he truly idolizes, which are the people of the higher

Imagery also played a big part in describing the Valley of the Ashes illustrated in chapter two of the book. Nick, the narrator describes The Valley of Ashes as the land that lies in between the Eggs and New York. The name “Valley of the Ashes” was given to this specify area is given due to its horrible conditions. This area was very unpleasant and is considered the dead land or the waste land. “This is a valley of ashes, a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.” (Fitzgerald 23) This imagery portrays lower social class at the time period. The Valley of Ashes is very symbolic to the book as it symbolizes the plight of the poor, and characters such as George Wilson, who lives in the

The Valley of Ashes is a wasteland that was left behind by the wealthy. It’s in the middle near both the train tracks and railroads that divide the West Egg from the East Egg. This helps shows the depressing side of the 1920s where hope seemed further and further aways from the less fortunates reality. It is a place where the lower class feels trapped between a reality that they might never be able to achieve based on their living situation and the false hope of accomplishing it. The Valley of Ashes symbolizes the downfall of the American Dream by indicating the hopelessness of the poor, the indulging of the rich and the beginning of the American Nightmare.

The Valley of Ashes symbolizes the graveyard of American dreams and morality. In the book, it is described as “a certain desolate area of land” located “halfway between West Egg and New York” (Fitzgerald 23). In this corrupted area, “ash-gray men swarm with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight” (Fitzgerald 23).

One of the first symbols Fitzgerald use is The Valley of Ashes “This is a valley of ashe’s a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take farms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally with transcendent effort of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (Fitzgerald 23). The Valley of Ashes is described in such great detail because it shows how beauty can be destroyed by greed. “Fitzgerald’s valley of ashes has been frequently compared to Eliot’s “Waste Land,” but the difference are more instructive than the similarities. Eliot’s waste and land is not, in terms of its imagery and mythology specifically Christian”(Elmore 433). The Valley of Ashes is a dead land that has a board over it that looks as if it is the eyes of God that sees all things.

The Great Gatsby is a symbol itself. The Great Gatsby was written to represent the rise and fall of the American Dream. The author places the rich and wealthy lifestyle on a high pedestal while he shows the dramatic consequences of moral and social decay amongst the characters. As each turning point is revealed, the American Dream slowly crumbles in the selfish hands of those who remain ignorant to anything else in the world. The significance of the many symbolic elements in The Great Gatsby plays a role in revealing the underlying themes of the American Dream, the ongoing clash between love and wealth and social and moral destruction.

The Valley of Ashes is halfway between West Egg of Long Island and New York City. When one comes upon the Valley of Ashes, it is not what they see, but what they do not see: sunshine, colors, or a settling feeling. The Valley of Ashes is nothing but a dull location, filled with unsatisfied farmers, unsuccessful gardens, billowing smoke, and mounds of ashes that are prominent below the gray skies. Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, describes the Valley of Ashes as “...a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (Fitzgerald 23). Fitzgerald describes this location as unpleasant for those who enter and it is seen as a vulnerable place due to the billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg looking upon the location at all times. This descriptive quote foreshadows that something bad will occur in this area during the novel.

1. The green light, situated at the end of the Buchanan’s dock, represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. Gatsby associates the light with Daisy and in Chapter one, he reaches toward it

A green light burns endlessly into the night at the end of a dock and a watcher stands every night at the end of their porch to view the light across the bay. That watcher is Gatsby and this is when the main character, Nick, first encounters him seeing this light. He says, “...he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way...I could have sworn he was trembling...I glanced seaward- and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been at the end of a dock”(Fitzgerald 25).

From the text, choose 5 words that reflect the valley of ashes. You cannot pick the words valley or ashes.

The Valley of Ashes is one of the most important symbols in The Great Gatsby. Literally, it is a waste dump, or industrial area. It isn’t truly made of ashes, but seems to be because of all gray smoke that clouds it. The grayness is due to the factories that are nearby, since their smokestacks leave ash everywhere. It is located next to the train tracks and the road that is in between the East and West Egg, in Queens.It is also located next to a small river, where products from factories are shipped to their designated location, as described in chapter 2. The desolation the valley radiates symbolizes the failure it represents. Figuratively, The Valley of Ashes is shown as a place of helplessness, a result of the grand desire for wealth, a pursuit that only leads to more failure and hopelessness. It reflects the overarching theme of the book: the decline of the American Dream because of the corruption associated with it. This

Another major symbol in The Great Gatsby is the green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan 's dock. This light represents Gatsby 's hopes and dreams for his future with Daisy by his side. However, this idea also relates to the way views of the "American Dream" have corrupted, while in reality, actual American life is much different. In the novel, the audience first encounters Gatsby looking at this light after Nick comes back from a dinner at the Buchanan. This scene we see Gatsby “stretch 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”(20-21). One thing,

It's best described as "a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens... [consisting of] ash-grey men, who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air." (Gatsby 26) It represented the heart of the industrial revolution in New York, demonstrating that the advances in technology at the time were associated with the cost of meager payment for the workers that dwelt there. All were poor, and the probability that any would be able to get themselves in a financial state where they could leave the valley of ashes was slim.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the valley of ashes, the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock and the eyes of doctor T.J.Eckleburg are all significant symbols used throughout the novel.Firstly, the valley of ashes is between the West Egg and New York City and is virtually a dumping ground for industrial ashes. New York City is used to symbolize the beauty in the world, and the West Egg symbolizes the people who became wealthy from the economy. Furthermore, the valley of ashes symbolizes the ruin of the people caught in between. The valley represents the hopelessness poverty causes. Only people of the lower social classes live in the valley and they desperately want to leave but cannot due to the grasp poverty has on them.

1In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald effectively uses symbolism to deeper explain the valley of ashes, the green light, and the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg. 2The first idea of symbolism is the valley of ashes which is the area between the West Egg and New York City. 3It is an area of land created by the dumping of ashes from the industrial companies. 4Symbolically, the valley of ashes is the rich satisfying themselves with their own pleasures that results in moral and social devastation. 5It can also symbolize the predicament of the poor George Wilson who lives in the ashes. 6As a result, living in the ashes causes him to lose his liveliness. 7Another form of symbolism in the novel is the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. 8The