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Corruption In The Great Gatsby

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The Great Gatsby is an iconic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, an American novelist. The novel consists of a man of overwhelming wealth who comes from ‘new money’. The story itself contains the underlying themes of corruption and wealth, showing how society strives to paint a perfect picture of itself, only to see that it won’t matter after the mass destruction it left behind. This theme can be shown when Fitzgerald mentions an area called the Valley of Ashes in chapter two. The Valley of Ashes is not only a grand representation of the societal corruption of the American dream, but it also shows the negativity of materialism and moral judgment. The Valley of Ashes symbolizes the decay of the American Dream and societal corruption. Makes differential …show more content…

“The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and, when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour” (Fitzgerald 24) The Valley of Ashes criticizes the degenerative action of the pursuit of wealth and materialism. Highlights the degradation of the human spirit Dramatizes the loss of purity and innocence in the pursuit of material gain Shows the consequences of how the pursuit of material wealth can go unchecked. “This is a valley of ashes--a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens.” (Fitzgerald 23) The billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes symbolizes religion and moral judgment. Implies the importance of religion and morals in a materialistic society. Highlights the characters’ indifferences to morality. Symbolizes ‘divine judgment’ and moral criticism. “...The billboard's eyes are a watchful God. Wilson doesn't go to church, and thus doesn't have access to the moral instruction that will help him control his darker impulses. Still, it seems that Wilson wants God, or at least a God-like influence, in his life—based on him trying to convert the watching eyes of the billboard into a God…”

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The author introduces the desolate land known as the valley of ashes, which is far from the lavish lives lived in the Eggs’. When introducing this dark and eerie slice of land, Fitzgerald incorporates imagery in helping develop his theme relating to the Roaring 20’s and the American Dream. Nick begins to explain the valley of ashes in discrete detail. “This is the 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…” ( 23). In this excerpt from the text, not only does Fitzgerald use many forms of imagery, but he incorporates diction that helps develop his theme as well as a simile.

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With this new rush of energy, all the excess waste leads to the creation of The Valley of Ashes, while the rich like Daisy Buchanan trot along by. Throughout the narrative The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald Scott demonstrates the moral hollowness of the upperclassmen and the wealthy people in the 1920s. Evident through Daisy Buchanan’s actions and again through the setting of The Valley

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Fitzgerald’s portrayal of the American Dream in the novel both compares and contrasts to that of Hughes’ portrayal in the poem through the usage of the literary devices of imagery, tone, and symbolism. Through the usage of imagery, The Great Gatsby paints a bleak picture of the failure of The American Dream on a disadvantaged group, while “I Too, Sing America” portrays it as something that can be improved upon. In the novel, a stretch of desolate land created as the result of industrial waste is described as “...a valley of ashes...where ashes grow like...grotesque gardens (Fitzgerald 23)”. This powerful imagery described the valley of ashes as a wasteland and a failure of the American Dream. The

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612 Words | 3 Pages

It symbolizes poverty, and the population of Manhattan that is not rich and self indulged in their personal lives. The Valley of Ashes is described as a dumping ground, Nick even explains how it’s “bounded on one side by a small foul river, and, when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour” (27). This is completely opposite to places like West Egg, where most of the novel is taken place. Everything is luxurious and fast paced, comparing these two places opens up many symbols in the reader's mind, like poverty and the fact that not every American at that time could live as Gatsby can, for instance.

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463 Words | 2 Pages

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, many symbols and themes are implemented throughout the story. These symbols help portray ideas to the reader. One of the symbols that Fitzgerald uses is the valley of ashes. This symbol stands for the underclass who work so the rich can prosper. Many of the people that live there are factory workers.

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552 Words | 3 Pages

The people in the Valley of Ashes have to work harder than the other social classes because they don’t have the riches or the wealth the other social classes have. The other classes look down upon them and act as they are better than them and that is how it is in real life. The Great Gatsby relates back to life now. People now are making their own American Dreams because they can’t reach them just like the people in The Great

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The Valley of Ashes is portrayed as just a dumping ground in New York… But F. Scott Fitzgerald builds it into a deeper meaning. Hauhart describes it as “…the valley of ashes collectively unite Fitzgerald’s major themes of hope, illusion, mortality, corruption, materialism, success, and failure.” …it represents the lack of liveliness and corruption of it’s once original freedom and beauty. Fitzgerald is a brilliant writer and even included weather as some of his whimsical hidden symbols and motifs.

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In the novel, the valley of ashes is symbolic of the American Dream because it represents the failures of society and mankind. When traveling back home, Nick often passes the valley of ashes and describes that, “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” (23). Even though Gatsby achieved the American Dream and became successful, his values were ultimately corrupted by his greed and wealth in order to entice Daisy. In comparison to the valley of ashes, Gatsby’s physical surroundings begin to have superficial values making him hollow similarly to the crumbling valley. The valley of ashes, also demonstrates the oppression of the poor who are forced to live in a such a world where only the wealthy thrive.

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531 Words | 3 Pages

J. Eckleburg, depicted on an old billboard in the Valley of Ashes, symbolize the decay of the “American Dream”. Those eyes watch over an economy of great despair and sorrow. Those in that land work for just a taste of the “American Dream”. The Valley of Ashes itself is a huge contrast to the morals of the places like East Egg and West Egg, serving as a constant reminder of the reality that exists along with having wealth that is accessible and no

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Tatiana Martinez 10/15/15 English 4 (period 8) ISA #3 Writing Some of the symbols in the novel “The Great Gatsby” connect with the valley of ashes that is introduced in chapter 2. The valley of ashes symbolize poverty, hopelessness and the lost hopes and dreams of people who have failed to live up to the American Dream.

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Between West Egg and Manhattan lies ‘a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat’. Home to the lower end of society, The Valley of Ashes in the novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald effectively conveys the ideas that the American Dream has being corrupted by people’s greed for excessive luxuries and that the illusory nature of social mobility is limiting those in the lower classes. Perceived by Nick to be ‘a fantastic farm where ash grows like wheat’, the juxtaposition between The Valley of Ashes and ‘a fantastic farm’ is effective in the way that it conveys to the reader the effects of consumerism has on the environment. Not only are the ‘ash grey men crumbling’, their dreams can also be seen as ‘crumbling’ in the sense that they are stuck and cannot achieve any success. While those who are privileged live glamorously on the West and East Egg, those stuck in the valley have become victims of a corrupt American Dream and have little hope of rising up the classes.

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1261 Words | 6 Pages

The Great Gatsby presents its characters as having living the American Dream. However, it is only a belief; the behaviors they have and decisions they take only leave them with a false perception of life and lifestyle. The Great Gatsby relates to the corruption of the American Dream for those materialistic people who were after money. Fitzgerald reveals the idea of corruption in the American Dream through conditions such as wealth and materialism, power and social status, and relationships involving family and affairs. He uses examples of this corruption to show the reader that people are willing to lie, betray others, and commit crime to be able to live a ‘better and fuller’ life.

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It also serves to portray the materialistic society that surrounds them (The Colors of Society - Camouflaged Discontent).” The characters portray such class and wealth along with fake happiness. The Valley of Ashes looks at how they feel on the inside which Daisy and Gatsby both ooze with discontent with how they’ve made decisions and how their lives did not turn out how they dreamed. Next, at one of Gatsby’s many house parties Nick makes a list of “grey names, and they will give you a better impression than [Nick’s] generalities (Fitzgerald 61).”

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637 Words | 3 Pages

Everybody wants to be the wealthy however the poor suffer lots as a result of the by-product of the capitalistic society. The by-product during this novel is the Valley of Ashes. This shows how individuals throw out regard for others in exchange of the pursuit to be wealthy (This is incredibly immoral). This is often believed to be the American Dream. On the opposite hand you have got extravagant parties at the Gatsby house simply to impress a lady.

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2519 Words | 11 Pages

Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby was very instrumental in the change from traditionalism to modernism. In a time where people struggled with identity, Fitzgerald wrote of the women's rights movements and the animosity between whites and minorities (Huskey). Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story, also seems to find his own identity, as he helps his friend, Jay Gatsby, reestablish his own. Fitzgerald’s work is very obviously a piece of modernism when compared to the theme of fragmentation. The “valley of ashes” (Fitzgerald 27) is a fantastic example of fragmentation.

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