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Examples Of Corruption In The Great Gatsby

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The Valley of Ashes: An American Trap

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, Gatsby, one of the main characters, tries to reach his goal of reuniting with Daisy, but is unsuccessful. Other characters, such as George and Myrtle Wilson, are also unsuccessful in their quest for their American Dream. Fitzgerald uses his novel to challenge one of the utmost famous American values: anyone can go from rags to riches; but, is that absolutely true? People struggle to reach their hopes and dreams, especially those with unfavorable backgrounds. In addition, the ones who fall short are often the ones who work the hardest, while those born into money often become successful. Although the Valley of Ashes is just a place in New York, Fitzgerald uses the Valley of Ashes as a critique of American capitalist society and how the poor cannot evade poverty. Even though all citizens of the United States are said to “have equal opportunity”, Gatsby, Wilson, and Myrtle are all examples of the impoverished trying to reach their dreams …show more content…

This is a depressing moment for Wilson because his American Dream has been to have a loving and loyal wife, and Myrtle is not fulfilling that dream. In one last effort “to go West” with her, he locks Myrtle in her room, forcing her to stay with him. To the American people of that time, land west of the Mississippi resembled a place of opportunity: this is how George plans to save his American Dream. In The Great Gatsby, George Wilson faces multiple setbacks that impoverished people often face, causing his ambitions to be unachieved. The little money he earns and the unfortunate luck he receives is a setback causing his hopes to drift away. He does not have what Myrtle wants and as she tries to escape him, his aspirations are extinguished as she is “extinguished” (137) by Gatsby’s

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How Does Jay Fitzgerald Present Greed In The Great Gatsby

773 Words | 4 Pages

Fitzgerald uses myriad symbols such as a valley of ashes, a billboard, and a green light across the bay from Gatsby’s mansion, to convey his themes and influence the plot. A valley of ashes is used to convey the theme of the inequality of wealth that was so widespread in the 1920s. Tom Buchanan, Daisy’s husband, and Nick Carroway go on a drive to visit Tom’s mistress. Myrtle lives in an apartment above her husband’s workshop, in the coal and ash covered mining town on the outskirts of New York City. Fitzgerald, in narrator Nick

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How Does Fitzgerald Present Money In The Great Gatsby

942 Words | 4 Pages

Gatsby has worked up from the moment he has seen Daisy just to be good enough for her. He really embodies the American dream as he strives and sets a goal and acquired it. Tom and Daisy however are almost foils to gatsby as they would be nothing without their wealth and would crumple away in the wind if they had to live a minute in the valley of ashes. These people contrast from each other immensely and show just how stale and emotionless the People that come from old money are, Almost as if they can be compared to the buildings in the valley of ashes. Pale, bland, dirty, and dark, these represent the rich folk of west and east egg.

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What Does The Valley Of Ashes Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

626 Words | 3 Pages

In Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, many people are living the American Dream. Dancing the night away at Gatsby’s extravagant parties and lavishing themselves in loads of money. While everything may seem pleasurable and perfect for the people of West and East Egg, it is not the same for the inhabitants of the Valley of Ashes. In The Great Gatsby, the symbols of the Valley of Ashes show how the American Dream is not always such a grand dream and the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg symbolize God in a desolate place.

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Similarities Between I Too Sing America And The Great Gatsby

504 Words | 3 Pages

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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Examples Of Wilson In The Great Gatsby

1285 Words | 6 Pages

The deed was finally done; Gatsby received his punishment for all the sins that he committed, and he would no longer be able to taint the world with his exploits. Even with this momentous victory, I still felt empty. Myrtle, the love of my life, was gone, and I had nowhere to go with condemnation from everyone I

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Wilson's Atmosphere In 'Chapter 2 Of The Great Gatsby'

853 Words | 4 Pages

The gloominess and given up surroundings can be reflected towards Wilson himself. His ember with Myrtle is now is just ash, and it continues to grow more and more as the days pass. Wilson is the perfect example of the “ash-grey m[a]n”. The use of the valley of the ashes can also be thought as a commentary by Fitzgerald of the American Dream like most of his other works. It can be interpreted as it is also decaying and as barren as the valley of ashes.

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Examples Of Corruption In The Great Gatsby

717 Words | 3 Pages

William James once said, “The desire to gain wealth and the ability to lose it are our chief breeders of cowardice and propagators of corruption”. The Great Gatsby is a novel written in relation to the jazz era, with the focus on wealth and corruption. The American dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of their background or social status, can achieve success and prosperity. F Scott Fitsgerald uses symbols throughout the novel to illustrate the corruption and moral decay of the American Dream. The alluring dream draws people to do dishonorable things in order to be successful or to stay successful.

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Explain The Destruction Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

1143 Words | 5 Pages

The author explains that Gatsby did all in his effort to get better for Daisy, but ended up dying in the midst of it. The author depicts this by stating, “Furthermore, his success obviously doesn’t last – he still pines for Daisy and loses everything in his attempt to get her back” (Wulick). The author also brings in the idea of George and Myrtle Wilson trying to achieve the American Dream. It is mentioned that George wants a better life just as much as Myrtle does. However, Myrtle seeks a better life through Tom and having him buy her materials.

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Myrtle's Ambition In The Great Gatsby

1052 Words | 5 Pages

Myrtle is slain by her quest for capital; Wilson becomes insane from his wife's affair and subsequent death; and Gatsby loses what he looked for his entire life, the past. All of these characters prove the tragic message that no matter one's dreams or ambitions, no matter one's money or determination, they can still fail or even die as a result of their

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Persistence Yielding Results In The Great Gatsby

669 Words | 3 Pages

This is seen in the contrast of estates between the upper and lower class when Matthew says, "The juxtaposition of the white city with the black-and-grey Valley of Ashes, where Nick has just seen 'Mrs. Wilson, straining at the garage pump, heightens the contrast between the Wilsons' frustrated strivings and the seeming ease with which high finance creates for others the means of realizing dreams" (Matthew 6). The stark difference between those who own a big mansion and the working class living in the Ashes is revealed, illustrating the challenges faced by those with lower incomes. Despite the conditions of the lower class, Fitzgerald teaches that persistence is key and that, eventually, one will see the fruit of their labor. Gatsby's unshakable personality is prevalent when faced with a dilemma, as seen when Pidgeon states, "It is clear that Gatsby knows that Wilson will come to kill him. He probably can run away; however, he decides to stay since it is easier for him to die than to realize his dream isn't worth it" (Pidgeon 6).

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What Does The Green Light Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

817 Words | 4 Pages

Nick sets out to the scene of what the passengers on the train are seeing coming from Long Island to New York, …“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 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). Such bare places do not exist by mistake, most likely built by the wealthy residents neighboring it, who give no time of day to residents without as much money. While Nick and Gatsby drive to the city, Gatsby expresses to Nick who he was… “then the valley of ashes opened out on both sides of us, and I had a glimpse of Mrs. Wilson straining at the garage pump with panting vitality as we went by” (Fitzgerald 53). The poorer class surrounds the old and new money classes, giving off the hopelessness of those within the roaring twenties.

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Myrtle Wilson In The Great Gatsby

951 Words | 4 Pages

Within The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald presented Myrtle as a character who was unaffected by true love and craved extreme wealth. Many people like Myrtle in the 1920s felt having lots of money meant being able to live a luxurious and happy lifestyle. They refused to accept the idea of a simplistic lifestyle and always anticipated more. Fitzgerald’s writing revealed more than Myrtle constantly insulting her husband’s situation. He exposed the corruption of the “new” American Dream and the relationships it destroyed as a

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Examples Of Corruption In The Great Gatsby

1261 Words | 6 Pages

The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a classic 20th century story -that period was also known as the “roaring twenties”- which critiques the vision of the American Dream people in general have. At that time, the idea of a free market, and industrial revolution provided the opportunity for many to seize the market and people were starting to see that they could become rich without having any type of restriction. New York city was the centre of this wealth-creating society. After the war, this movement generated new opportunities and ambitions for people wanting to start a wealthy upper class life. That period of time was all about alcohol, partying, gambling, fashion, and money.

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Theme Of Grey In The Great Gatsby

1268 Words | 6 Pages

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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Theme Of Poverty In The Great Gatsby

1344 Words | 6 Pages

The Great Gatsby is filled with lively parties and opulent lifestyles which sweep the reader off their feet and distract the imagination with dreams of luxury, however, the book also holds a valley of despair and misery which serves to show the downfalls of capitalism. Throughout the story, we see the lives of the wealthy, with their extravagant parties, excessive consumerism, and unbelievable luxury, but we also see the lives of the poor, who live in a gray and desolate slum known as the Valley of Ashes, and are forced to pay the cost of the American dream experienced by others. The Valley of Ashes is a dumping ground for the burnt coal used to fuel the city, making it an area where the misery can be directly attributed to the lifestyles of

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