ipl-logo

Examples Of The Valley Of Ashes In The Great Gatsby

636 Words3 Pages

Next, the valley of ashes physically represents the detriment of being left on the failing side of the American dream. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, the narrator describes the valley of ashes: “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…” (Fitzgerald, PAGE #). The people living in this valley are left, figuratively and literally, in the dust by the rich. Although they put in the gruelling work the American Dream demands, they continuously fall short of these hopes. This phenomenon leads despair and misery to saturate the valley of ashes. Roger L. Pearson, a professor at Oxford University, likens the characteristics of this place to that of the biblical Valley of Hinnon. …show more content…

As described by Professor Pearson, “The valley of ashes is the result of Jay Gatsby's testament, the dust of a corrupted and perverted American dream; and like its biblical counterpart, it has its association with the worshiping of a false god.” (Pearson, 641). Essentially, Professor Pearson states the American Dream, an ideal worshipped by all of the characters of the novel, injuriously misguides the people of the valley of ashes. Characters like the Wilsons long for lives like the Buchanans and Gatsby; however, no matter how much work they put in, they ultimately fail. The American Dream requires this failure. There must always be those striving, those pursuing this fantasy to fuel the status divide fostered by the corrupted American Dream; if everybody finds success, then, comparatively, nobody finds success. In conclusion, the American Dream leaves the people of the valley of ashes on the losing side of the wealth and status gap, an intentional effort to uphold this

Show More
Related

How Does The Valley Of Ashes Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

991 Words | 4 Pages

Therefor this is shown how the Valley of Ashes symbolizes money and poverty being brought up and spread around people who live in this

Read More

Examples Of Dust In The Great Gatsby

442 Words | 2 Pages

Dust is often found in abandoned, abused buildings which used to be used but have now been put aside. In The Great Gatsby, dust is found in the valley of ashes and other places where all ambitions have been lost. Fitzgerald uses the valley of ashes and dust to represent the ongoing theme that the American Dream of a money filled, carefree lifestyle can only be achieved on the backs of others. The valley of ashes represents the industry workers’ exploitation in the making of rich corporation leaders who have left their employees hopeless. In the valley, formally known as Queens, New York, “ashes take the forms of… men who move dimly and already crumbing through the powdery air” (23).

Read More

How Does Daisy Buchanan Represent In The Great Gatsby

777 Words | 4 Pages

The poor work each day cleaning the ash heaps, constantly putting themselves in an endless cycle of dread. The Valley of Ashes symbolizes the moral decay in human society. There is a distinct contrast between people in The Valley of Ashes and those in East and West Egg. The people in the Eggs are known for their exponential wealth while the Ashes are known for being greatly poor. Those in the Eggs are all powerful and have many connections throughout.

Read More

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

Read More

Similarities Between Wilson And Tom Buchanan In The Great Gatsby

922 Words | 4 Pages

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, is commonly perceived as an attempt to reflect the concept of The American Dream. The American Dream began in the 1930s as an inspiration for an ideal life in America of having a wife, kids, and an overall lavish life. Considering this, the reader can understand that Nick, the narrator, had this image in his head when he moved to West Egg. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the Valley of Ashes in order to convey a society that contradicts the idea of the American Dream and will find themselves valuing material wealth over character.

Read More

East And West Egg In The Great Gatsby

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.

Read More

What Does The Valley Of Ashes Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

681 Words | 3 Pages

In the book the Great Gatsby there were many symbols about the American Dream representing Gatsby. Three symbols we used in our project was the valley of the ashes, the green light, and the eyes of T.J Eckleberg. We feel that these three symbols help to show how Gatsby feels about life and how other people may see it and what makes it whole. Some people have malice feelings about the american dream and some people think the american dream is aesthetic. Fitzgerald is saying that anybody who tries to pursue the American dream can never be satisfied, because to have the American dream you are always striving for something more than you already have.

Read More

How Is The Great Gatsby Unattainable

985 Words | 4 Pages

Scott Fitzgerald proves that the American Dream cannot be attained is by showing the difference in lifestyles between characters. George and Myrtle Wilson are two characters who live in The Valley of Ashes who are not nearly wealthy enough to keep company with the Buchanans or Jay Gatsby himself. Every time anyone living in either the West Egg or East Egg, the wealthiest neighborhoods, wants to venture to the city they must pass through The Valley of Ashes. In the center area between both of the eggs sits The Valley of Ashes a town where “ashes grow like wheat” full of smog and “grotesque gardens. (Fitzgerald, 23).

Read More

J. Eckleburg's Use Of Symbolism In The Great Gatsby

369 Words | 2 Pages

There is this idea that a person who comes from humble origins could achieve the Dream if they are willing to work hard and take advantage of opportunities. This is seen in Gatsby and Myrtle where they bootleg and commit adultery respectively. Though, the frowning eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg look down on the Valley of the Ashes as if to say that the American Dream is one big lie. The American Dream produced wealth for some, but for the majority of people their hopes for gold is just like the ashes. The reality is that not everyone can have as much money as the Buchanan’s have.

Read More

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).”

Read More

What Does The Roaring Twenties Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

1199 Words | 5 Pages

Its physical decay in the form of ashes also assists in picturing the moral decay of characters of the time. Fitzgerald moves the decay onto the physical men as a symbol, who move “dimly”, which symbolizes the lack of decency throughout the story in each character when they act recklessly. At the time, this represents the economic inequality plaguing the time, and how men such as Buchanon and Gatsby profited off of the less fortunate for their own benefit. The valley of ashes symbolizes the moral decay of the story at its peak, however it is also important to consider the other real historical connections. In the History Channel article “8 Ways ‘The Great Gatsby’ Captured the

Read More

Examples Of Social Stratification In The Great Gatsby

1196 Words | 5 Pages

The novel also explores the idea of the "valley of ashes," a symbol of the failure of the American Dream and the social and economic inequality of the time. Ultimately, The Great Gatsby provides a powerful critique of the American Dream, suggesting that the pursuit of wealth and status can lead to moral decay and corruption and that the ideal of the American Dream is often an

Read More

American Dream In The Great Gatsby Essay

801 Words | 4 Pages

The Great Gatsby’s meditation on The American Dream was the idea that people are always reaching towards something greater than themselves that is just out of reach. (prepscholar) This is portrayed by the green light that symbolizes Gatsby’s American Dream, and the Valley of the Ashes which symbolizes the consequences America face through the obsession with wealth. Overall, The Great Gatsby points a pessimistic view that the American Dream today has become monetary

Read More

The Great Gatsby Greed Analysis

1006 Words | 5 Pages

Within his symbolism lies the underlying truth of the story: greed in the end fails even the greedy. This is portrayed in the valley of ashes that Fitzgerald illustrates in the novel. The valley of ashes is geographically between West Egg and New York City. The valley of ashes represents absolute poverty and destruction. It is full of ¨men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air… ash-grey men¨(Fitzgerald, 23).

Read More

Significance Of Dust In The Great Gatsby

1263 Words | 6 Pages

a sympathy towards its occupants. The melancholy atmosphere is not only stale but also unchanged by time as in the words “endlessly” or “eternal”. Removed from the hustle and bustle of the city by the railroad tracks, the Valley of Ashes is representative of the failed American Dream. People stop in but never stay unless they live there. Seemingly struggling to advance past their current socioeconomic level, the Wilsons live out their lives pretending to be wealthier than they are.

Read More

More about Examples Of The Valley Of Ashes In The Great Gatsby

Related Topics

Open Document