The Great Gatsby, which takes place during The Roaring Twenties, centers on the theme of corruption. The novel portrays that decade, also known as the Jazz Age, as a wild and carefree time period consisting of dancing, romance, and drinking regardless of enforced Prohibition laws. It emphasizes the dishonesty and misconduct of the characters as well, focusing on aspects such as affairs and murder. Throughout the novel, Nick Carraway frequently notes ashheaps and dust layers as he ventures toward New York City from Long Island. He refers to the halfway point between West Egg, where he resides, and New York as a valley of ashes; he describes clouds of impenetrable gray smoke and claims there is a layer of dust over the entire area and everything within the vicinity. Literally, the ashheaps and clouds of smoke are a byproduct of the industrial age and its manufacturing facilities. …show more content…
One of the shops, a car repair shop ran from a garage, belonged to George Wilson. As evidenced by a conversation between Tom Buchanan and George Wilson, it is apparent that Wilson’s business was not doing well and, as a result, Wilson was suffering from it; Wilson, consequently, was not rich like Tom and faced various struggles. The fact that Wilson’s shop was doing poorly and could be found within the valley of ashes leads to the assumption that the ashes are representative of poorness and poverty. Additionally, since his business was found along a road of nearby factories that mass produce for public consumption, the valley of ashes represents the struggles Wilson may be enduring as the owner of a relatively small business in an era of mass production. The valley of ashes symbolizes the extreme differences between the rich and the poor, and the lack of hope for less wealthy people such as George