The Great Gatsby Conscience Analysis

In chapter two of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg play the role of a sort of conscience that looks over the characters in the book. When Nick is first describing the billboard, he says, “But above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg” (23). The first thing that stands out to Nick on this desolate horizon is Eckleburg’s billboard, and how it is watching the surroundings always. No matter what changes occur before it, it stays the same; always watching. This is much like a conscience in the fact that it is noticed, but not always addressed or heeded. Nick notices the billboard and feels he is being watched, but he does nothing to change his actions, just like one would when confronted with their conscience.

There is always a halt there of at least a minute, and it was because of this that I first met Tom Buchanan’s mistress” (24). While people are stuck in this veritable wasteland, they are forced to pause for at least a minute, under the gaze of T. J. Eckleburg. Meeting Tom’s mistress is a difficult topic for Nick, because Daisy is Nick’s cousin and her husband is cheating on her—Nick “was curious to see her…[he] had no desire to meet her—but [he] did” (24). This involves a lot of issues with his conscience, as he could be questioning whether or not to tell the truth to Daisy. Because of the delay, under T. J. Eckleburg’s watchful gaze, Nick is forced to meet Tom’s mistress, an arguably dishonest action. Tom seems to not heed the watchful gaze at all, which parallels his lack of conscience in real