The Great Gatsby Marxist Lens Essay

A Marxist lens allows the reader to view how Fitzgerald presents settings that symbolize the social status of their residents, such as East Egg, West Egg, and Valley of Ashes. Starting with the East egg. The east egg is home to old money passed down from generation to generation. The residents reside in beautiful old colonial houses. “Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water” (Fitzgerald pg7) Although the east and west egg are both divine pods of wealth, Nick describes the west egg as less fashionable compared to the east, but in the next line goes on to say “squeezed between two huge places that rented for twelve or fifteen thousand a season” (Fitzgerald 7) further proving the status of both

It's mostly full of people who worked during their lives in whatever way to earn their money. Although they earned what they have, they are often looked down upon by residents of the east egg. “Tom Buchanan compelled me from the room as though he were moving a checker to another square” (Fitzgerald 12) this displays Tom's perception of power over the people around him through his given title and status. The people from the east egg believe they have power over the people around them. Observing Nick and Gatsby's actions we find that residents of the West may have a better understanding and grasp on life through earning their position. Unlike the characters of the east, the ones from the west show real emotion like compassion and anxiety. “Nobody’s coming to tea”. It’s too late!” (Fitzgerald 66) Gatsby gets nervous while waiting for Daisy to show up for tea. Gatsby's show of emotion and Nick's personality makes them lovable characters unlike Daisy or Tom. They are boring and stagnant throughout the book, they don't display many admirable traits. The West egg represents an American dream. “I knew I could use him well. I got him to join up with the American Legion and he used to stand high there. Right off he did some work for a client of mine up to Albany.” (Fitzgerald 131) Wolfshire describing Gatsby's work The citizens of east egg worked their way up to their riches like the American dream is depicted but they are still seen as lesser which

It is a desolate wasteland “valley of ashes — a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens” (fitzgerald pg 2o). The valley is solely a dumping ground and a place for the residents of each egg to pass through. The residents of the valley of ashes are described through “men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight.” (fitzgerald pg20) their work is mostly unknown and kept from the reader The citizens of the valley of ashes are depicted as lesser than the residents in the east or the west egg and are totally overlooked by both sides. The eyes of the eckleburg reside in the valley of ashes. The eyes are painted on an old billboard and are a looming watchful eye over the citizens of the valley of ashes. “But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days, under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground. The valley of ashes” (fitzgerald pg20)The eyes represent the residents of the east and west egg and how they look over the valley. The residents of the eggs see the valley solemnly as a place they have to pass