What Does The Valley Of Ashes Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

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In the novel The Great Gatsby, symbols are present and impactful. The Valley of Ashes, one of the first symbols mentioned, is described as being “a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges… [leaving a] gray land [appearance]” (23). The description of this symbol contains significant imagery. Firstly, the dust-like appearance is used to show the nature beauty of the world has been altered and turned into a wasteland. The Valley of Ashes is also used to show how significant the separation between the eggs, where the rich live, and the rest of the city. The next symbol Fitzgerald introduces are the “blue and gigantic” (23) eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. The eyes are placed so they watch over the Valley of Ashes. It can be interpreted