How Does The Valley Of Ashes Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

Symbolism in literature is used to represent ideas and qualities by giving them deeper, more significant meaning beyond their literal sense. They also repeat throughout the story in different ways in order to exemplify the change in conflict and plot and to emphasize a theme. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author uses a plethora of different symbols for this purpose. He deftly uses the billboard, the Valley of Ashes, and the green light as symbols to advance his plot and enhance the quality of the novel.

The billboard, or the eyes of TJ Eckleburg was an important theme in The Great Gatsby. Positioned in the middle of a long, barren land was a giant billboard advertising an oculist shop. Pictured on the sign was a pair of

The first time Nick encounters the Valley of Ashes is again, one of his first impressions on Queens. “ This is a 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 and finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.” (26) Here, Fitzgerald uses imagery again to create more meaning out of the valley. He begins by describing it as a “fantastic farm,” however, the descriptions afterwards have nothing to do with the happy and green image usually associated with farms. Instead, the author uses words like “grotesque gardens,” “rising smoke,” and “powdery air”. He creates a disturbing mood by describing how a beautiful, natural landscape has been transformed into a disgusting field of ash. When Nick observes this valley, he is annoyed because he has to wait for the drawbridge to lead the barges through, however, Nick is clearly disconnected from the reality of the situation. The same factories that create the Valley of Ashes, gives money to the population of the West Egg. This moment symbolizes the disconnection between the rich, and their knowledge, or even consideration about where their wealth actually comes from. Fitzgerald also describes the

The reader first encounters it when Nick sees Gatsby standing in his yard, arms outstretched, facing the opposite side of the bay where there is a small, green light. Literally, the green light is a lamp at the end of Tom and Daisy’s dock, and since Gatsby lives directly across the bay, he can always see it. This green light has symbolic meaning which changes throughout the story. In the beginning, it is hard to tell what exactly this light could mean, only a very mysterious mood is established around it, and Gatsby is outstretching his arms towards something he can not reach, both physically and symbolically: Daisy. Here, the green light symbolizes hope because Gatsby believes he will someday be with Daisy once more. He looks at the green light with hopefulness towards his future with her. Towards the middle of the novel, the meaning of the light changes completely. Instead of having to hope to be with Daisy, the next time the green light is mentioned, Daisy is actually standing with Gatsby. He no longer has to reach out across the bay to her. “‘If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay,’ said Gatsby. ‘You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock’"(99). Gatsby almost seems to not realize the reality of the moment, because he is realizing that the green light is simply just an object across the bay, since his previous hopes had come