Dissecting Class Inequality in The Great Gatsby

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Failure is the necessity for human growth. Without the hopelessness and poverty of the lower class, there would be no structure; no difference of human construction. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, the ever present “Valley of Ashes,” displays the human drive for wealth, greed, and the plight of the poor. Because there is the rich, there must be the poor, because in society, one group must continually fail. Geographically speaking, the valley lies in between Manhattan and East and West Egg. It represents the distinct difference of the excitement and luxurious lifestyle of the upper-class to the desire and bleakness that pervades the valley’s helpless and poor. Because of both humans moral and societal expectations, the pursuit …show more content…

Fitzgerald describes the farm as “fantastic,” something out of a fantasy, that grows ash instead of green, and thriving plants. This shows the stark contrast between those who live the fast-paced and luxurious lifestyle versus the have-nots. By using “fantastic” to describe the farm and turning the humans into “ash-grey men,” it shows the imagery of growth and how the rich exploit the poor to live their lavish lives. Without the poor, the rich would turn to dust, and the ashes of the hard-working people would be …show more content…

It lacks glamour and is ugly at the core. The machines that create the ash, and the people living there are ugly, because they represent the disappointments of the American Dream. West and East Egg are beautiful from the outside, but on the inside, they are just as unpleasant as the valley. The greed of those living in fantasy versus those who saw greed, but fell short of the “successes” and riches that come from class structure allows the linear relationship to be determined through the rich and poor. This association can be most seen through this description,

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