The Great Gatsby: CHAPTER 2
Page 26
- This is an apocalyptic passage which predicts the fall of this era which was brought about by
the Wall Street Crash. This is one of the most ominous passages of the book. Although
Fitzgerald was as much a part of the hedonistic, materialistic lifestyle that pervaded the
1920s he had an acute awareness of the approaching collapse. Arguably, his experience of
the hedonistic lifestyle gave him an foresight into the cataclysmic events that were to come
- The landscape of the valley of ashes symbolises the fallout, destruction and detritus that is
left behind by the carelessly wealthy and the plight of those who are not wealthy. It is also
symbolic of the loss of moral values. While East Egg and West Egg represent the wealthy of
society, albeit different kinds of wealth, the valley of ashes evokes the plight of those who
have no wealth in a money-centred society. Most of the novel’s perspective comes from the
old/new money but the valley of ashes gives an insight into the life of the un-wealthy.
- Fitzgerald refers to the valley of ashes as a ‘wasteland.’ Literary context: This passage of the
novel is heavily influenced by T.S Elliot’s poem ‘The Wasteland.’ There is almost a biblical
nature to the language as ash in the bible is associated with death, sin and destruction
- The repetition of “ash” evokes the depressing nature of the landscape. G.B Wilson, Myrtle’s
husband, is a symbolic representative of the “ash-grey men.”
- In this novel, cars are symbolic of status and power and also of declining morals, “gives out a
ghastly creak and comes to rest.” In 1925, cars were responsible for 25,000 deaths, 17,000 of
whom were pedestrian. These statistics suggest the carelessness of the rich and the effect
their recklessness have on others.
- The billboard of “Doctor T.J Eckleburg” became a common feature of modernism in the
1920s and the universal prevalence of advertisements in society reflects the growth of mass
consumerism. There was also a rise in loans and debts
- The “eyes” are a key feature of the novel as well as windows and they are symbolic of
perspective. The adjective “gigantic” suggests the ubiquitous presence of consumerism in
the 1920s. This suggests that materialistic possessions almost became the new divine
Page 27
- The use of adjectives “spiritless…anaemic” suggests the dehumanising effects of the valley of
ashes. This evokes the ghost-like, soulless, pathetic existence of those who are un-wealthy
- Those who reside in the valley of ashes, like G.B Wilson, act as a structural foil to the
Buchanan’s, “contiguous to absolutely nothing.” (juxtaposition of Chapter 1 and 2)
- Both of the Wilsons’ want something from the Buchanan’s. George Wilson wants Tom’s car
while Myrtle wants his money and the social status that will come with being associated
with Tom. An ironic parallel is created between Myrtle and George.
- G.B Wilson is the symbolic representative of the wasteland- his presentation is paralleled to
the actual description of the wasteland
- The use of the brand names “Ford” evokes the consumerism that was a ubiquitous presence
of Fitzgerald’s contemporary society.
Page 26
- This is an apocalyptic passage which predicts the fall of this era which was brought about by
the Wall Street Crash. This is one of the most ominous passages of the book. Although
Fitzgerald was as much a part of the hedonistic, materialistic lifestyle that pervaded the
1920s he had an acute awareness of the approaching collapse. Arguably, his experience of
the hedonistic lifestyle gave him an foresight into the cataclysmic events that were to come
- The landscape of the valley of ashes symbolises the fallout, destruction and detritus that is
left behind by the carelessly wealthy and the plight of those who are not wealthy. It is also
symbolic of the loss of moral values. While East Egg and West Egg represent the wealthy of
society, albeit different kinds of wealth, the valley of ashes evokes the plight of those who
have no wealth in a money-centred society. Most of the novel’s perspective comes from the
old/new money but the valley of ashes gives an insight into the life of the un-wealthy.
- Fitzgerald refers to the valley of ashes as a ‘wasteland.’ Literary context: This passage of the
novel is heavily influenced by T.S Elliot’s poem ‘The Wasteland.’ There is almost a biblical
nature to the language as ash in the bible is associated with death, sin and destruction
- The repetition of “ash” evokes the depressing nature of the landscape. G.B Wilson, Myrtle’s
husband, is a symbolic representative of the “ash-grey men.”
- In this novel, cars are symbolic of status and power and also of declining morals, “gives out a
ghastly creak and comes to rest.” In 1925, cars were responsible for 25,000 deaths, 17,000 of
whom were pedestrian. These statistics suggest the carelessness of the rich and the effect
their recklessness have on others.
- The billboard of “Doctor T.J Eckleburg” became a common feature of modernism in the
1920s and the universal prevalence of advertisements in society reflects the growth of mass
consumerism. There was also a rise in loans and debts
- The “eyes” are a key feature of the novel as well as windows and they are symbolic of
perspective. The adjective “gigantic” suggests the ubiquitous presence of consumerism in
the 1920s. This suggests that materialistic possessions almost became the new divine
Page 27
- The use of adjectives “spiritless…anaemic” suggests the dehumanising effects of the valley of
ashes. This evokes the ghost-like, soulless, pathetic existence of those who are un-wealthy
- Those who reside in the valley of ashes, like G.B Wilson, act as a structural foil to the
Buchanan’s, “contiguous to absolutely nothing.” (juxtaposition of Chapter 1 and 2)
- Both of the Wilsons’ want something from the Buchanan’s. George Wilson wants Tom’s car
while Myrtle wants his money and the social status that will come with being associated
with Tom. An ironic parallel is created between Myrtle and George.
- G.B Wilson is the symbolic representative of the wasteland- his presentation is paralleled to
the actual description of the wasteland
- The use of the brand names “Ford” evokes the consumerism that was a ubiquitous presence
of Fitzgerald’s contemporary society.
