Literary Analysis Essay on The Valley of Ashes Symbolism in The Great Gatsby

Introduction

The alley of ashes, with its brooding eyes full of DRP. T. J. Cockleburtsh uses many forms of symbolism to create a grey, dreary background and contrast with East and West Egg. The valley of ashes is a great example of Fitzgerald's use Of symbolism. It gives the novel a timeless appeal that keeps it from being just another period piece. Above all else, in the valley of ashes is a billboard advertising an optometrist. Doctor T J. Cocklebur's eyes are huge and blue. Their retinas measure one yard in height. They don't look out of a face but from enormous yellow spectacles that pass over an inexistent nose. Fitzgerald 26. These behemoth eyes, which look out of no face, are interpreted as God or, more accurately, a dead God who sits and watches while we destroy all. They serve as constant reminders of society's moral decay but also observe in silence, providing neither comfort nor guidance. This is a very popular theme today. This theme is still very common today. It seems that less people believe in God and those who do see him as a punisher and not a savior. Our society is full of the idea that there is no God. It almost seems like God is dead. There is so much wastefulness, corruption, and destruction (Fitzgerald 26).

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Symbolism of the Valley of Ashes

The valley of ashes is described by the author as a dark, dirty area covered in grey ash. The book also uses grey as a symbol for the loss of dreams and hopes. "Transcendent effort by ash-greymen" (Fitzgerald 26), refers to men who work in the valley made of ashes. They are hardly alive, and they don't dream. The color grey is used to describe the valley. "Also the grey land and the spasms black dust" (Fitzgerald 26). Grey is used to describe the valley and its inhabitants' hopelessness.

Grey as a Symbol of Loss and Hopelessness

In today's society, grey continues to be a symbol of sadness, depression, misfortune, and poverty. Although Fitzgerald employs a lot color symbolism, the dominant one in the valley of ashes is grey. It is easy to grasp the color symbolism because grey has many of the same associations. This allows people to easily relate to the material. The valley of ashes lies right in the middle of the areas where the richest people live and work. The wealthy aristocrats of East and West Egg call East Egg home, while New York City is the most expensive city in America. But the valley of Ash is right in the middle. This valley of ashes is a magical farm where ashes grow like wheat hills, ridges, and grotesque garden, and where ashes take on the form of houses, chimneys, and rising make. Finally, ashes can be used to create the appearance of houses, chimneys, and men who are already moving dimly through powdery air. Here all the book's decay and death converges creating a stark contrast to the Eggs' ritzy atmosphere. This contrast is very inescapable in modern society. The gap between the richest and the poorest is still so large that the valley of ashes is as much a symbol for our times as the 1 ass's.

Conclusion

The vividly illustrated scenes of the valley in ashes can be read and used as a guide to your own experiences. Anyone can enjoy The Great Gatsby. The simplicity of the symbolism used, such as the colour grey and the eyes of Doctor T J. Cocklebur are simple to grasp and relate to your own life. It is easy to relate the stark contrast between New York City's valley of ashes and New York's Eggs to everyday life. Although some of the issues in this novel may have changed, they have not disappeared.