Valley Of Ashes
What does the “Valley of Ashes” represent?
Unlike the thriving East and West Eggs, the “Valley of Ashes” lies in between them and is presented by Fitzgerald as the borderline between the 2 communities and juxtaposes the lifestyle and society of the roaring 1920’s as poverty is abnormal to society within both Eggs.
The use of “Ashes” represents various connotations as Fitzgerald posits the imagery of a wasteland that houses the undesirables of America in which a once tranquil and picturesque “valley” is juxtaposed into a hell hole buried in poisonous fuels from industrial factories which would eventually lead to many deaths. The image of the wasteland is difficult to imagine from the readers perspective and is emphasised by the use of “ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys” which suggests that the houses are poorly designed and are rickety and very low quality made from cheap materials. This imagery posits that the victims of this harsh and brutal environment are completely ignored by society and forced to endure suffering.
The “Valley of Ashes” is portrayed as insignificant and that its harsh environment, convinces both communities to stay away from the ruins and may suggest that society hated the failures of America and that the ruins are all that remain of them. This is emphasised by “crumbling” as it posits how the spirit of the Valleys inhabitants are completely broken as their American dreams have been reduced to “Ashes”.
“The eyes of Doctor T.J Eckleburg” is a simile used to portray that the billboard is in fact the eyes of god looking down on the “Valley of Ashes” in complete disgust and that he is using his omniscient vision to judge the fate of the victims. Fitzgerald does not give the billboard’s image any parts of the body that would allow it to use any other senses, conveying that the sense of sight is the most important aspect to this harsh environment and increases the influence that “Eckleburg” has over the victims, suggesting that
Unlike the thriving East and West Eggs, the “Valley of Ashes” lies in between them and is presented by Fitzgerald as the borderline between the 2 communities and juxtaposes the lifestyle and society of the roaring 1920’s as poverty is abnormal to society within both Eggs.
The use of “Ashes” represents various connotations as Fitzgerald posits the imagery of a wasteland that houses the undesirables of America in which a once tranquil and picturesque “valley” is juxtaposed into a hell hole buried in poisonous fuels from industrial factories which would eventually lead to many deaths. The image of the wasteland is difficult to imagine from the readers perspective and is emphasised by the use of “ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys” which suggests that the houses are poorly designed and are rickety and very low quality made from cheap materials. This imagery posits that the victims of this harsh and brutal environment are completely ignored by society and forced to endure suffering.
The “Valley of Ashes” is portrayed as insignificant and that its harsh environment, convinces both communities to stay away from the ruins and may suggest that society hated the failures of America and that the ruins are all that remain of them. This is emphasised by “crumbling” as it posits how the spirit of the Valleys inhabitants are completely broken as their American dreams have been reduced to “Ashes”.
“The eyes of Doctor T.J Eckleburg” is a simile used to portray that the billboard is in fact the eyes of god looking down on the “Valley of Ashes” in complete disgust and that he is using his omniscient vision to judge the fate of the victims. Fitzgerald does not give the billboard’s image any parts of the body that would allow it to use any other senses, conveying that the sense of sight is the most important aspect to this harsh environment and increases the influence that “Eckleburg” has over the victims, suggesting that