What Does The Valley Of Ashes Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

Symbolism Symbolism is an important device used to represent or express qualities or ideas in literature. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism to convey deeper meanings in The Great Gatsby. For example, different objects and colors are used to symbolize traits and personalities for characters in the novel. There is a great variety of symbols used to demonstrate the society of the 1920’s, Gatsby’s hopes, and the extravagant life of the rich.
The Valley of Ashes can be used to symbolize the 1920 society. Located between West Egg and New York, it is a desolate industrial wasteland full of garbage, ashes, and soot. The Valley of Ashes symbolizes the ruin and poverty of the people; they suffer in the Valley of Ashes because of the actions of the rich who are careless. Tom’s behavior and attitude towards George shows how the rich shunned the poor because of the differences in their social economic status. It also conveys the moral and social decay, along with the corruption in the
We find out the green light is symbol of Gatsby’s dream and final goal. The green light represents Daisy herself as if she is the final piece of a puzzle to complete Gatsby’s dream. The color green is a symbol saying go, like a green traffic light, the light at the end of the dock is urging Gatsby to go and get Daisy. Being green, the light summons Gatsby to “go ahead”—to "run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . ."(Schneider) The green light concludes the final chapter of the book with Nick’s final words, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. And then one fine morning— so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” Nick’s words shows how Gatsby went against the current to reach the light, his