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What Does The Valley Of Ashes Represent In The Great Gatsby

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Tatiana Martinez 10/15/15 English 4 (period 8) ISA #3 Writing Some of the symbols in the novel “The Great Gatsby” connect with the valley of ashes that is introduced in chapter 2. The valley of ashes symbolize poverty, hopelessness and the lost hopes and dreams of people who have failed to live up to the American Dream. We also learn about Nick from his descriptions. To conclude the feel of this novel, Fitzgerald introduces the theme of the pursuit of wealth so early in the story because it’s important to understand how it connects with the American Dream. The valley of ashes is a desolate land between West Egg and New York City that consists of dumping of industrial ashes. This place is literal and symbolic in one, it symbolizes poverty and hopelesness in such a way. These characters are helpless, they are suffering just like the environmental is. Nick gives a description, “This is a valley of ashes – a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens… of ash-grey men, who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.” This description gives a hopeless feeling and it helps picture a strange unhealthy place. The valley of ashes is a big ground of emptiness where the poor live, living under that condition must make these people feel hopeless and …show more content…

Daisy, Tom and Jordan have empty, superficial lives. It represents how their lives are so materialistic that it begins to rot their own souls. Their lives are similar to the valley, hollow and meaningless, which pertains to imagery. As time goes on these characters lives unravel little by little and they become self centered for the American Dream. Trying to achieve the American dream leads to the corruption of society. The crave to achieve the life of the American Dream makes these characters almost emotionless, they don’t care about much but for

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