Shelby Ward Ward1 Miss. Russello END2D Monday, May 2nd 2016
Overrated and Trapped
A reader’s understanding of a novel is greatly impacted by the use of symbolism in the text. Many authors look to symbolism as a method of enhancing their stories and to convey a deeper meaning to their audiences. In his most famous works, The Great Gatsby, Scott. F. Fitzgerald utilizes the Valley of Ashes and the Eyes of T.J Eckleburg to convey the plight created by the American Dream. When used effectively, symbols highlight the beliefs and morals of characters and establish a constant theme in the story. Many associate symbols with tangible objects, however the Valley of Ashes is a geographical location in the story that symbolizes the…show more content… A billboard with oversized, fading, bespectacled eyes overlooks the land. The Eyes of T.J Eckleburg strike a connection between God and various characters in the novel. The billboard was first introduced on page 27, “The eyes of Doctor T.J Eckleburg are blue and gigantic – their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous large spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose” (27). The eyes are being described in such a manner to make readers aware of how large and influential they are to the Valley of Ashes. The eyes of god loom upon those who pass the Valley of ashes and examines their every move. While in the beginning of the novel it appears as though the Eyes of T.J Eckleburg watch over and possibly protect the citizens, it becomes apparent later on that God does the complete opposite. The eyes act as a reminder that they are always being watched, and in time, the good and evil that the eyes have witnessed will soon be promoted or punished. The billboard acts as a judge of moral values and virtue, and in the end, will discipline all those who proved to have questionable morals. The eyes help solidify the corruption in the American dream and the
