The Great Gatsby: Symbolism

The Great Gatsby: SymbolismA Quick Recap

Thesis ReminderFitzgerald demonstrates through symbolism, how materialism and the loss of moral values in society resulted in the corruption and impossibility of the American Dream. Symbols:1. The Valley of Ashes2. The Eyes of T.J Eckleburg 3. The Green Light

The Valley of Ashes

The Valley of Ashes• The valley of ashes symbolizes the how

materialism has corrupted the American Dream.

• The inhabitants represent those left behind during the social and economical upheaval of the “Roaring Twenties”.

• Meryl dies trying to escape the valley of ashes, symbolizing the impossibility of the American Dream .

The Eyes of T.J Eckleburg

The Eyes of T.J Eckleburg • George Wilson refers to the eyes of T.J

Eckleburg as God, representing the loss of moral values in 1920s America.

• The eyes watch over those travelling from the East and West Egg corrupting the American Dream with their material wealth and shallow pleasures.

• The billboard looking over the inescapable valley of ashes symbolizes how the American Dream is impossible.

The Green Light

The Green Light• The green light at the end of the dock

symbolizes Gatsby’s desire for Daisy and the final piece he needs to complete the American Dream

• Daisy betrays Gatsby after Mertyl’s murder, symbolizing how her loss of morality has corrupted and ended Gatsby’s American Dream

• Its location on the East Egg represents the rich aristocracy, who's shallowness have not only corrupted the American dream, but also made it impossible to obtain.