The Great Gatsby: Symbolism

1. The Great Gatsby: Symbolism A Quick Recap

2. Thesis Reminder Fitzgerald demonstrates through symbolism, how materialism and the loss of moral values in society resulted in the corruption and impossibility of the American Dream. Symbols: • The Valley of Ashes • The Eyes of T.J Eckleburg • The Green Light

3. The Valley of Ashes

4. The Valley of Ashes • The valley of ashes symbolizes 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 .

5. The Eyes of T.J Eckleburg

6. 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.

7. The Green Light

8. 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.