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Quotes:
“Occasionally a line of gray cars crawls along an invisible track, gives out a ghastly creak, and comes to rest, and immediately the ash-gray men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight” (Fitzgerald 13).
“This is a valley of ashes — a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (Fitzgerald 23).
“The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour. There is always a halt there of at least a minute and it was because of this that I first met Tom Buchanan's mistress” (Fitzgerald 35).
“So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight” (Fitzgerald 104).
Analysis
Analysis
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald's use of symbolism of The Valley of Ashes contributes to the foreshadowing that occurs later in the novel. The dirt and smoke in the Valley of Ashes represents death, along with the transition of the natural world to the new factory driven world. The idea of the "American Dream" and its impact on the world is portrayed through the Valley of Ashes, as it gives the idea that prosperity isn't always a good thing. It also represents the social classes in society, as the less wealthy part of the city is dark and dirty. It is implied that the valley of ashes is a lesser place compared to the West and East Egg, as the people there are dehumanized by all of the dirt and smoke. The dirt has taken over their lives, and the people no longer have their own identity. Fitzgerald's use of the verb "swarm" as a way of describing the people makes them almost animalistic, as they are all working hard together. Foreshadowing is also prominent, as the Valley of Ashes is used to symbolize the death of Myrtle, making that part of the city seem even more tragic and devastating.
Summary
Summary
The Valley of Ashes, located between West and East Egg, appears in dark and gloomy scenes in the novel, as it is typically the location apparent when the characters are up to no good. The Valley of Ashes is evident throughout the whole book, as everyone drives through this rough area traveling to and from West or East Egg. Each character is distressed or nervous while traveling through The Valley of Ashes, whether it's Gatsby and Daisy rushing out of there because of a fight with Tom, or Tom having some sort of secretive exchange with Myrtle, everyone is facing complications. The Valley of Ashes, being an ominous area, also seems to appear during scenes in the novel where several mysterious things happen. Myrtle's death is a mystery for all as people are not only confused as to who killed her, but also why she ran out to Gatsby and Daisy's car. Lastly, this symbolistic city appears in many scenes while comparing the more superior to the less. Myrtle's jealousy of Daisy is shown while they are both at The Valley of Ashes, as well, and comparison to the men who work there instead of in New York City also shows the differences of superiority.
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