Overhead, two huge, blue, spectaclerimmed eyesthe last vestige of an advertising gimmick by a longvanished eye doctorstare down from an enormous sign. The meaning and significance of the valley of ashes in the great gatsby in the world of the novel, which is so much about the stark differences between the rich, the strivers, and the poor, the valley of ashes stands for the forgotten poor underclass who enable the lifestyle of the wealthy few. As the story opens, nick has just moved from the midwest to west egg, long island, seeking his fortune as a bond salesman. Halfway between west egg and new york city sprawls a desolate plain, a gray valley where new york s ashes are dumped. First introduced in chapter 2, the valley of ashes between west egg and new york city. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes the great gatsby study guide has everything you need to. It features jay gatsby, who journeys from rags to riches only to find that his wealth does not afford him the. The great gatsby study guide study questions decides that they are the eyes of god, representing a moral imperative on which he must act, the eyes are simply an unsettling, unexplained image, as they stare down over the valley of ashes. Nick implies that the railway was constructed to run along the valley of ashes for as short a period of time as possible so as not to bother or upset the wealthy people traveling to and from the city. This is the valley of ashesa fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens. This is a valley of ashesa fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat. When nick, jordan, and tom drive through the valley of ashes, however, they discover that gatsbys. Despite such opulent displays of wealth, the novel suggests that the city, the suburbs, and the valley of ashes all share a sense of spiritual desolation and. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes the great gatsby study guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays.
The great gatsby is a portrait of american society during the roaring twenties. Chapter 2 summary nick describes the valley of ashes that is the area between the rich suburb of west egg and manhattan. Nick describes what train passengers see on the way from the luxurious communities of long island to the more raucous opulence of new york. Halfway between west egg and new york city sprawls a desolate plain, a gray valley where new yorks ashes are dumped. The men who live here work at shoveling up the ashes.
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