The Great Gatsby and the Valley of Ashes Essay - 1149 Words

The Great Gatsby and the Valley of Ashes Many times we hear of societys affect on people; society influencing the way people think and act. Hardly mentioned is the reverse: peoples actions and lifestyles affecting society as a whole and how it is characterized. Thus, society is a reflection of its inhabitants and in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it is a wasteland described as the valley of ashes. Since the characters of this novel make up this wasteland, arent they the waste? Symbolically, this waste represents the lack of ethics of the 1920s society and civilizations decay. In The Great Gatsby, morals deficiencies such as a lack of God, selfishness, and idleness are reflective of a society as doomed as†¦show more content†¦Eckleburg. He is unable to distinguish God from false idols. Perhaps the society is so far astray from God that they no longer can rectify their immoral ways. After all, the wasteland is like hell, and theres no turning back. Selfishness is a vice that contributes to New Yorks image as a valley of ashes. This egocentrism is commonplace in the characters of The Great Gatsby and gives the impression of a society where people have adopted the me first rationale and a carelessness for altruism. Gatsbys relationship with Nick first started out that way. Gatsby became friends with Nick so that he could come over some afternoon to [Nicks] garden (83) and catch a glimpse of Daisy whom he had waited five years for. Gatsby was using Nick to see her. His friendship with Nick became secondary to his passion for Daisy. Had Gatsby not loved her, he would have never been a friend with Nick because he would not have someone to use. This selfish behavior is also present in Klipspringer, Gatsbys houseguest, when he replies to Nick with uncertainty about his presence at Gatsbys funeral, Well, Ill try. Im staying with some people in Greenwich and theres a picnic or something. What I called up about was a pa ir of shoes I left [at Gatsbys house] (177). Klipspringer takes Gatsbys death with such levity, implying that the funeral is on the same plane of insignificanceShow MoreRelatedThe Valley Of Ashes In The Great Gatsby Analysis1569 Words   |  7 Pages In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,the author uses The Valley of Ashes as a symbol of the tragedy of the middle class, death, and hell in order to show that the poor citizens of America live a tragic life. The reader is first introduced to the dirty, impoverished Valley of Ashes when Tom Buchanan brings the narrator Nick Carraway to meet his mistress, and is later used as a setting of tragedy. Nick first arrives in the Valley of Ashes when Tom forces him to meet Myrtle, his mistressRead MoreWhat Is The Valley Of Ashes In The Great Gatsby1311 Words   |  6 Pagesfiction novel The Great Gatsby, by F. 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