Essay in American Literature: Symbolism in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

As stated in the Pauline Epistle to Timothy, the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows, (Timothy 6:10). Human beings in their pursuit of wealth and riches have forgotten the fundamental traits that unite them as human beings. They have become embroiled in a world full of greed, treachery and hypocrisy thus making happiness an elusive goal. History is awash with many tales of how dehumanizing the pursuit of wealth has rendered human beings as heartless creatures but none manages to do it in a subtler way as Fitzgerald in his novel The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald uses various symbolism such as the valley of the ashes and the eyes of T.J. Ecklebug in demonstrating how the love of money and moral decadence in the society has resulted to the elution of the American dream.

The subtle description of the valley of the ashes in Fitzgeralds novel The Great Gatsby symbolizes the impact of materialism and corruption that had rocked the American society during the 1920s. While some were trapped in the pursuit of the wealthy lifestyle promised under the American dream, others were indulging themselves. This was an indication of the dehumanizing effects that the pursuit for riches had on the society. The moral decadence in the society was appalling and its impact could be felt in the widening gap between the rich and the poor. This is best exemplified in the quote: this is a valley of asheswhere ashes take the form of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and ...of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air. Occasionally a line of gray cars crawls along an invisible track, gives out a ghastly creak, and comes to restthe ash-gray men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight (Fitzgerald, 37). The statement depicts the impact of the moral decadence in the American society. It symbolizes the distinct contrast between the inhuman and morbid conditions of the valley and the extravagant and pompous wealth among the inhabitants of West Egg. While people in the valley of ashes struggled to make ends meet, those in East and West Egg were indulging in excesses and considering nothing but their own happiness.

Fitzgerald makes use of various situations to symbolically depict how corruption and materialism had corrupted the American dream making it unattainable for most Americans. He uses the case of George Wilson, a poor American who is the owner of one of the run-garage. Poor Wilson had worked all his entire life to the extent of getting sick. Together with his wife, they wish to escape the poverty-stricken life at the valley of ashes and attain the American dream. His desperation is evident of how materialistic the society had become. For instance, he tells Tom, I need money pretty bad, and I was considering what you were going to do with your old carMy wife and I want to go westshes been talking about it for ten years and now shes going whether she wants to or not. Im going to get her away (Fitzgerald 176-177). By informing Tom, a resident of the affluent West Egg, Wilson points out that Metyl, her wife, had refused to stay in the poor valley ashes. She wanted to move to West by all means and nothing could stop her from doing that. She eventually meets her death when Gatsbys luxurious Rolls Royce driven by Daisy strike her. Besides, Fitzgerald goes ahead to point at how inconsiderate and inhuman people are when Daisy flees from the scene of crime and send no return address thus leaving Gatsby to suffer the consequences of the crime. It is thus evident that Fitzgerald uses the valley of the ashes and its poverty-laden inhabitants to imply that because of the moral decadence in the society and the extreme love for wealth, the American dream is unattainable.

As part of furthering the theme of moral decadence and corruption and how it has made the American dream an elusive goal, Fitzgerald uses the eyes of T.J Eckleburg. The eyes are used symbolically to point out at the materialism that had rocked the American society during the rush for the American dream during the 1920s. Fitzgerald states But above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg (Fitzgerald 37). The subtle description allows readers to symbolically conceptualize that the doctors eyes were intentionally watching over the poor inhabitants of the poverty-stricken valley of ashes. The bleak nature symbolizes the unattainable and elusive temptation, that is the American dream. In addition, the use of Dr. Eckleburgs eyes shows how materialistic the society has become to the extent of people losing their spiritual values. It is Wilson who makes the subtle connection between the doctors eyes and those of God when he reminds her wife that God is not to be fool. The quote I told her she might fool me but she couldnt fool GodGod knows what youve been doing, everything youve been doing. You may foo me, but you cant fool God! (Fitzgerald 229). The statement implies that people had lose their morals and spiritual value and replaced their God with capitalism hence the juxtaposition of the valley of the ashes (those who had failed to attain the American dream) and the affluent West Egg area.

It is evident that symbolism plays a crucial role in depicting Fitzgerald message of how corruption and materialism in the American society had resulted to dehumanization. It had widened the gap between the rich and the poor hence making the American dream an elusive goal for millions of Americans. The valley of the ashes and the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg clearly depict the authors message.

Works Cited

Scott, Fitzgerald F. The Great Gatsby. Ripol Klassik, 2017.