The novel begins with the mention of the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg. Although religion is blatantly ignored throughout the novel, the eyes seem to symbolize the fact that God is omniscient and sees all of the scandalous affairs of the New York elite. He seems to look down upon the “valley of ashes” that Tom and Nick need to pass in order to get to New York. This valley of ashes seems to represent the people that were left out of the prosperity of the roaring twenties. The valley of ashes is obscure compared to its location between the Eggs and New York City, and is the perfect representation of how people tend to remember the 20’s as a time of great prosperity, when this was not the case for many. Myrtle and Wilson are a part of the forgotten impoverished people of the Roaring Twenties. Although Wilson seems content with his situation, Myrtle is in denial. With help from her affair with Tom Buchanan, Myrtle is able to create a falsified self-image where she is one of the social elite. This is accurately displayed by her selectivity when choosing a nice taxi. Myrtle seems to able to convince herself while she is with Tom, that she is a lady of noble upbringing and is entitled to wealth and possessions. This is demonstrated by the party that she throws and her pompous demeanor. Although the first chapter seemed mostly focused on characterizing Nick, the second chapter appears to be highly symbolic.
My only question in this chapter is regarding a statement made by Nick Carraway after Tom, Myrtle, and he had passed over into New York from the valley of ashes: “We backed up to a gray old man who bore an absurd resemblance to John D. Rockefeller.” I believe that maybe Fitzgerald included the statement to indicate that even the lowest of the low in New York are better off than those in the valley of ashes. He could also have intended to clearly indicate the change of scenery from the valley of ashes to that of New York City by associating a business tycoon with the new location.
My only question in this chapter is regarding a statement made by Nick Carraway after Tom, Myrtle, and he had passed over into New York from the valley of ashes: “We backed up to a gray old man who bore an absurd resemblance to John D. Rockefeller.” I believe that maybe Fitzgerald included the statement to indicate that even the lowest of the low in New York are better off than those in the valley of ashes. He could also have intended to clearly indicate the change of scenery from the valley of ashes to that of New York City by associating a business tycoon with the new location.