“You may fool me, but you can’t fool God! Standing
behind him, Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of
Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, which had just emerged, pale and enormous, from the
dissolving night.” (Pg. 159-160)
I believe the eyes of TJ Eckleburg symbolize how
though it was only a billboard he still watched over all the people around him
with a judgmental, approving, and disapproving look. It shows the disapproval in the lack of morality shown by the characters throughout the book.
“This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where
ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes
take 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.” (Pg. 23)
Another symbol I noticed in the book was the valley
of ashes. I think that the valley of ashes represents how the wealthy people
did things that would only benefit themselves and showed no ounce of concern for
the negative ways that their actions might impact others.
“But I didn’t call to him, for he gave a sudden
intimation that he was content to be alone—he stretched out his arms toward the
dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he
was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except
a single green light, minute and far way, that might have been the end of a
dock.” (Pg. 20-21)
I think the flashing green light represented
Gatsby’s obsession and
overpowering love for Daisy because even though it had been many years since Gatsby and Daisy had been together he continued to do things to try and get her attention. I think the light also symbolized how unstable Daisy and Tom's relationship was because though they tried to make it seem like they were happy in front of other people even though they were both very unfaithful to one another at some point within their marriage.
