The Meaning Behind The Valley of Ashes

“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.