The Great Gatsby

The valley of ashes is introduced to us in chapter two as a symbol of the moral and social decay of American society.
The valley of ashes is depicted as a lifeless "desolate area of land" where "ashes grow like wheat" symbolic to the "crumbling" of American moral and social structures. It is the place where ashes are dumped from industrial waste, representing the actions of the rich and powerful without any regard to others. Another symbol introduced in the second chapter are the eyes of doctor T.J Eckleburg which is an old billboard. However, to George Wilson it becomes a symbol of God's judging eyes on American society. George Wilson is a man who's wife is having an affair and unlike the Buchanans, he does not of the luxury of retreating back into the pleasure of spending. Thus, George uses the eyes of T.J Eckleburg and religion to put meaning back into his meaningless existence.

The Great Gatsby - East & West Egg

In the first few chapters of the novel, Nick Carraway (narrator) introduces the readers to Tom and Daisy Buchanan of the East Egg. The Buchanan’s are defined by their inherited wealth and fortune depicted through their extravagant estate filled with luxuries such as “polo ponies.” Although the Buchanan’s life may appear to be filled with pleasure, Nick discovers underneath all those riches lay a somewhat unfulfilled life. The East Egg becomes a symbol for inherited wealth, people who have never accomplished any real meaning and spend their lives socialising and spending their riches. We also see the lack of moralistic values in the East Egg where Tom quite obviously is having an affair with a married woman. With Gatsby and Nick living in the West Egg, it stands for the opposite of the East Egg. The West Egg symbolises the determination and inner drive for self-made fortunes and wealth. Although Gatsby also lives in an extravagant mansion, he does not find meaning in materialistic items and is driven beyond his wealth; to retain his former lover, Daisy.