The Great Gatsby Part 1

This is the first blog post since spring break and A-Term, within this time we started reading The Great Gatsby. The prompt for this blog is “In chapter 2 we are introduced to "the valley of ashes," a place between the Eggs and New York City. "The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg" watches over this desolate place. What are the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg and what do you think that these eyes and the valley of ashes represent? Use textual evidence to support your position.” I believe that these eyes represent the eyes of the rich looking out on the less fortunate. But these eyes are not sympathetic. For example, “his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days under the sun and rain, brood on over over the solemn dumping ground.” (24) The word to brood means to think about something that makes you unhappy. Here, the eyes are looking down upon the valley of ashes; in other words, looking condescendingly on the people working there. The valley of ashes represents the “other” portion of the population that is not well off and not a part of the financial elite.