Chapter 2

These two images represent The Valley of Ashes. It is a dull gray valley where New York's ashes are dumped. The Valley is located between New York and the West egg. A certain pair of eyes always seem to be watching over the valley. These eyes happen to be Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's.

The Valley itself symbolizes the poverty and misery that lies next to the wealthy residents of the stunning West Egg. It is also believe that beneath enhancement of the West Egg lies the same repulsiveness as The Valley of Ashes.

Dr. Eckleburg's eyes stare down on the valley from their billboard. The author happens to conserve the mystery of the eyes in this chapter giving them no figurative importance. These eyes also signify the eyes of God watching over the fester of the 1920's.

Quotes:
1. "No he doesn't," Tom said coldly. "And if you feel that way about it maybe I'd better sell it somewhere else after all."
Significance: It shows that Tom is a very stern and harsh. Also, it shows that Tom doesn't have much of a heart when it comes to others.

2. "The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic" (27).
Significance: His eyes are always watching over the Valley of Ashes and they are compared to the eyes of God. Also, the color blue represents sadness and many people during this time were not happy.

3. "...he jumped to his feet and taking hold of my elbow literally forced me from the car" (28).
Significance: Tom is a very aggressive man and he has been known to physically pick someone up and move them.

4. " 'Wilson? He thinks she goes to see her sister in New York. He's so dumb he doesn't know he's alive" (30).
Significance: This shows that Wilson is unaware that Tom is her lover and that Myrtle goes to New York with him to drink at her sisters house.

Analysis:
In this chapter, Fitzgerald highlights the unhappiness of the novel. The Valley of Ashes is described as a gray area and the color gray represents the dullness and misery of the valley. Also, it signifies the perish of the valley buried by the beauty of the West and East Egg. In the valley, Tom and Myrtle have to keep their affair a secret, but in areas such as New York City, they can be public about it. This shows that the Valley can be a deceitful place and the people are very untrustworthy.