Important Elements of Chapter 2...
Valley of ashes--separates the "haves" and "have nots"
River Styx--a mythological river in which the passing leads to the land of the dead---the Valley of Ashes in this case
Eyes of TJ Eckleburg--the eyes on the billboard symbolize the eyes of God
Myrtle--Tom's girlfriend...think about what she wears--the colors--as opposed to what Fitzgerald dressed Daisy in---significance???
Why is Tom proud of his affair when others would risk it all to keep the affair a secret???
2 comments:
The Valley of Ashes symbolized the working class of New York. It was filled with smog and dust everywhere, everything gray and dreary. It dullness posed as the lack of color and vibrancy that the rich people had. As for the River Styx, the Valley of Ashes is the perfect example. Seems like everybody who works there is on the DL, just waiting to die because heaven must be better than where they are.
It’s interesting that the Eyes of T.J. Eckleburg symbolize the eyes of God, because that is a very bold statement in a scene that is very bland. The people working are probably being pressured by those eyes, watching, watching... waiting for them!
Myrtle dresses very fake to me. She is made up in all these dark-ish colors that bring out the mysteriousness in her. As opposed to Daisy, who is pictured in white, flowing dresses, symbolizing her movement and lightness. Myrtle is just heavy and angry feeling.
Tom just wants to show off what he can do with his money. He wants to show that it draws in women, and he can have whatever he wants, because he’s RICH. I feel bad for Daisy though, first because she can’t do anything about the affair, and second because Tom is giving her a bad name, like being a gold-digger. To most people, Daisy is just another “mistress” to Tom, she just happens to be married to him. It’s too bad, because money, and women, should not be abused like that.
The valley of ashes was the area where the workers lived. The area always seems dark and gloomy. The darkness around the area makes everyone seem depressed, sad, and angry. I personally get a little feel of the city in Fahrenheit 451 when I read about the city. The valley of ashes is the opposite of East and West egg. The eggs are more colorful and beautiful. There is also a river in the valley. The river is very much like the River Styx. Once you cross that river you go from the colorful, bright, vibrant eggs to the smoking, dark, burning valley of ashes. As though you just crossed over into the land of the dead.
The Eyes of TJ Eckleburg are just giant eyes that seem to stare down on the world as though they were gods eyes. Watching everyone work and play. You would think it to feel comforting but I get this feel of it as a little creepy. The eyes see people for how supercilious they really are.
When Myrtle was with her husband she was wearing dark blue clothes. She looked as though she was smoldering is how Fitzgerald explained it. She was in more dark depressing colors. Then on her way to the apartment she was dressed in a dark brown. Again, a plain, boring, unnoticeable color. Then when she felt high, mighty, and rich with Tom, and she had a few drinks in her, she was wearing a cream colored dress that she was dancing around in. She seems extremely supercilious when she is wearing the cream dress. She is pretending to be something shes not, but wants to be. It seems to that only the rich are aloud to wear bright colors.
Tom wants it all. He doesn't see why he can't have to mistresses. He knows Daisy wouldn't dare leave him so why wouldn't he find another woman? He thinks that as long as he waves his money around he will get everything his heart wants. He enjoys showing her off like she is a rare prize. It's like he wants people to take about the affair. Just to stir up the drama.
Post a Comment