The Valley of the Ashes (Julian)

--This is a late post about Chapter 2. Since I have read to the end of the book, I am using some of my knowledge to analyze the content found earlier on--

Introduced in Chapter 2, the Valley of the Ashes is the only setting of poverty in the novel. Unlike social commentaries such as "Hard Times" or "The Jungle," "The Great Gatsby" is not constrained to one social message. Instead, Fitzgerald shares his views on multiple topics. The Valley of the Ashes is a clear example of this: although the novel tends to discuss issues pertaining to the wealthy and benefited, Fitzgerald seems to take a momentary "break" to remind the reader of the side-effects of capitalism. Fitzgerald does not spend too much time in The Valley of the Ashes, however is message is still clear. It's geographic location (between the Eggs and New York City) symbolizes it's unfortunate necessity in order to produce luxurious lifestyles. Furthermore, it's proximity to an area bulging with wealth indicates Fitzgerald's feelings that the moral decay found in industrial working areas is just as present, although less obvious, in that of the homes of the elites. Although concise and simple, the Valley of the Ashes yet another great message in a social commentary filled with ideas and opinions.

The Very Last Sentence

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." What does Fitzgerald truly mean here? Is he simply stating the life goes on despite the tragedies which may befall us? Or is it something deeper? Why such an intricate choice of words? And what could that very last six word phrase mean?

"...borne back ceaselessly into the past." What does this insinuate? Does it say that Nick has made no progress in his life over the past many events? Or, perhaps, Nick has made progress, but now he's back where he started. He's lost Gatsby, Jordan has moved on, Daisy and Tom are distant, all the people associated with Gatsby didn't even see Nick at the funeral. Through everything that has happened to Nick, is all that he is left with in actuality a sad memory and a list full of what ifs?

In Closing... (Eliot)

I’d say that Fitzgerald ends neither on a positive nor negative note. He instead ends the book with a hopeful reflection to the future (yes, I know this doesn’t quite make sense). The over all effect is a more sullen conclusion however this does not make it a sad ending. Just before the book ends it states: “It eluded us the, but that’s no matter—to-morrow we will run faster, stretch our arms farther… And one fine morning----“ While the writing has always been in a style reflecting nicks thoughts it has always been reflecting his thoughts at that point in time or about the past. This is the first time he really takes a look at the future. The way he talks now shows a man looking towards a future that is attainable through progress. I argue that the final words show a hopeful/progressive ending to the book.

Gatsby's Death

Nobody actually realizes Gatsby is dead. Nick, being the person solely in charge of setting up Gatsby's funeral, on several occasions has conversations or thoughts involving Gatsby as though he were alive. (Pg 146) "I wanted to go into the room wehre he lay and reassure him:"I'll get somebody for you, Gatsby. Don't worry. Just trust me and I'll get somebody for you---"" This is not an interaction that is normal to be having with a dead person. When Nick goes to meet Wolfsheim, Wolfsheim says that he would normally stick by his friends till the very end but for some unexplained reason he cannot attend Gatsby's funeral. There is even one person who was away during the murder, and came over to Gatsby's thinking there would be a party as usual. (Pg. 179) "One night I did hear a material car there, and saw its lights stop at his front steps. But I didn't investigate. Probably it was some final guest who had been away at the ends of the earth and didn't know that the party was over." Every main character leaves after this, could Gatsby be metaphorically holding a party that is their lives in the Eggs? When he dies, does everyone simply go home after the party?

Past, Present and Future

In chapter nine, Fitzgerald writes with both positive and negative diction. When he refers to the past, he uses happier and more hopeful words, like "flowered", "enchanted", "fresh" "green", "dream" and "wonder." The past is told like an optimistic person would talk about the future, "the old island here that flowered once for the Dutch sailors' eyes-- a fresh, green breast of the new world." There is also the recurring reference to money whenever something is described as "green." "the green light at the end of Daisy's dock." The past is portrayed as positive and hopeful like, "Gatsby's wonder."
In contrast, the way the present and future is depicted is negative, dreary and bitter. There are negative words such as, "brooding", "beat", "failure", "incoherent", and "obscene." When he writes about the present, it seems boring and uneventful, "I went over and looked at that huge incoherent failure of a house once more." He also writes the future as if there is no foreseeable future to look forward to, "to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... and one fine morning--- So we beat on, boats against current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." This is written as though we are all just moving into the future chasing the past. How is the reader supossed to feel at the end of this chapter and book? How do you understand Nick's attitude toward the past and the future?

Nick Carraway

Throughout the entire book, we have watched Nick Carraway get walked all over by Ms. Jordan Baker, used by Gatsby to get to Daisy, and used by Daisy to get to Gatsby. In the final chapter of the novel, due to the loss of Gatsby, we finally hear his opinions voiced, and he is not afraid to tell people what he really thinks. "'What's the matter, Nick? Do you object to shaking hands with me?' 'Yes. You know what I think of you.'" (p. 178, conversation between Tom and Nick). And another example of Nick finally voicing his opinions is, "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy" (p. 179). Yet another example is when Klipspringer called, and Nick hoped it would be Klipspringer saying he would attend the the funeral. Rather, Klipspringer avoided the request and asked for Nick to mail him his tennis shoes (the original intent of his call). "I didn't hear the rest of the name, because I hung up the receiver." (p.169). The nerve of Klipspringer to not even acknowledge Gatsby's death sent Nick into a tailspin, a never before seen quality of Nick. Before Gatsby's death, Nick was a voiceless entity; he didn't even remember when his birthday was until the actual day, and it wasn't even of importance to him. The juxtaposition between Nick's voicelessness and the voicing of his opinions leads us to wonder why? Why is it now that Nick doesn't care about cushioning the truth, or being blunt? Is it just because of Gatsby's death that Nick suddenly has a spine, or is it something else? What is making Nick act so different?

The Sharp Knife of a Short Life

"Jimmy always liked it better down East." (168) Mr. Gatz imparts this notion after his son Jim "Jay Gatsby" Gatz dies. I think is more than just that Gatsby liked being in the East. It represents Gatsby preferring East Egg a.k.a. Daisy's world, to West Egg. All he wanted was to be near Daisy, but he never could because their worlds were too different. He was never enough for her. In the beginning of their love affair, she was young and willing to marry for love alone. But something changed while he was off at war. "She wanted her life shaped now, immediately - and the decision must be made by some force - of love, of money, of unquestionable practicality - that was close at hand." (151) She meets Tom, and it's as if Gatsby never existed. Daisy goes on with her life, having a child and being a good wife to a man who cheats, but always stays by her side; while Gatsby never stops thinking about her and the life he wanted with her.

It isn't until the last two chapters that Nick Carraway shares his opinions concerning the people he has been associating with all summer. He compliments Gatsby, and later writes these words, which I find most eloquent: "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they made..." (179) Tom Daisy ruined lives, case in point: Mr. Wilson, Myrtle, and of course Gatsby. The "poor" (I say poor because while Wilson and his wife are poor, Gatsby technically isn't; but he might as well be as far as Tom is concerned) Westerners die because of Tom and Daisy. However, the couple never have to take responsibility for their actions. Is this only because of their wealth? Or because they are so heartless that they don't care who loses, just as long as they win?