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Milia McCoy

Dr. Vhiel

IB English

25 September 2019

The Influence of the Wealthy in the Valley of Ashes

From the exciting and ravishing cities of West Egg to New York, there is a quiet and

somber valley of grey. How can there be a grey and exasperated town of soulless people in the

presence of both powerful cities and people? In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, ​The Great Gatsby,

Fitzgerald shows us how the aristocratic centered society has perpetrated an inescapable and

depressing lifestyle on to the working class.

Simply from the name the valley of ashes,​ ​Fitzgerald paints a bleak and oppressed

environment. As far as location, the valley is located, “halfway between West Egg and New

York,”(Fitzgerald 23)- two of the most luxurious and exciting cities. West Egg houses

millionaires in their exuberant homes and New York where they go to work, shop, and entertain

themselves. Yet, in between the two lies this unfavored, shameful valley where even its

surroundings try to avoid association with its landscape. In the opening passage, the narrator

states, “the motor road hastily joins the railroad” as, “to shrink away from a certain desolate area

of land,” referring to the valley (Fitzgerald 23). The inhabitants of the valley are constantly

reminded of their rich and powerful neighbors on either side of them, a lifestyle close but

unattainable, they work to reach something just out of grasp. Ash is associated with waste,

sorrow, and death and can be corroborated as such in text as old as the bible. The people of the

valley have become so consumed with sorrow of their financial position and work that they have
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become worn down and are described as, “crumbling through the powdery air,” (Fitzgerald 23).

These ash people feel the burden and expectation to live up to upper class, work for them, and

one day be them that it takes over their livelihood.

In this valley, the people and the environment itself is not entirely to blame for its

depressing nature. It is made clear that despite being separated, the wealthy class successfully

make their presence unavoidable. Sandwiched in between the glamour and illusion of success,

the people of the valley can not escape the upper class.The city themselves and advertisements

idolize the aristocratic lifestyle as a promise of thrill and luxury that is foregin to the working

class. This is best demonstrated through the billboard of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg and his watching

eyes which are,“blue and gigantic,” in a valley of muted greys (Fitzgerald 23). Who the

mysterious T.J. Eckleburg is irrelevant as he becomes more symbolic than literal, representing

the almost god like upper class. The presence of wealth above the working class is shown as

Doctor Ecklburg’s eyes, “brood on over the solemn dumping ground.” Even as the narrator

walks along the valley’s station he feels the unresting omnipresence of the wealthy as he

is,“under Doctor Eckleburg’s persistent stare,” (Fitzgerald 24). In every aspect, the upper class

has become a superior class above the valley of ashes, essentially allowing the citizens of the

valley to idolize- almost worship- the wealthy as they feel like lesser people.

In the eyes of the valley, the upper class are the people of power. With more money,

authority, and worth they have reached a godly status in society. The interactions with the upper

and working class only confirm and keep each in their p lace. When we are introduced to two

characters of the valley, we meet a mistress to one of the characters and her cuckold. Two people

who represent the inhabitants of the valley to be weak, unfaithful, and servient to the upper class
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before themselves. Before a proper introduction of the mistress is conducted we hear about her

disdainful relationship with an aristocrat Tom as he mistreats her by, “leaving her at a table,

[sauntering] about,” (Fitzgerald 24). Tom feels comfortable enough to mistreat one of his lovers

because of the class position she is in, and she condones this treatment. In the introduction to

George B. Wilson, the mistress's husband, he is excited to see Tom and the narrator- either

unaware or oblivious to the affair in front of him. He is described as a “spiritless man,” who is

“faintly handsome.” The narrator describes George’s reaction to the men,“a damp gleam of hope

sprang into his light blue eyes.” (Fitzgerald 25). The arrival of these wealthy men, just their

presence is enough to inspire the working man-despite their compromising connection to him. It

is understood that the upper class have no purpose with the valley of ashes but to use,

manipulate, and abuse their power on the civilians. The upper class uses this hope and

admiration that the working class has for them as a way to mistreat, manipulate, and deceive

their livelihood. By actively choosing to act upon them with a lack of respect, they further

enforce that they do not need too because the citizens are not their equals. With this mindset and

attitude, the working class will remain working, unable to grow and earn the self respect and

dignity to leave the valley.

From reading the passage centered around the valley of ashes, Fitzgerald shows readers

how geography, influence, and attitude inflicted on individuals enforces a lifestyle glamorizing

the rich and keep the working class working. Fitzgerald gives readers a thoughtful insight on

how the upper class affect the lives of the working through their small and little interactions. The

text was written in the 1920s, an era of economic boom and consumerism. The wealthy become

wealthier, and the working wished for their lives. Despite its relevance nearly a century ago, the
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themes of society’s infatuation with the rich still remains significant to this day. The valley of

ashes is an important commentary not only reflecting the society of the 20s, but society in our

lives today.