In “The Great Gatsby” the valley of ashes is an industrial area that is between West Egg and New York. It is described as “a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the form of houses and chimneys and rising smoke” (page 23). Although, it is not actually covered in ashes, it seems like that because of the gray smoke pollution that hovers from the factories. Nick paints the city gray, giving a depressing sense along with hopelessness, forgotten and death. People who live here are also covered in ash, described as “ash-gray men” as they have no hope escaping this life (page 23). However, Myrtle is the only person who is not covered in ash since she has hope of escaping through her
