The Valley between
New York is a bullet point on my lengthy travel bucket list. All of its glitz, bright lights, and commotion appeal to my intrepid soul. When I finally get to New York, however, I am going to drive out to Cow Neck and Great Neck, the rumored real life West and East Egg, respectively. And possibly on my drive from the city, I will find myself passing through a bleak landscape, a valley rid of hope and promise, well at least it was in the 1920s when it was used as an important setting in F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece. Throughout The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald contrasts West and East Egg with The Valley of Ashes to demonstrate how wealth and status have an impact on the hope and promise in the lives and lifestyles of people. …show more content…
Mr. Wilson’s job is as a car mechanic, and he also owns a gas station, important for the travelers from the city to the Eggs, or vise versa. When the reader is first introduced to Wilson, he is described as a “blonde, spiritless man, anaemic, and faintly handsome (25). Even the first impression of Wilson is concurrent with the valley, lacking vitality, hope and promise. The fact that Fitzgerald includes the descriptor of handsome simply adds to tragedy that is the valley- even those with beauty or intelligence are forgotten. His anemic, or white, colorless face blends with the pale air and dust all around; it “veil[s] his dark suit and his pale hair as it veil[s] everything in the vicinity” (26). In a similar manner, Wilson’s workshop is painted to be “unprosperous and bare”, which represents his business’ success. When a Tom, a wealthy man from East Egg comes to converse with Wilson, they begin to talk about Tom’s car which he may sell to Wilson. Wilson asks simply when Tom will sell him the car, and Tom replies that his man is still working on it. Retorting, Wilson replies that[Tom’s man]” Works pretty slow, don’t he?” (28). Coldly, Tom replies that he dosent, and if Wilson “feel[s] that way about it, Tom better “sell it somewhere else” (28). Meekly, Wilson replies that he “d[idnt] mean that” (28), and indicates his subordinate role in the interaction. Tom, much wealthier and more powerful can influence Wilson, and ultimately has the superiority, meaning that Wilson must treat him kindly and respect him if he wants Tom’s car, or patronage. Here, Fitzgerald demonstrates how the upper class talk down upon the lower class and treat them badly just because of their social status. This is a key reason the Valley of Ashes is a place of
New York is a bullet point on my lengthy travel bucket list. All of its glitz, bright lights, and commotion appeal to my intrepid soul. When I finally get to New York, however, I am going to drive out to Cow Neck and Great Neck, the rumored real life West and East Egg, respectively. And possibly on my drive from the city, I will find myself passing through a bleak landscape, a valley rid of hope and promise, well at least it was in the 1920s when it was used as an important setting in F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece. Throughout The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald contrasts West and East Egg with The Valley of Ashes to demonstrate how wealth and status have an impact on the hope and promise in the lives and lifestyles of people. …show more content…
Mr. Wilson’s job is as a car mechanic, and he also owns a gas station, important for the travelers from the city to the Eggs, or vise versa. When the reader is first introduced to Wilson, he is described as a “blonde, spiritless man, anaemic, and faintly handsome (25). Even the first impression of Wilson is concurrent with the valley, lacking vitality, hope and promise. The fact that Fitzgerald includes the descriptor of handsome simply adds to tragedy that is the valley- even those with beauty or intelligence are forgotten. His anemic, or white, colorless face blends with the pale air and dust all around; it “veil[s] his dark suit and his pale hair as it veil[s] everything in the vicinity” (26). In a similar manner, Wilson’s workshop is painted to be “unprosperous and bare”, which represents his business’ success. When a Tom, a wealthy man from East Egg comes to converse with Wilson, they begin to talk about Tom’s car which he may sell to Wilson. Wilson asks simply when Tom will sell him the car, and Tom replies that his man is still working on it. Retorting, Wilson replies that[Tom’s man]” Works pretty slow, don’t he?” (28). Coldly, Tom replies that he dosent, and if Wilson “feel[s] that way about it, Tom better “sell it somewhere else” (28). Meekly, Wilson replies that he “d[idnt] mean that” (28), and indicates his subordinate role in the interaction. Tom, much wealthier and more powerful can influence Wilson, and ultimately has the superiority, meaning that Wilson must treat him kindly and respect him if he wants Tom’s car, or patronage. Here, Fitzgerald demonstrates how the upper class talk down upon the lower class and treat them badly just because of their social status. This is a key reason the Valley of Ashes is a place of