eckle
English 3H: Set 7
25 October 2013
Eckleburg’s Eyes
In the book The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald utilizes many symbols, for instance the green light, and the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. The latter symbol ties into two major themes in the novel, which has to do with the author’s views on the growing materialism in America. The growth of corruptness in the characters of the novel and America is also concerning to the author. Furthermore, Fitzgerald connects it with major events in the plot of the novel such as the death of Myrttle, both Tom’s and Daisy’s cynical affairs, and the meeting between Nick and Tom’s friend who fixed the 1919 World Series. The advertisement of the Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg is a preeminent symbol in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby.
One key role that Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes have in the story is that they are a symbol of the corruptness among the characters in the plot, and more importantly in America. The idea is that the billboard’s eyes watch over the people in town and acts as a witness to all of the cynical things the townspeople do. “The eyes of T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic…” (Fitzgerald 23), and are watching over Tom as he proudly proclaims to Nick, “I want you to meet my girl” (Fitzgerald 24). T.J. Eckleburg similarly watches over Daisy and Gatsby while they are speeding by Wilson’s garage with adulterous contemplations in mind. Through Daisy, Tom, and Myrttle Fitzgerald portrays the corrupt, bad qualities that the people in America have grown to develop.
One more distasteful quality of the American people in the 1920’s that Fitzgerald wants to portray though Dr. Eckleburgs eyes is the amplifying materialism. The people in America are only focused on gaining material wealth, and have lost sight of the importance of moral values. Fitzgerald describes the eyes on the billboard as “dimmed a little by many paintless days, under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.” (Fitzgerald
25 October 2013
Eckleburg’s Eyes
In the book The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald utilizes many symbols, for instance the green light, and the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. The latter symbol ties into two major themes in the novel, which has to do with the author’s views on the growing materialism in America. The growth of corruptness in the characters of the novel and America is also concerning to the author. Furthermore, Fitzgerald connects it with major events in the plot of the novel such as the death of Myrttle, both Tom’s and Daisy’s cynical affairs, and the meeting between Nick and Tom’s friend who fixed the 1919 World Series. The advertisement of the Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg is a preeminent symbol in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby.
One key role that Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes have in the story is that they are a symbol of the corruptness among the characters in the plot, and more importantly in America. The idea is that the billboard’s eyes watch over the people in town and acts as a witness to all of the cynical things the townspeople do. “The eyes of T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic…” (Fitzgerald 23), and are watching over Tom as he proudly proclaims to Nick, “I want you to meet my girl” (Fitzgerald 24). T.J. Eckleburg similarly watches over Daisy and Gatsby while they are speeding by Wilson’s garage with adulterous contemplations in mind. Through Daisy, Tom, and Myrttle Fitzgerald portrays the corrupt, bad qualities that the people in America have grown to develop.
One more distasteful quality of the American people in the 1920’s that Fitzgerald wants to portray though Dr. Eckleburgs eyes is the amplifying materialism. The people in America are only focused on gaining material wealth, and have lost sight of the importance of moral values. Fitzgerald describes the eyes on the billboard as “dimmed a little by many paintless days, under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.” (Fitzgerald