What Is The Irony In Chapter 2 Of The Great Gatsby

In this passage from the opening paragraph of Chapter 2, Nick introduces the valley of ashes. His illustration of the lifeless, colorless valley indicates the aristocratic disdain for the impoverished class. The first sentence displays motion; the word “runs” and the unique phrase, “shrink away,” produce an image of hurried, uneasy movement away from the valley. The motor road, a symbol of West Egg’s self-sufficiency, and the railroad, a symbol of East Egg’s access to privilege, “hastily” join together to shield themselves from a “certain desolate area of land.” Nick uses these words to link the Eggs together in their desire to distance and distract themselves from poverty. In the following sentence, Nick compares the valley to a “fantastic