The Great Gatsby defines the generation of young people who lived during the "Jazz Age," the Roaring Twenties. This is a time when new wealth is attained and illegal booze flows freely. In his work, Fitzgerald brings readers into the lives of restless young people of the era and clips away at the fallacy of the American Dream. The symbols in The Great Gatsby represent the illusions and failures of that dream.
One important symbol is the Valley of Ashes situated between West Egg and New York City. This desolated area, used as a dumping ground for industrial waste, represents the plight of the poor. George Wilson and Myrtle, George's wife and Tom Buchanan's mistress, live among the ashes. Myrtle's affair with Tom is emblematic of her unrealistic hope to rise above the ashes.
The wealthy, though, are so busy enjoying the fruits of their riches and seeking their own gratification that they ignore the poor, turning their heads as they pass by this desolate region. Surrounded by West Egg and New York City, the valley illustrates how the poor are not only being smothered to death by the industrial ashes but also suffocated by the encroachment of the uninterested wealthy.
Another symbol in the novel is the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, staring down at everyone from the faded billboard in the valley. The eyeglass wearing figure eerily watches over the goings on between the characters in the story. Doctor Eckleburg's eyes represent God watching them as they pursue live of moral degradation that exists in America at that time.
Because the eyes are between the two centers of wealth and hope, it's like God is saying, "I see you," to the characters as they descend into moral poverty and use those who are helpless, like Tom does to George and Myrtle. The symbolism of the eyes becomes more apparent when a grief-stricken George goes on his quest to kill Gatsby, the man he believes killed his wife.
The color green is mentioned in The Great Gatsby more than 50 times. Thus, this is the most important symbol of the novel. Green, in general, represents youth, hope, and birth. In the novel, a green light is visible on the dock of Daisy's East Egg home. Gatsby sometimes stand at the end of his West Egg home and watches the light, as if the light is beckoning him to reach his goal to get Daisy.
For Gatsby, his American dream is completely wrapped up in the rebirth of the young love they once shared with one another. As with any dream, however, the reality is disappointing. He finally gets the fulfillment of this much hoped for dream, but like the green grass of spring, it fades into something ugly and dies.
All of the important symbols in The Great Gatsby illustrate that the American Dream is an illusion, a fraud for many people. For those who want to get that dream, like Myrtle, the dream is not attained because they end up being used by the person they hope becomes their benefactor.
