Chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby

"About half way between West Egg and New York the motor road hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter of a mile, so as to shrink away from a certain desolate area of land. This is a valley of ashes- a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air. Occasionally a line of gray cars crawls along an invisible track, gives out a ghastly creak, and comes to rest, and immediately the ash-gray men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight." (43)


This passage describes the area between West Egg and New York City. Fitzgerald portrays this place as “desolate.” It is indeed called the “valley of ashes,” indicating that everything is not as stunning or beautiful as West Egg or NYC. It shows what is really happening during the 20s.

“Ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens.” This suggests that the economy is expanding and the United States is growing. It is a time of the industry and factories. Even though the upper class is what is being explored in this novel; it seems Fitzgerald wants to also include what is truly happening during this time period. It is remembered for being a time of fun and entertainment; however, most of the money was in the hands of only 2% of the population, showing that more people were involved in the factories and poverty. People like Wilson are part of this group of people. He is not part of the glamour; he is part of the lower class of society.

The valley of ashes is also where Myrtle, Tom’s lover, lives. He has to hide his relationship with her here. He does so by riding on different cars of a train and not being seen with her in this valley. Tom does not mind if his acquaintances know, but he needs to keep his secret from Wilson. It is strange that he makes sure to hide his secret relationship from Myrtle’s husband, but does not hide it from his own wife. He won’t blatantly tell her, but will answer Myrtle's phone calls. Daisy is already jealous, but she does not seem to really acting on it. Why isn’t she? I wonder what would happen if Wilson found out about Tom. He would probably be enraged because he is losing his wife. At this point in time, men had a lot of power over their wives; therefore, he would probably take control and put her "in her place." However, I wonder what would really happen.

At this point the setting and characters are just being introduced and the valley of ashes just gives perspective to the reader. This time period is not just glamorous and full of fun, it is also a time of industry and poverty.