Making Gatsby Timeless

The Great Gatsby is set in The Roaring Twenties, a time period of great economic prosperity
and revelry in the big cities across America. The novel immerses its reader in the time period by dealing
with the distinctive issue of Prohibition and including depictions of non-traditional women who were
hallmarks of the era. Despite the distinctive marks of its time period, the story has timeless feelthis tale
of one mans failed attempt at the elusive American Dream could be set in any time period and be just
as effective because of Fitzgeralds masterful use of literary devices such as setting, symbolism, allusion.
Fitzgerald uses many symbols in the novel to unveil facts about the society at the time and the
Valley of Ashes is one of them. It is described as a gray, desolate area of land that ashes actually
grow in to form grotesque gardens. The air is powdery, filled with bleak dust, and the inhabitants
of the land are described as ash-gray men (26). The lifeless, colorless picture that Fitzgerald paints for
us lets us know that this place has no good in it and even despite its citizens transcendent effort[s], it
never will (26). The area is between the two prosperous areas of West Egg and New York and it is created
by the dumping of industrial ash. The Valley of Ashes is quite literally the consequence of the
industrialization and hustle and bustle that both towns thrive on and it serves as a symbol of the decay that
the society exchanges for material prosperity. This lifeless, desolate place is where Myrtle and George
Wilson call home. While George seems to be overtaken by the lifelessness of their surroundings, Myrtle
attempts to pull herself out of the rut by dating Tom and always asserting her superiority over her
husband; however, both characters end up as victims when Myrtle meets her hit-and-run demise at the
hands of careless Daisy. The Valley of Ashes represents the consequences for the lifestyle of excess that
was introduced during this time period. Myrtle died struggling to attain this lifestyle, showing how deadly
the pursuit of such superficiality is. Her death coming at the hands of Daisy shows the inhumane nature of
nature of the lifestylethere is no concern for human life. In many ways, The Valley of Ashes represents
the hollow, lifeless inside of the West Egg lifestyleon the outside its flashy and golden and beautiful,
but there is no substance on the inside.

In the age of technology and instant gratification, we can identify with everything that The Valley
of Ashes symbolizes. TV and social media portray celebrity lifestyles as flashy and golden and beautiful,
but to pursue that superficial lifestyle at any cost the way that Myrtle did would be just as deadly to us as
it was to her.
Almost opposite of The Valley of Ashes is the setting of Jay Gatsbys parties. The entire novel is
set to the hustle and bustle of 1920s Long Island and New York City. The narrator himself moves away
from his own home in the Midwest to get into the action of the city. Just like a big city, this novel is
crowded out with anonymous people moving about. Like Jay Gatsbys get-togethers, big cities are full of
wanderers (44). Nick describes himself as rather ill-at-ease among swirls and eddies of people [he]
didnt know at his first Gatsby party. Tom has the same feeling at his first Gatsby event, remarking that
he [didnt] know a soul [there] (112). Daisy has an enjoyable time, but she only see[s] the faces of
many people [shed] heard about, no one that she had any intimate connection with. The common theme
within Jays get-togethers is that no one truly familiar with anyone else at these affairs. People were not
invited to Jay Gatsbys partiesthey simply went to them (45). This creates an atmosphere of anonymity
that makes Jay Gatsbys parties a microcosm of the city. The main characters in the novel exist amid a
background of nameless people and meaningless action that serve as white noise to the events in their
own lives. This lively, constantly bustling setting aids in the ageless mood of the novel because it is
relatable during any age or time period.
Inside the Valley of Ashes is the billboard that displays Dr. T.J. Eckleburgs large blue eyes
peering knowingly into the empty space. The eyes seem to follow the action of the novel, similar to the
way that its said that Mona Lisas eyes follow all of her viewers. The first mention of them is in Chapter
Two at our first sight of The Valley of Ashes, but right before the climax of the hot summer day when
Tom exposes Gatsby to Daisy, Nick notices Doctor T.J. Eckleburgs faded eyes following them down
the road (130). Later, when Wilson is recounting the moments before his wifes death, he talks about

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taking her to the window where she could see the doctors eyes and telling her God knows what youve
been doing, everything youve been doing. You may fool me, but you cant fool God!
The eyes of the optometrist and all of the other references to vision and sight symbolize the
presence of morality and religion in society. During the Roaring Twenties, there was a noticeable
difference in attitudes towards morality. Immorality has always been a part of society, but prior to the
Twenties there was pressure to at least maintain a moral outward appearance. During the Roaring
Twenties, people decided not to hide their immoral behavior anymore. Doctor T.J. Ecklebergs eyes
represent the looming ideas of morality from yesteryear that would rather people do their dirt in secret.
Today we are in the midst of rapid social change. Society as a whole is changing its view on
fundamental issues like who is able to marry who, who has control over a womans body, and even the
extent of a law enforcement officers power. The old views on those issues are always looming and
making judgments even as we make progress, just as Ecklebergs eyes peer into the open sky, seeing and
judging all without the power to make a difference. We can connect and see the application of Fitzgeralds
symbolism in our own time and that makes the novel relevant and timeless to us.
Literary allusions are another way that Fitzgerald stops time in the novel. In Greek mythology,
the Sirens were half-bird, half-woman creatures that sang beautiful songs in order to lure sailors into the
sea and into destruction ("Siren | Greek mythology"). In time, the siren has become a symbol of a
captivatingly beautiful woman who seduces men. With all of his references to Daisys seductive nature,
specifically the seductive quality of her voice, Fitzgerald alludes to the Greek myth of the Sirens. In
Nicks very first encounter with Daisy, he notices her charming little laugh, and as she peers into his
eyes, he notices the way she had of making him feel as if there was no one in the world she so much
wanted to see (11).
Beginning at the point where Daisy and Gatsby reunite, there is a shift in the way Daisy is
describedin most cases, her voice warrants its own description, apart from her person. The descriptions

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of her voice always note is compelling, distracting nature, much like a Siren song. When Nick is
welcoming Daisy into his home, he is captivated yet again by the exhilarating ripple of her voice (91).
It actually distracts him-- he [has] to follow the sound of it for a moment before he can actually process
what she says (91).
No one was more spellbound by Daisy, however, than Jay Gatsby. He spent years creating a
persona that he thought was worthy of her attention, then came back and bought a mansion half
expecting her to wander into one of his parties, some night (85). Her influence over him is very clear
during their first encounter after five years. Their reunion is awkward at firstGatsby is distraught and
embarrassed and Daisys voice goes from a clear artificial note to matter of fact. The seductive
quality of her voice is missing in this section and its no coincidence that Gatsby, a man who has so many
connections, entertains so many strangers and creates such fantastic stories, is clumsy and at a loss for
wordsDaisy hasnt begun to work her magic yet. Nick leaves the couple alone and what else do they do
but converse? We arent privy to the detail of their conversation, but according to the way the murmur of
their voices [rise] and [swell] a little, now and then, with gusts of emotion, we can infer that it was pretty
intense (95). When Nick comes back, every vestige of embarrassment [is] gone. He notices a complete
change in Gatsbys presence that was simply confounding (95):
He literally glowed; without a word or gesture of exultation a new well-being radiated
from him and filled the little room.
He notices Daisy wiping tears from her face, but he doesnt notice any change in her
countenance. She is not so transformed by their private conversation as he is because she is in control. As
he takes her on a tour through the house, Gatsby [doesnt] once cease looking at Daisy. Hes completely
taken with her, looking around at things hes collected and own for years as though in her actual and
astounding presence none of it was any longer realhe even nearly topple[s] down a flight of stairs
staring at her. Despite all of the attention that Gatsby is paying to her, Daisy focuses intently on all of
Gatsbys material possessions.
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The nature of their relationship is very unbalancedDaisy lures him in and Gatsby falls for it,
hard. Once she has him, she indulges him with her presence, but she never reciprocates his adoration.
Ultimately, like a Siren, she does destroy himshes at fault for the crime that Gatsby is murdered for,
but even to the end, he is willing to lie to save her. The devastating Siren is a common characterization
of women in literature, and Fitzgerald characterization of Daisy as such makes the story timeless because
we can imagine a women like her in any time period.
The American Dream itself is a timeless concept; the specifics may change throughout time, but
the gist of the dreamthe success and material wealthendure. Using symbolism, allusions and setting,
Fitzgerald crafts a tale that could be just as effective and believable if it were plucked out of its own time
period and dropped into another.

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Works Cited

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. London: Vintage Classic, 2011. Print.
"Siren | Greek Mythology." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 27
Oct. 2015.

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