Rhetorical Analysis of a Literature Place

Introduction

In stories, places aren't just where stuff happens; they're packed with meanings that help tell the story and make us think more about what it's all about. F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" is a classic example of this. One spot in the book, the "Valley of Ashes," stands out because it's loaded with meaning. This essay takes a closer look at the Valley of Ashes, seeing how Fitzgerald uses this bleak place to talk about the American Dream, class divides, and moral rot.

The Valley of Ashes: A Rhetorical Analysis

The Valley of Ashes shows up first in Chapter 2 of "The Great Gatsby." Fitzgerald paints it as a "fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens." This picture instantly makes you feel the place is empty and falling apart. Words like "fantastic" and "grotesque" mix wonder with horror, hinting that this isn't just a wasteland—it's symbolic too. The Valley is totally different from the fancy East Egg and West Egg, making you see how big the gap is between rich folks and everyone else. While people in the Eggs live it up, those in the Valley work hard and suffer, forgotten by the American Dream.

Fitzgerald doesn't stop there. The Valley of Ashes does more than just paint a picture; it makes a point about morality through its characters. Take Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby—they zoom through without giving it much thought. They show their moral blindness by not noticing what’s right in front of them—the harsh life others face. On the flip side, George Wilson lives there and shows what it's like to struggle when society leaves you behind. His tragic breakdown happens because he’s stuck in such a tough place, critiquing how society keeps these gaps wide open.

The Valley's also where major stuff goes down, adding even more weight to its meaning. The most dramatic event? Myrtle Wilson's death—it happens right there. It's not just an accident; it's what happens when morals decay as they do in the Valley. Her death comes from reckless wealthy people showing off Fitzgerald's point on how careless they are. Overlooking this grim scene are Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes on an old billboard—a symbol for some kind of judgment or oversight that's missing among these folks who don’t care much for what's right or wrong.

What really amps up Fitzgerald’s use of this place is where he puts it in the whole story setup. The Valley sits between rich East Egg/West Egg areas and busy New York City—a limbo all characters cross through somehow connecting everyone to corruption whether they like it or not! No matter how far anyone tries running from reality here—that looming gray space always reminds them actions have consequences amidst structures maintaining such divides.

Conclusion

Wrapping things up: The Valley of Ashes isn’t just scenery—it’s got depth helping deliver themes throughout “The Great Gatsby.” Through colorful images tied with symbols alongside strategically planned narrative spots—Fitzgerald makes sure we know he's critiquing dreams gone wrong under unbridled materialism leading societal divisions causing decay within our morals themselves… hence why readers find lasting relevance inside critiques put forth around America today via analyzing what this literary ground represents overall!

References

• Bruccoli, M.J., ed. (1991). New Essays on The Great Gatsby. Cambridge University Press.
• Taylor, B.B. (2000). "Fitzgerald's Brave New World". Modern Fiction Studies, 46(4), 815-831.
• Eble, K.E., ed. (1974). F.Scott Fitzgerald: A Collection of Critical Essays. Prentice Hall.
• Latham, A.J., & Rogers W.M., eds.(2015). A Companion To F.Scott Fitzgerald. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Piper H.D.(1996).Flappers & Philosophers Revisited:Fitzgerald On Film & Other Insights Into Literature During Jazz Age America'.Mitchell Press.