The Great Gatsby - Chapter 2: The Valley of Ashes and Myrtle's Party

🚂The Valley of Ashes is a symbolic place representing the consequences of the pursuit of wealth.

👀The billboard with Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes serves as a motif for the forgotten institutions of spirituality and religion.

💼The train ride to New York City highlights the class differences between Tom, Nick, and Myrtle.

🍾The party at Myrtle's apartment showcases the superficiality and lack of real affection in her relationship with Tom.

💔The violent end to the party reflects the immorality and corruption at the heart of the novel.

What is the significance of the Valley of Ashes?

—The Valley of Ashes represents the consequences of the pursuit of wealth and the corruption of morals.

What do Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes symbolize?

—Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes symbolize the forgotten institutions of spirituality and religion.

What does the train ride to New York City represent?

—The train ride represents the stark class differences between Tom, Nick, and Myrtle.

What is the atmosphere at Myrtle's party?

—The party is characterized by excessive drinking and superficiality, reflecting the lack of real affection in Myrtle and Tom's relationship.

Why does the party end in violence?

—The party ends in violence when Tom breaks Myrtle's nose, highlighting the immorality and corruption in the characters' lives.

00:09Chapter 2 opens with a description of the Valley of Ashes, a desolate and symbolic location between the eggs in New York City.

00:36Tom wants to introduce Nick to Myrtle Wilson, his mistress, and they take a train to New York City.

00:59In New York, they stop to buy a puppy and Myrtle's sister and friends join them at Myrtle's apartment for a party.

01:26Tom becomes infuriated when Myrtle repeatedly mentions Daisy's name and he breaks Myrtle's nose.

01:39The Valley of Ashes symbolizes the consequences of the pursuit of wealth. Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes represent the forgotten institutions of spirituality. The train ride highlights class differences. The party reflects superficiality and lack of affection. The violence reveals the immorality and corruption.

02:22Myrtle pretends to be a wealthy socialite at the party, but it is clear that she is unable to maintain the facade.

02:45Tom tells Myrtle to know her place, displaying his brutishness.

02:50Chapter 2 explores themes of social class, the pursuit of wealth, and the corruption of morals.