What is the significance of daisys question about what they

Until George Wilson decides that they are the eyes of God, representing a moral imperative on which he must act, the eyes are simply an unsettling, unexplained image, as they stare down over the valley of ashes. Eckleburg thus emphasize the lack of a fixed relationship between symbols and what they symbolize: the eyes could mean anything to any observer, but they tend to make observers feel as though they are the ones being scrutinized.

They seem to stare down at the world blankly, without the need for meaning that drives the human characters of the novel. In reading and interpreting The Great Gatsby , it is at least as important to consider how characters think about symbols as it is to consider the qualities of the symbols themselves.

How does the geography of the novel dictate its themes and characters? What role does setting play in The Great Gatsby? Each of the four important geographical locations in the novel—West Egg, East Egg, the valley of ashes, and New York City—corresponds to a particular theme or type of character encountered in the story.

West Egg is like Gatsby, full of garish extravagance, symbolizing the emergence of the new rich alongside the established aristocracy of the s. East Egg is like the Buchanans, wealthy, possessing high social status, and powerful, symbolizing the old upper class that continued to dominate the American social landscape.

The valley of ashes is like George Wilson, desolate, desperate, and utterly without hope, symbolizing the moral decay of American society hidden by the glittering surface of upper-class extravagance. Even the weather matches the flow of the plot. The specificity of the settings in The Great Gatsby contributes greatly to the creation of distinct zones in which the conflicting values of various characters are forced to confront each other.

Ace your assignments with our guide to The Great Gatsby! SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. How does Nick Carraway first meet Jay Gatsby? Why did Daisy marry Tom? Why does Gatsby arrange for Nick to have lunch with Jordan Baker?

How does Tom find out about the affair between Gatsby and Daisy? How does Gatsby make his money? How are West Egg and East Egg different? What is the importance of the character Owl Eyes? Does Daisy love Gatsby or Tom?

Why does Tom insist on switching cars with Gatsby when they go to the city? Even the night before their wedding, she got drunk and told Jordan to tell everyone she had changed her mind. Although Daisy may have loved Gatsby once, she does not love him more than the wealth, status, and freedom that she has with Tom. As the narrator, Nick offers a unique and revealing point of view.

Had the narrator been a character who enjoyed wealth, like Tom, or aspired to it, like Myrtle, readers may not have been able to see the emptiness of their dreams and values. Although George Wilson seems to be a caring, hardworking husband, Myrtle claims to have regretted marrying him from the day after their wedding. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Great Gatsby! SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. How does Nick Carraway first meet Jay Gatsby?

Why did Daisy marry Tom? Why does Gatsby arrange for Nick to have lunch with Jordan Baker? How does Tom find out about the affair between Gatsby and Daisy? How does Gatsby make his money? How are West Egg and East Egg different? What is the importance of the character Owl Eyes? Does Daisy love Gatsby or Tom? Why does Tom insist on switching cars with Gatsby when they go to the city? Why is Nick the narrator of the story? Why does Tom bring up race so often? Why is Myrtle attracted to Tom?

Why does Gatsby stop throwing parties? Popular pages: The Great Gatsby. Take a Study Break.