As we discussed the "valley of ashes" on page 23 in class on Wednesday, the passage vividly reminded me of something we've already gone over in the past month: the Holocaust.
"Chimneys [with]... rising smoke." Gas chambers. "Gray cars... along... [a] track." Railroad trips to concentration camps. "Ash-gray men" "who move dimly.... already crumbling through the powdery air." Emaciated, imprisoned men forced into labor. You get the point.
Everything gray illustrates a sort of misery. In the case of this connection here, misery comes from torture and endless labor. Despite their greatest efforts to produce, hide, or run, nothing but luck could ensure prisoners' safety and survival. Their lives were cycles of constant fear and dread, unable to ever escape. But of course, you have to remember that The Great Gatsby was only written in 1925-- decades before the Holocaust. So most definitely, Fitzgerald did not intend to emulate such a historic event for literary symbolism.
But I think the fact that this image so strongly imprints me with a situation like the Holocaust contributes to the significance of the Valley of Ashes. Although not experiencing physically and unending torture, the residents of the surrounding areas (East and West Egg) experience their own unrelenting pursuit. The pursuit of wealth. As we know from the characteristics of Modernism, residents like Gatsby constantly run after money, living lavishly as if they did not have a single worry in life. But behind the facade, Gatsby is actually lonely and unhappy-- a feeling represented by the ashes dumped in the valley. As ashes are the outputs of industrial production, misery is the output of the mindless pursuit for flaunting affluence.
"Chimneys [with]... rising smoke." Gas chambers. "Gray cars... along... [a] track." Railroad trips to concentration camps. "Ash-gray men" "who move dimly.... already crumbling through the powdery air." Emaciated, imprisoned men forced into labor. You get the point.
Everything gray illustrates a sort of misery. In the case of this connection here, misery comes from torture and endless labor. Despite their greatest efforts to produce, hide, or run, nothing but luck could ensure prisoners' safety and survival. Their lives were cycles of constant fear and dread, unable to ever escape. But of course, you have to remember that The Great Gatsby was only written in 1925-- decades before the Holocaust. So most definitely, Fitzgerald did not intend to emulate such a historic event for literary symbolism.
But I think the fact that this image so strongly imprints me with a situation like the Holocaust contributes to the significance of the Valley of Ashes. Although not experiencing physically and unending torture, the residents of the surrounding areas (East and West Egg) experience their own unrelenting pursuit. The pursuit of wealth. As we know from the characteristics of Modernism, residents like Gatsby constantly run after money, living lavishly as if they did not have a single worry in life. But behind the facade, Gatsby is actually lonely and unhappy-- a feeling represented by the ashes dumped in the valley. As ashes are the outputs of industrial production, misery is the output of the mindless pursuit for flaunting affluence.
Wait this was so deep I love how you connected this with the Holocaust that's amazing. I agree, the valley of ashes definitely has a parallel with the horror and terror experienced by those in the Holocaust. Maybe not to the same extent, but they also faced another fear, rather than fear of death, it's their fear of life and what it means for them.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you interconnected the Holocaust with the valley of ashes. Originally reading that passage, I didn't have that takeaway but I love how you compared the ashes of the victims of the Holocaust to those living in east egg. Of course not to that extent, but there still is that illustration of gray to misery.
ReplyDeleteI love how you connected the valley of ashes with the holocaust, it made your piece so much more interesting to read due to the fact that we finished Maus as a class! Good job!
ReplyDeleteI really love the structure of this blog post! The second paragraph where you incorporate quotes and then go on to describe what they represent is stylistical genius! It adds a really unique twist to your writing! Relating the constant cycle of the dread from the lower class back to Maus is really interesting to think about! Great job!
ReplyDeleteKind of off topic, but I like how well you can write in the first person. It sounds really professional, yet guides the piece with a conversational tone.
ReplyDeleteI like how you structure your paragraphs in your blogs as if they have a meaning. I tried to do that on my blog as well however my blog is glitched so it is all one line. I also liked how you sound professional while maintaining to stay in 1st person throughout the entirety of this blog. Good job!
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