FAQ About The Great Gatsby
What is the symbolism of the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg in "The Great Gatsby"?
The eyes of T.J. Eckleburg are a significant symbol in "The Great Gatsby" that represent the moral decay and spiritual emptiness of America during the Roaring Twenties. The eyes are described as "blue and gigantic" and are located on a billboard in the Valley of Ashes. They are a faded advertisement for an optometrist, but they take on a larger significance in the novel.
The eyes of T.J. Eckleburg are interpreted in different ways by the characters in the novel. Some see them as a symbol of God's watchful presence, while others see them as a symbol of the indifference and emptiness of modern society. They also represent the corruption of the American Dream, which has become reduced to a commercial enterprise focused on profit and self-interest. The eyes of T.J. Eckleburg serve as a reminder of the moral decay and spiritual emptiness of the society in which the characters live, and of the need for a deeper connection to something greater than oneself.