Saturday 20 October 2012

Group 4 - Question 5

Eyes continue to appear as a pattern of imagery, a motif, used to convey a message. Explain the symbolism of the eyes in the novel.

Answer
The eyes in the novel are represented through the big billboard with the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. They stand for god’s eyes and symbolise that god is always watching over them. Wilson says to Michealis “I told her she might fool me but she couldn’t fool God” and also he adds “God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God” (Pg159) this shows that Wilson believed in god and knew that he was always watching. Right after this conversation Michaelis looks with shock at the eyes of Dr. T.J Eckleburg watching over them, this portrays that the eyes see everything which happens in the novel. Also, the billboard is located in the Valley of Ashes and is described as being blue, which stands for hope, meaning there is some hope in midst of the grey and dull valley of ashes. Also to go from East Egg to New York or West Egg the characters always had to cross the valley of ashes, where - the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg are located, this suggests that they were always watching over the characters in the novel, they knew that Daisy killed Myrtle and they knew that Wilson’s wife was cheating on him.

Nayaelah

1 comment:

  1. The symbolic connection between God and the billboard was examined extensively in your post and is of great help for essay preparations and in understanding the novel! However discussing other instances of symbolism involving eyes in the novel would be of definite help as future studying material!

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