Understanding Symbolism in 'The Great Gatsby'

Fitzgerald uses symbols to critique the American Dream. The green light at the end of Daisy's dock represents Gatsby's longing and the unreachable promise of reinvention. The Valley of Ashes exposes the moral decay beneath wealth. Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's faded eyes suggest a godless world where moral accountability has eroded. Together they frame Gatsby's tragedy as the failure of a dream built on illusion.