Lecture Notes: The Great Gatsby - Chapter II

Introduction

• Setting: Between West Egg and New York.
• Valley of Ashes: Desolate area symbolizing decay and moral corruption.
• Doctor T. J. Eckleburg's Eyes: Symbolic billboard resembling eyes watching over the valley.

Key Characters Introduced

• Tom Buchanan: Wealthy, aggressive, and having an affair.
• Myrtle Wilson: Tom's mistress, dissatisfied with her marriage.
• George Wilson: Myrtle's husband, unaware of the affair, runs a garage.

Plot Developments

Meeting Tom's Mistress

• Tom insists on Nick meeting Myrtle.
• Valley of Ashes Encounter: Stop at Wilson's garage, introduction to Myrtle.
• Tom's Control: Forces Nick out of the car to meet Myrtle.

Trip to New York

• Myrtle's Change: Changes attire, indicating desire for transformation.
• Purchase of a Dog: Represents Myrtle's desire for luxury.
• Arrival in New York: Myrtle buys magazines; Tom and Myrtle are careful about public appearances.

The Party at the Apartment

• Attendees: Myrtle, Tom, Nick, Catherine (Myrtle’s sister), the McKees.
• Atmosphere: Alcohol-fueled, indulgent, superficial.
• Catherine's Insight: Discusses Tom and Myrtle’s dissatisfaction with their marriages.
• Myrtle's Aspirations: Desires material possessions, dissatisfaction with her marriage.

Conflicts and Climax

• Argument: Tom and Myrtle argue over Daisy’s name.
• Violence: Tom breaks Myrtle’s nose, highlighting his brutality.

Symbolism and Themes

• Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg: Represent a god-like judgment on society's sins.
• Valley of Ashes: Moral and social decay from unrestrained wealth and privilege.
• Tom’s Authority: Demonstrates patriarchal dominance and moral failure.

Reflection and Observation

• Nick's Position: Observes chaos, represents the moral compass.
• Moral Observations: Nick feels both enchanted and repelled by the city's moral corruption.

Conclusion

• Significance: Chapter II sets the stage for moral examination and character exploration in "The Great Gatsby." The introduction of the Valley of Ashes and Doctor T. J. Eckleburg's eyes are crucial for understanding the novel's themes.