Respond in 3-5 complete sentences. Explain the significance and meaning of Dr. Eckleberg’s eyes in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Be sure to explain the significance of the location of the billboard, the scenes in which the eyes are observed, and the relation to the theme of The Great Gatsby. Your response should be three to five sentences in length. Select the link to access the Short Answer Rubric.
Dr. Eckleberg's eyes on the billboard serve as a constant, watchful presence in The Great Gatsby, symbolizing the moral and societal decay of the 1920s. The fact that the billboard overlooks the Valley of Ashes, a desolate and impoverished area, underscores the stark contrast between the wealthy and the poor in the novel. The eyes are observed in key scenes such as when George Wilson sees them after Myrtle's death, serving as a reminder of the corruption and moral emptiness of the characters. This ties into the theme of the novel, which explores the destructive nature of pursuing the American Dream at any cost.
