The Eyes Of God Great Gatsby Quote
“The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic – their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nose.” This quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, is one of the most iconic and memorable lines from the book. It refers to a billboard in the Valley of Ashes, a desolate industrial area located between West Egg and New York City.
The Symbolism of the Eyes of God
The billboard features a pair of eyes that are often interpreted as the eyes of God, watching over the characters and their actions. The eyes are described as “blue and gigantic,” representing the vastness of God’s power and presence. The fact that they look out from behind yellow spectacles suggests that this divine presence is distorted or obscured by materialism and commercialism.
The billboard itself is located in the Valley of Ashes, a symbol of the moral decay and spiritual emptiness of the modern world. It is a reminder that even in this desolate and forgotten place, there is a watchful eye upon the characters and their actions.
The Eyes as a Commentary on Society
The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg can also be seen as a commentary on society as a whole. They are a symbol of the way in which people are constantly watched and judged by those in positions of power. The eyes are a reminder that even in a supposedly free and democratic society, people are still subject to surveillance and control.
The fact that the eyes are non-human and look out from behind yellow spectacles suggests that this surveillance is not motivated by compassion or understanding, but rather by a desire for profit and power. The eyes represent the cold and uncaring gaze of those in authority, who are more concerned with their own interests than with the welfare of the people they are supposed to serve.
The Eyes as a Metaphor for Characters’ Inner Lives
The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg can also be seen as a metaphor for the inner lives of the characters in the novel. They are a reminder that even though people may try to hide their true selves or motivations, there is always someone or something watching and judging them.
The eyes represent the way in which people’s inner lives are constantly exposed and scrutinized, even if they try to keep them hidden. They are a reminder that no matter how much people may try to project an image of themselves to the world, their true selves can never be completely hidden from view.
The Eyes as a Literary Device
The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg are also a powerful literary device used by Fitzgerald to convey his themes and ideas. They are a symbol of the way in which the modern world is characterized by moral decay and spiritual emptiness.
The eyes are a reminder that even in the most desolate and forgotten places, there is a watchful eye upon the characters and their actions. They represent the constant surveillance and control that people are subjected to in a society that values materialism and commercialism over compassion and understanding.
Conclusion
The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg are a powerful and memorable symbol in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. They represent a variety of themes and ideas, including the moral decay and spiritual emptiness of the modern world, the constant surveillance and control that people are subjected to, and the way in which people’s true selves can never be completely hidden from view.
As a literary device, the eyes are a reminder of the power of symbolism and the way in which authors can use imagery to convey their themes and ideas. They are a testament to the enduring power of The Great Gatsby, a novel that continues to captivate readers and inspire new generations of writers.
