How does Fitzgerald create the dreary and depressing mood of Chapter 2’s introduction to the Valley of Ashes? Analyze Fitzgerald’s word choice by citing and explaining the strongest pieces of textual evidence that contributes to this mood.

Fitzgerald presents a place of dreary, decaying, gray and dusty place in the "Valley of Ashes", thus creating a depressing mood just with the description of the place.

Explanation:

F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby tells the story of Jay Gatsby and his failure in achieving the "American dream". Narrated from the point of view of Nick Carraway, the novel shows the contrasting attitudes and viewpoints of the characters in the story.

Chapter 2 is aptly titled "Valley of Ashes" by giving the description of the place as a "farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and  grotesque gardens where ashes take the forms of houses and  chimneys and rising smoke". The very description of the grayness of the place, the dust from the nearby factories, all contribute to the very essence of the dreary condition of the place. They add to the depressing mood of the valley, providing not a single image of liveliness, or anything 'happy' for that matter. It is dull, appears dull and spreads a dull mood.

The image and presentation of the valley shows a decaying place that is depressing and seems to have no positivity in it. This area, the Valley of Ashes also signifies the difference of the two ends of the world, separating the rich world of West Egg to that of East Egg, but important enough to be the 'tunnel' through which the two can get to each other. And lastly, it is also from this place that the main conflict and ending of the story comes from. Myrtle Wislon and her husband owned a garage shop in this place, and she will lead to the culmination of the story for all the characters.

Fitzgerald presents a place of dreary, decaying, gray and dusty place in the "Valley of Ashes", thus creating a depressing mood just with the description of the place.

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