In spite of the fact that the "Roaring 20's" are frequently seen as a period of extravagance ,in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, he indicates generally through his depiction of The Valley of Ashes as gloomy, Gatsby's recognition of the past as elusive, and Nick's last interaction with Gatsby as desperate.
Despite the glamorous reputation of the “Roaring 20s”, Fitzgerald establishes a gloomy tone, through his portrayal of the neglected people and landscape of the dreary Valley of Ashes. For example, Fitzgerald exemplifies the setting “ where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys…[and] men...move dimly [through] the already crumbling...powdery air” to emphasize the oppressive burden that smothers the entire town (27). He utilizes the setting to accentuate the “brood[ing]” eyes watching over the desolate landscape. For instance, the billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes are portrayed as “ dimmed a…show more content… For example, when Gatsby waited until ".... about four o'clock [Daisy] came to the window… stood there for a minute and then turned out the light, " which represents their relationship fading while showing Gatsby's hopelessness (147). This reinforces a sense of anguish perceived when Daisy shuts the light off which contemplates her rejection towards him. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald avails to Gatsby's forsaken and dispirited house inevitably to show the conspiracy reflecting the loss of Daisy and his dream. Moreover, Nick insinuates to the, "inexplicable amount of dust everywhere, and [how] the rooms were musty as though they hadn't been aired for many days" (147). Thus creating a distraught comparison of Gatsby’s house and his sense of distress . For that reason, the fact that the Roaring 20s are depicted as lavish, Fitzgerald creates a frantic tone through Gatsby's goal in keeping his fantasy