“The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic—their irises are one yard high.” The eyes of Dr Eckleburg is an immaculate painting that is displayed on an antiquated advertising billboard. It is situated over the valley of ashes, seemingly staring down upon America. The purpose and direct symbolism of the intense and everlasting glare of the dilated pupils was never precisely established throughout the novel, but one can make definite assumptions.
‘Eyes of god starting down at society’, is the generic and popular symbolic meaning behind the eyes of Dr Eckleburg (according to George Wilson). It is a greater power looking down and judging the actions and decisions of man.
In chapter 8, Nick vaguely discusses his personal thoughts on the painting, and believes that it represents emptiness and purposeless in life.
The observant stare of the eyes for me personally, is essentially an endless collection of thoughts based on visual stimulus. It is entering a new world inside your own mind, going wherever you desire, doing whatever you desire. Instead of constantly feeling the need of doing something, one should simply ‘live in the moment’ for brief periods during a day.
The location of the painting on the billboard is also symbolic, as it is looking down at the valley of ashes. The valley represents the moral and social decay, the plight of the poor, and the visual representation of the disconnect between the rich and poor. It also symbolises the negative result of the pursuit of wealth and luxury.
Society has lost of connection with religion and god as the billboard is deteriorating and the paint has faded. This establishes a gradual disappearance of the belief in god, and seeking for advice and moral incentive from a higher power.
The glasses also symbolise unclarity and the need to see the flaws of society.
Finn W 