What are personal desires and how do we choose between them and conforming? The decision between desires and conforming is a challenging one we all face. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the conflict between our desires and conforming is vividly portrayed. Conforming can be tough when we have personal desires. The novel illustrates the dilemma between desires and conforming through The Valley of the Ashes. This desolate place, created by industrial ashes, is inhabited by lower-class individuals who yearn for “The American Dream.” These residents must decide whether to pursue their dream or conform to their current lifestyle. It is a difficult choice, leading many to conform to their existing circumstances rather than pursuing a different lifestyle.
Fitzgerald demonstrates the conflict between our desires and conformity in two ways: the green light and The Valley of the Ashes. The green light, situated at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock, symbolizes Gatsby’s love for her. Gatsby is torn between his longing for Daisy and the societal expectations that dictate she is now married. Choosing between love and adhering to social norms poses a challenging decision for Gatsby. When we have personal desires, conforming can be arduous. This theme is evident in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby through the symbolic representations of The Valley of the Ashes and the green light shining from the Buchanan’s dock.
