In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, Dr. T.J. Eckleburg is a symbolic figure represented by a pair of eyes on a faded billboard. The billboard, which features the eyes of an optometrist named Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, overlooks the Valley of Ashes, a desolate area between West Egg and New York City.
The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg are often interpreted as a symbol of the moral decay and spiritual emptiness of the characters in the novel. They are described as “blue and gigantic” and seem to watch over the events that unfold in the Valley of Ashes. Some readers see the eyes as a representation of God or a higher power, observing the corruption and lack of morality in the world of the novel.
Throughout the story, the eyes are mentioned several times, particularly in moments of moral significance. For example, George Wilson, a resident of the Valley of Ashes, refers to the eyes as the eyes of God, believing that they see everything and will bring justice to those who have wronged him.
In summary, Dr. T.J. Eckleburg is not a character in the traditional sense but rather a powerful symbol in The Great Gatsby, representing the themes of judgment, morality, and the loss of spiritual values in the Jazz Age.