Created by: Reese Williams by Reese Williams

roliviaw7908 — 2025-09-16 12:36:00 UTC

The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg

how the symbol is used in the novel

roliviaw7908 — 2025-09-16 13:09:09 UTC

In the novel The Great Gatsby, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are used as the eyes of God. They encapsulate this when different characters have a big secret. As the perspective changes to the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg looking down at them, it reveals to the readers that only God knows what the characters have done. What this symbol means to me is that God is that only one who can judge them for the secrets they have not said. And every time the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are revealed in the text it conveys to the readers a secret that is not being disclosed to someone. For example, when Tom was being looked down upon when he was mourning the death of Myrtle. But as he was standing there was also her husband Wilson; who had no clue the person she was cheating on him with was Tom. This Symbolizing the deep secret that God was looking down at Tom for.

roliviaw7908 — 2025-09-18 12:36:05 UTC

"I followed him over a low white-washed railroad fence and we walked back a hundred yards along the road under Doctor Eckleburg’s persistent stare"(27)

This is describing the tense and ominous presence of being around the area and eyes of Doctor Eckleburg, narrating it as “persistent stare”

"the eyes of doctor T.J Eckleburg are blue and gigantic their retinas are one yard high. they look out of no face but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non existent nose"(19)

This is also describing the feature of the eyes, illustrating to the readers as only having eyes and no face features. This can be related to the God part because there is no one there, only the eyes looking down upon you.

"‘Terrible place, isn’t it,’ said Tom, exchanging a frown with Doctor Eckleburg. ‘Awful.’" (18)

When tom called this place terrible and awful it can represent his discomfort of his sins and lies, while frowning with doctor Eckleburg it can symbolize God and his disappoint in himself.

But above the grey land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg" (19)

Through the dystopian background upon all of the clouds and dust which could represent everyday life; are still the eyes of Doctor Eckleburg which signifies that even though you can forget God, he doesn’t forget you.