The 'valley of ashes' lies between Long Island and New York and the Wilsons live on the edge of this area. It is a desolate industrial wasteland, bounded on one side by "a small foul river".

Nick first sees Gatsby stretching his arms towards a green ... Grey The hopelessness of the valley of ashes described in chapter two is emphasised by the predominance of grey.

Set during the Roaring Twenties in New York City, one of the major themes of The Great Gatsby is the division ... it is the Valley of Ashes that embodies, according to the author, the desolation ...