How does the Valley of Ashes function as a metaphorical landscape in the narrative? A literal geographic location A symbol of industrial progress A representation of economic inequality and social decay An irrelevant background setting

## Step 1<br />The Valley of Ashes in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" is a significant symbol in the novel. It is not a literal geographic location, but rather a metaphorical landscape that represents the moral and social decay hidden beneath the surface of the American Dream.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The Valley of Ashes is not a symbol of industrial progress. Instead, it is a stark contrast to the opulence and wealth of the characters in the novel. It is a place of poverty and despair, a stark contrast to the wealth and prosperity of the characters in the novel.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The Valley of Ashes is not an irrelevant background setting. It is a crucial element in the novel, as it serves to highlight the economic inequality and social decay that underpin the American Dream. It is a place where the poor and the downtrodden live, a stark contrast to the wealth and prosperity of the characters in the novel.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />The Valley of Ashes is a representation of economic inequality and social decay. It is a place where the poor and the downtrodden live, a stark contrast to the wealth and prosperity of the characters in the novel. It is a place where the American Dream is not realized, but rather a place of despair and poverty.