The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg primarily symbolize what?

• A. Moral decay
• B. Civilization and progress
• C. Divine watchfulness
• D. Gossip and spectacle

Answer: (A)

Symbolism at play here is divine watchfulness. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg appear on a weathered billboard overlooking the valley of ashes, a stark setting that contrasts wealth and moral emptiness. That gaze functions as a reminder that a higher power, or a universal moral order, is always watching the characters’ actions—even when they act as if no judgment exists. This framing makes divine oversight the strongest reading: the eyes cast a steady, indicting gaze over the glittering world of Gatsby and the careless behavior of the era, underscoring the sense that spiritual or ethical scrutiny persists beyond human concerns. The notion of moral decay is closely tied to this symbol, since the gaze exposes the hollowness at the heart of a society chasing wealth, but the primary idea it conveys is that some form of judgment is always present.