When Nick arrives the next day Tom is on the phone with his apparent mistress. When Tom enters the room Daisy sends him to make drinks, then kisses Gatsby and tells him that she loves him. After a brief visit from her child, Daisy suggests that they all go into town. After Tom sees the way Gatsby and Daisy act towards each other he convinces himself that there are feelings there and makes the decision that they will all go to town. Gatsby drives Tom's car and Tom drives Gatsby's car into town. Tom stops at Wilson's garage and learned of Myrtle's plans. Tom panics, he believes that he is losing both his wife and mistress at the same time.
In town Tom starts to verbally attack Gatsby. He questions him about being an Oxford man initially, but then Tom finally comes out and says that Gatsby is trying to take his wife from him. Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy loves Gatsby and has never loved Tom. Daisy is very indecisive throughout this whole argument. Tom confidently tells Gatsby to take Daisy home. Tom, Nick, and Jordan leave after Gatsby and Daisy. On the way they see a scene. They learn that someone has hit and killed Myrtle than drove away. They learn that it was Gatsby and Daisy. At Tom's house Tom comforts Daisy and treats her far more kindly kindly than Gatsby expected. Nick finds Gatsby in the bushes outside Tom's house. Nick learns that Daisy was the one driving the car. Gatsby insists that he needs to stay and wait outside of the house, in case Daisy needs him.
Gatsby constantly tries to relive the past. This theme reoccurs throughout the novel, and this chapter really brings it out. Gatsby is in love with Daisy, however he is really in love with the memory of Daisy. When Gatsby looks at the green light across the dock it brings back all of his memories of Daisy. Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy has never loved Tom because Gatsby only knows what he remembers: being the sole object of Daisy's affection.
Gatsby becomes obsessive over trying to win Daisy which ultimately compromises his person. We have seen this already throughout the novel. The shadiness of his companion Wolfsheim has an impact on Gatsby. We see this with the poor mannered men that Gatsby replaces his butlers with. Gatsby would rather surround himself with these people than good hearted people if it means he will be closer to Daisy. He will even give up his lavish parties just to try and impress Daisy. However, we see the full extent at the end of chapter 7. After killing Myrtle the only thing concerning Gatsby is if Daisy is alright not that he was just involved in murdering another person.
Fitzgerald has some wonderful examples of figurative language throughout this chapter. Daisy is constanty complaining about the heat, even some of the other characters do as well. This eludes to the impending drama that is about to unfold between all parties involved. Daisy cannot stand the heat, and she cannot stand when Gatsby and Tom go after each other as well. When Daisy and Jordan sit on the couch and say that they can't move has additional meaning as well. This represents that all this adultery and lying, in fact the entire lifestyle these people have adopted and has pushed them into a position where they "can't move".
Biographies:
http://www.pbs.org/kteh/amstorytellers/bios.html
L.A. Women driver's ban:
http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2010/02/23/1920-proposal-to-ban-female-drivers/
Discussion Question:
· 1. When the group is going into town and they encounter a
sickly Wilson, it is obvious to Nick that Wilson discovered Myrtle’s
infidelity. Tom seems not to notice, even though he made a similar
discovery about Daisy only a short time before. Is Tom
really oblivious to Wilson’s deduction, or is he just trying to save
face?
· 2. When Tom and Gatsby are arguing over Daisy in the hotel,
Daisy says very little for herself, and is reluctant to make a clean
break with Tom as Gatsby urges her to. Do you think Daisy is still in
love with Tom, and perhaps wanted to maintain relationships
with both men? How does her forced choice between them contrast with
the unchallenged way Tom had both a wife and a mistress?
· 3. Do you think either Gatsby or Tom truly loves Daisy?
4. Why is it important to the scene for Nick and Jordan to be there during the confrontation?
5. Would Gatsby really take the blame for Daisy hitting Myrtle?
6. Why
doesn't Gatsby feel he can confront Tom in Tom's house? Why does Tom
start with personal attacks on Gatsby before addressing the issue of
Gatsby and Daisy's affair?
