Great Gatsby Ch. 7-9

What was Gatsby’s reaction to Daisy’s child?

He looks at her with surprise

What did Wilson do to Myrtle? Why?

Wilson locked Myrtle in her room until they are able to get away from the area. He suspects she is having an affair.

Why do the four drive into the city on such a hot afternoon?

Daisy says, "It’s so hot and everything’s so confused. Let’s go to town." She wants to change the subject and not have a confrontation between Tom and Gatsby, but more than that, the city represents a place where one can get away from personal problems by being swept away by the busy, exciting city life.

What does Gatsby think about Daisy’s relationship with Tom?

He truly believes that she never did love him.

What is Daisy’s reaction to both men?

She is obviously torn. She wants the escape that Gatsby provides, but she recognizes that a permanent relationship with him would not work. She needs Tom, who is just as superficial and "careless" as she is. She also agrees with the one who bullies her the most, Tom.

What happens on the way home from New York?

Gatsby and Daisy are driving together in GAtsby’s car. Daisy is driving to help calm herself after the confrontation between the two men. At Wilson’s place, Myrtle runs out into the road. Daisy runs into her with Gatsby’s car, sees that she has been hit, but instead of stopping at the accident, continues home.

How do these people react to Myrtle’s death?

Wilson feels guilty as though he is responsible for her having the affair. Tom’s first instinct is to protect himself by telling Wilson that the yellow car was not his. Nick feels sick and wants to be left alone. Gatsby is concerned for Daisy.

What is the true relationship between Daisy and Tom?

They are birds of a feather. Daisy is a fairly weak person and tom is very domineering but they are both "careless" people. Neither one takes responsbility for his own actions.

What does Gatsby tell Nick about his past? is it true?

He says he met Daisy and fell in love with her. He pretended to be able to take care of her, but he couldn’t. She loved him, too, at that time. He went to war and then Oxford. Daisy wanted him to come home, but he couldn’t or wouldn’t. Daisy, under pressure to marry well, married Tom. yes, it is true in basic facts.

What does Michaelis believe caused Myrtle to run?

He thinks she was running away from Wilson.

Why did she run?

She thought Tom was in the yellow car because she had seen him in it earlier. She was running towards Tom.

Why does Wilson believe that Gatsby killed Myrtle?

Tom told him that the yellow car was Gatsby’s

What does Wilson do

Wilson kills Gatsby and himself.

Why couldn’t Nick get anyone to come to Gatsby’s funeral?

Gatsby had no close friends. All of the party people were too shallow to hardly even meet him, much less become friends or care enough to attend his funeral. Tom and Daisy had gone out of town. Wolfshiem was so shady he couldn’t be seen at a funeral of someone who had been murdered. Klipspringer is more concerned about getting his gym shoes back than Gatsby’s death.

Who is Henry C. Gatz?

He is Gatsby’s father

What is the book Henry Gatz shows Nick? Why is it important to the novel?

It is a copy of Hopalong Cassidy with one of Gatsby’s personal schedules in it. It shows Gatsby’s planning, his desire to work to get ahead, and his spirit for romantic adventure. All of these characteristics are classically American characteristics which on a symbolic level lift Gatsby from being just another character to representing the good ol’ American spirit.

What happens between Nick and Jordan Baker?

Nick breaks off the relationship. He just can’t stand the ease with which she (and Tom and Daisy) let things slip by. They are too irresponsible for his moral sensibilities.

What does Nick say about people like Daisy and Tom?

He says they were careless–they smashed up things and creatures and retreated back to whatever kept them together, and they let other people clean up the mess they had made.