- Gatsby’s actions in preparing for Daisy’s arrival seem both flamboyant and absurd. What does he do? Why? Gatsby prepares for Daisy’s arrival by sending a man to mow Nick’s lawn, buys an innumerable amount of flowers, gets twelve lemon cakes and Gatsby himself arrives in a “white flannel suit, sliver shirt, and gold-colored tie. Gatsby does all of this in order to impress Daisy, after not seeing her for five years; he wants to show her that he is able to offer Daisy more than ever before and more than her husband Tom every could.
- Discuss Gatsby’s actions once Daisy arrives. How do we know he is nervous? How does he try to impress her? Once Daisy arrives, Gatsby is nervous, shy and terrified. Initially Gatsby believes this whole idea to be terribly but Nick convinces him otherwise and to stop acting like a child. We know he is nervous since Gatsby while at the door was “pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets” and when he says to Nick “This is a terrible mistake. ” Eventually, as the chapter progresses, Gatsby becomes confident and no longer nervous. Gatsby tries impressing Daisy by giving Daisy a tour of his house, taking her into “the Mertons College Library”, “through the period bedrooms swathed in rose and lavender silk and vivid with new flowers” and also shows Daisy his beautiful shirts he has sent to him from a man in England. Gatsby also has Mr.Klipspringer play the piano for them as they sit on the couch.
- Toward the end of the chapter, Nick attempts to explain “the expression of bewilderment that had come back into Gatsby’s face. ” What explanation does Nick give? Why, in his opinion is Daisy not at fault? * Nick says the reason for this “expression of bewilderment” that has come back to Gatsby’s face is due to the fact that the quality of his happiness presently has some doubt to it. As if his expectations over the past 5 years, in his dreams, may have been too high, therefore there is some slight disappointment because he was expecting something more. Nick does not blame Daisy for this because it is Gatsby’s own personal illusion of how the situation would turn out, is beyond Daisy or anyone else’s control. Gatsby put so much passion, time and detail into all of this; no one could live up to or surpass that type of expectation, especially when it has been considered for 5 years.
- Describe Daisy’s reaction during the course of her meeting with Gatsby. Throughout the meeting with Gatsby, Daisy remained relatively calm, but she was also pleasantly surprised and very happy. Eventually, Daisy did reach a point of tears twice; she was so filled up with joy about seeing Gatsby after so long.
- Has Nick been affected by the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy? I what way? Nick has been affected by their meeting because now he is one more person that is aware of the feelings Gatsby and Daisy share for each other. Having this knowledge, he will most likely be obligated to keep this affair secret and hidden from Daisy’s husband Tom, and anyone else who could jeopardize Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship. Although Nick may actually feel happy for Daisy, this situation overall impacts him negatively.
- What was Gatsby’s real name? Why and when had he changed it? Gatsby’s real name was James Gatz. Gatsby changed his name when he was seventeen because he had witnessed Dan Cody’s yacht drop anchor over the flat of a Lake and kill him.
- In what way was Dan Cody involved in Gatsby’s destiny? Dan Cody was involved in Gatsby’s destiny in that, it was what happened to Cody that led Gatsby to no longer drink liquor, and it was from Cody that Gatsby inherited money, a legacy of $25,000.
- Why does Tom attend Gatsby’s party? How does this scene reveal the contrast between Gatsby and Tom? Tom attends Gatsby’s party because a woman invited herself, Mr. Sloan and Tom altogether to Gatsby’s next party, and Gatsby said he would be delighted to have them come over. This scene reveals the contrast between Gatsby and Tom in that Gatsby is much more friendly and hospitable compared to Tom, who immediately becomes suspicious the moment Gatsby mentions he knows Daisy.
- What is deeply ironic in Tom’s statement, “…I may be old-fashioned in my ideas, but women run around too much these days to suit me”? The irony in this statement is, is that Tom within this statement, implies that he does not respect or like women who fool around with other men or flirt, when in fact he himself is having an affair as a married man, with another married women. Yet, Daisy, his own wife, has not yet to be shown fooling around with other men. Tom’s statement is hypocritical and poses as a double standard.
- Note the reactions of Tom and Daisy at different times during Gatsby’s party. Did they used to enjoy themselves? Daisy did not truly enjoy the party unless she was alone with Gatsby or if she was being introduced to some of the celebrities. Otherwise she felt out of place and uncomfortable with the crowd. Tom was preoccupied between what he thought was going on with Daisy and Gatsby, and he felt uncomfortable when Gatsby introduced Tom to others as “polo player. ”
- What suspicions does Tom have about Gatsby? What does he vow to do? Tom is suspicious of who Gatsby is, and what he does. Tom vows to find out who Gatsby really is. ) What do Nick and Gatsby talk about at the party? Nick and Gatsby speak about Daisy; if she enjoyed the party and what Gatsby believes she should do regarding her relationship with Tom.
- What is Gatsby expecting of Daisy that prompts Nick to warn him, “I wouldn’t ask too much of her…You can’t repeat the past”? Gatsby expects Daisy to break off her marriage with Tom by telling him “I never loved you. ” After this, Gatsby wants Daisy to come with him back to Louisville so that they can be married from her house, as if it were five years ago.
- Note the use Fitzgerald makes of the weather as a background for significant events. Point out examples in this chapter and in previous chapters. Fitzgerald in this chapter uses the hot summer weather to emphasize the intense event of Tom finding out about Daisy’s affair. The argument sprung from this discovery was heated which directly correlates to their outside environment. In chapter 5, the rain that occurred was symbolic of Gatsby and Daisy first meeting in five years, as they both became nervous and did not know what to say or how to act around one another.
- Gatsby has made some changes in his lifestyle that so concerned Nick that he went to check on him. What changes do you note? Why did he make them? * Gatsby made the adjustments to fire some of his servants, and stopped having as many parties and guest over his home. Gatsby did this in order to prevent people from talking about Daisy’s visits. He didn’t want to take any chances of having Tom find out or have Daisy feel as if she was being judged. 3
- Analyze Daisy’s attitude toward her child as evidence in this chapter and in Chapter 1. Is she a good mother? Explain why Gatsby looked “at the child with surprise. ” Daisy is a good mother to her daughter in that she refers to her as “blessed pre-cious” and is kind to her and obliviously loves her. However, it can be argued that she is not a good mother because she is having an affair with Gatsby. Gatsby looks at the child with surprise because until Daisy’s daughter is visibly in front of him, he couldn’t truly accept/believe that Daisy was a mother. The fact that Daisy has a child must be surreal for Gatsby.
- With whom does Tom talk on the telephone early in the chapter? About what? * On the phone with Tom is Myrtle Wilson, Tom’s mistress. Tom tells her that he will no longer sell his car to her/her husband and that he does not want to be bothered by her anymore about meeting each other for lunch that afternoon.
- What startling discovery does Tom make shortly after lunch? Tom discovers that Gatsby did not attend Oxford University in England, but rather Oxford in New Mexico.
- What does Gatsby mean when he says that Daisy’s voice is “full of money”? Why does Fitzgerald put those words in Gatsby’s mouth and not Nick’s? Figuratively speaking, Gatsby means that Daisy’s voice is rich, and possesses charm, and brings people joy (similar to money). Fitzgerald has Gatsby say these words in order to show that Gatsby is growing more and more infatuated with Daisy and that he knows her quite well and does care for her.
- What arrangements are made regarding the passengers of each car on the trip to the city? Why? Tom drives Gatsby’s car and Nick and Jordan ride with him. Gatsby drives in Tom’s car with Daisy alone. Initially, Tom wanted Daisy to ride with him alone in Gatsby’s car, however, Daisy insisted in driving with Gatsby alone.
- Eyes play a significant role in this chapter. The look that Daisy and Gatsby shared showed Tom that Daisy loves Gatsby. The eyes’ of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg drew Nick’s attention so that he was able to witness Myrtle Wilson was heading towards the car. Myrtle’s glaring eyes towards Jordan Baker revealed the jealousy she possessed since she believed Jordan was Daisy.
- Explain Nick’s statement paralleling Tom and Wilson, “…it occurred to me that there was no difference between men, in intelligence or race, so profound as the difference between the sick and the well. ” Refer to the text and explain what prompted Nick to say this. Nick says this the moment George Wilson finds out that Myrtle was cheating on him because he realized that no matter if you are rich or poor, sick or healthy, you scan still be cheated on, you can still be hurt; clearly since both Tom, wealthy man, and George, a poor man, were both cheated on by their spouses.
- What does Gatsby do that makes Nick want “to get up and slap him on the back”? Why does Nick feel this way? Gatsby continues to say that he went to Oxford college in Europe, when Tom already knows that this is not true at all. Nick feels this way to probably protect Gatsby in some way, and also he wants him to stop speaking most likely to keep the situation tension free and wants to avoid possible confrontation.
- Does Daisy know what love is? Whom does she really love? I think Daisy does know what love is, and I believe she really loves both Tom and Gatsby. However, it’s a different type of love that she feels for both. Tom is the father of her child, and has been the only man in her life for five years; yet, Gatsby treats Daisy so well and reminds Daisy of her youth and days when she used to be happier.
- In what way is each of the major characters involved in the tragedy that occurs at the end of this chapter? Daisy is involved because she is the one who drove the car that hit and killed Myrtle. Gatsby was in the car with Daisy and tried to get her turn the car around. Myrtle was Tom’s mistress, who met Nick who was in the car with Tom when the accident happened.
- Is there any significance in the fact that the day is Nick’s birthday? The fact that it is Nick’s birthday is a symbol that his youth no longer exists, that the time has passed, and so has his innocence. This occurs simultaneously with the events that occur since it is also the end of Gatsby’s dream to be together with Daisy. In a way it propels his realization that he should take on greater responsibilities and grow up.
- Why is it necessary for the author to introduce a new character, Michaelis, at this point in the novel? It is necessary for the author to introduce Michaelis at this point because he is one of the few people who knows exactly how the accident occurred. In a way he serves as a pair of eyes, by being a witness to the events. Also, he is a character who is not associated with the other major characters or their current drama which allows him to have a whole new idea and perspective of the situation.
- Explain what Nick means when he says, “…suddenly I guessed at the truth”? Nick had an idea as to how Myrtle was killed, and assumed that Daisy was the one driving, but figured that Gatsby would take the blame for her.
- At the end of chapter 7 Nick observes Gatsby, Tom and Daisy after the accident. What conclusions does he reach? Nick realizes that although Tom and Daisy are not happy, they are not totally unhappy either, and that there is still some form of intimacy there, but Gatsby will always wait for Daisy, but he has empty hopes. Nick feels that Gatsby is wasting his time, because nothing will happen.
- Explain the last paragraph of Chapter 7. In the last paragraph, Nick observes Gatsby waiting outside Daisy’s home waiting not only for her to go to bed, but for Daisy herself. Nick says “ I walked away and left him standing there in the moon light – watching over nothing” because he feels lost hope for what Gatsby is waiting for; as if Gatsby is wasting his time.
Evaluation of the Great Gatsby
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