In the beginning of Chapter 7, we find out that Gatsby has fired all of his servants; it is clear that Gatsby’s decision making is contingent on Daisy’s desires and needs. Because Daisy comes over Gatsby’s house quite often, she is afraid of Gatsby’s servants gossiping; it is interesting that Gatsby is willing to do anything necessary in order to appease Daisy. We later find out that Gatsby was invited to Daisy’s house; this foreshadows what is to come next — Daisy is supposed to tell Tom that she never loved him. Interestingly enough, the day is broiling hot; as we know, Fitzgerald loves to play with setting, so it is important to note that the heat in this Chapter symbolizes the tension that has brewed between Daisy and Gatsby’s affair. This tension has multiple layers: for one, Gatsby is so close to achieving his dream of finally solidifying the relationship with Daisy; secondly, Daisy must make a tough decision (which she is known for not being able to do) and break off the marriage with Tom, along with telling him that she never loved him; and in general, this tension indicates how close Gatsby is to achieving his idea of the American Dream.
And yet I couldn’t believe that they would choose this occasion for a scene” (114).
This quote highlights the fact that Daisy does not possess morals, nor does she possess any social decency; although she invites Gatsby so that she may supposedly break her marriage off with Tom, Nick comments on how bizarre and distasteful it is to invite Gatsby (the man Daisy is having an affair with) over to her own house as though it is nothing out of the ordinary. Again, this also evidences how Daisy (and Tom) are obsessed with entertainment; as we see by the end of this Chapter, Daisy clearly uses Gatsby’s presence as a means of obtaining some kind of entertainment. Considering her lavish lifestyle does not fulfill her for long-term, she uses Gatsby as a means to escape her somewhat dull marriage.
When Nick arrives, he comments on the fact that Tom’s house was “shadowed well with awnings, was dark and cool” (115). You may not have noticed this before, but Fitzgerald describes Tom and Daisy’s house like this for a reason; for one, it is the complete opposite of the broiling heat and tension outside. Tom, the stereotypical East Egger who possesses all the wealth and power imaginable, has been able to keep a stringent amount of control in his household; with that being said, he has been able to keep the heat and tension out of his house, which highlights on the fact that their house is orderly and set up to Tom’s social ranking and liking. We also see this description present in Chapter 1, when Nick goes over Tom and Daisy’s house for dinner. There is a scene where Tom slams the doors shut, and immediately the air that blows both Jordan and Daisy’s dresses around stops, and there is an undeniable level of control and order that is restored to his household; Tom loves order and control, so it is no wonder why there is no tension or heat in his household. In a way, this highlights on his need for a social hierarchy — where he is inevitably on top and in control.
Also note that Jordan and Daisy are always dressed in white. As we discussed, this is ironic considering white suggests purity, and considering Jordan and Daisy are far from pure, it highlights on the fact that both women hide behind their appearance and their wealth. Jordan is certainly not pure being that she gossips, she cheated in order to achieve her high level of status as a golf champion, and clearly dates men who do not see through her in order to conceal her lies and deceit; likewise, Daisy is certainly not pure being that she uses Gatsby as a source of entertainment, and as we see later on in the novel, does not even consider his funeral, nor does she call Nick back! Fitzgerald loves to play with color in this novel: thus far, he has used green, yellow, white, and gray in order to reference different characteristics and emotions.
We later see the deceit and corruption that envelops East Eggers; for example, when Tom leaves because Daisy demands him to go fetch drinks, she kisses Gatsby and tells him that she loves him. Some of you may take her words as truth, but you cannot deny the fact that this scene is similar to what Tom and Myrtle do in Chapter 2 (after Wilson leaves the room to fetch chairs). Therefore, both Daisy & Tom are careless people, as Nick suggests in Chapter 9; they play with peoples’ emotions, and while both Gatsby and Myrtle take their emotions in good faith, they end up tricked and surprised. After Daisy kisses Gatsby, she claims that she doesn’t care that she has love for Gatsby; however, all too soon, she changes her mind and remembers the heat (or the tension) that Gatsby’s affair is contributing to her life: “Then she remembered the heat and sat down guiltily on the couch” (117). This connects back to Chapter 4, where we find out how Gatsby and Daisy initially met; although she received a letter from Gatsby (most likely begging for her love and telling her to break off her engagement with Tom), Daisy marries Tom and dismantles the letter. Again, Daisy is clearly not capable of handling the heat (tension), and making tough, life-changing decisions. A lot of this has to do with her need to behave as a “pretty, little fool” which highlights the lack of independence and self-sufficiency that women had during the 1920s; in addition, this also reflects the fact that Daisy has created a life with Tom (a man that is on the same level of social status), and her classist nature.
When we see Daisy’s child in this chapter, as readers, we realize that Gatsby cannot recreate the past: “I don’t think he had ever really believed in its existence before” (117). We discussed whether Gatsby is delusional or just hopeful/ambitious at this point; some of us agreed that he was delusional because he thinks that he can recreate the past from five years prior — even though Daisy not only has a current marriage in place with Tom, but she also has a child with Tom as well. Even though Daisy and Tom’s child rarely appears throughout the novel, it is clear that Fitzgerald’s purpose to even put the child in this novel is to evidence that Gatsby cannot recreate the past; much has happened in five years, which is completely out of his control.
The heat starts becoming more intensified as the meeting in Daisy’s house prolongs; for example, Daisy starts going off on a nervous rant where she states the following: “What’ll we do with ourselves this afternoon…and the day after that, and the next thirty years?” (118). Contrary to Gatsby, Daisy is obsessed with the future rather than the past; as stated previously, her lavish lifestyle bores her in a tremendous way, making her flighty and restless. She is constantly looking forward for something new to come in her life, considering her marriage with Tom was simply finalized for practical reasons, and because they are from the same social class. Therefore, this highlights the fact that Daisy is not only restless and flighty, but she uses Gatsby for pure entertainment and to release herself from her same, mundane routine. Gatsby, on the other hand, is obsessed with recreating the past; in effect, we can already assume that both of their desires and wants are in complete opposition with one another.
Daisy also states that Gatsby resembles an “advertisement of a man” (119). She doesn’t say what man exactly, but the fact that she equates Gatsby with an advertisement is all too startling. For one, Daisy does not say anything about Gatsby’s inner self; instead, she mainly concentrates on what he is wearing. This not only exemplifies her main concerns (wealth and appearance), but it also proves that Gatsby’s facade as Old Money is working on Daisy, for she recognizes him and takes him seriously. Tom realizes this and is startled by Gatsby and Daisy’s affair, being that he witnessed Daisy tell Gatsby that she loved him; he inadvertently pulls them away from one another by taking Daisy’s suggestion to go to town to the next level — they will go to the Plaza Hotel.
Daisy’s Voice
“Her voice is full of money,” Gatsby said suddenly. (120).
Before they leave to the Plaza Hotel, Gatsby describes Daisy’s voice as being “full of money” (121). Some of you said that Gatsby does have a real connection with Daisy, and that he is not interested in climbing the social ladder (meaning he is not interested in obtaining wealth, or being on the same playing field as Daisy). However, it is all too clear that Gatsby is interested in Daisy’s voice — a voice that resembles the sound of money. Similarly to what an advertisement does, Daisy’s voice has a “jingle” and a “cymbals’ song” to it; like an advertisement, Daisy’s voice draws Gatsby in and hypnotizes him. It becomes clear in Chapter 8 that one of the main reasons for Gatsby’s interest in Daisy is that she was the first “nice” girl he ever met — meaning Daisy was the first rich, East Egger that Gatsby had ever been romantically involved with. Considering how ambitious Gatsby is to be wealthy as a seventeen-year-old boy and how he is haunted by characteristics of the Valley of Ashes (“grotesque” and “fantastic” conceits), it is all too obvious that Gatsby is attracted to Daisy’s social status and wealth. This is not to say that Gatsby is a vain, vapid and superficial human being; however, one of the traits that makes Daisy so alluring to Gatsby is that she embodies the characteristics that go alongside the 1920s American Dream — status, wealth, recognition and prestige. Therefore, if Gatsby is with someone that possesses these Old Money and aristocratic characteristics, this would mean that he too is on the same playing field as Daisy, and has therefore achieved the luxury and sentiments that come with the 1920s American Dream. In effect, it is EXTREMELY important to note that this novel is much more than a love story; it is a story about the American Dream, its alluring qualities, and how it is almost impossible to attain (at least in Fitzgerald’s eyes).
Wilson – Valley of Ashes
Tom drives in Gatsby’s car to the Plaza Hotel because he wants to literally take Gatsby’s place (being that he is quite aware that Gatsby is having an affair with Daisy); in addition, Tom is incredibly spiteful, arrogant, and needs to maintain control, so taking Gatsby’s car is just done to rattle and spite Gatsby. Jordan, Tom, and Gatsby, ironically enough, must pass through the Valley of Ashes (a setting the wealth has created!) on the way to the luxurious Plaza Hotel. Fitzgerald sets up these settings like this on purpose, in order to show the blatant disregard the wealth has for the poor. Wilson’s face has turned “green”, and he admits to Tom that he is a wreck and feeling miserably; in addition, he is taking Myrtle and moving away — something he admits that he should have done a long time ago. He has “wised up” to the affair, but it is clear that he doesn’t know that Tom has been having an affair with Myrtle. However, Myrtle sees Tom in Gatsby’s car which is key in that this is the same car that kills her. Note that all along, Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes are brooding over this whole situation; Tom has created a mess: he has caused Wilson to be physically ill, he has inadvertently broken up a marriage, and plays with Myrtle’s feelings to the point where she actually thinks Tom will take her away from the Valley of Ashes (which explains why she ran out to Gatsby’s car to begin with).
Nick also notes that there is a profound difference between men who are healthy and men who are physically ill; although Tom and Wilson have just “wised up” to the fact that both of their wives are having affairs, Wilson’s take on the affair is far more traumatic and paralyzing than Tom’s take on it. Tom is just furious that he is losing control of his wife; Wilson, on the other hand, is consumed with heartbreaking guilt. Here is a man that simply wants to provide financial stability to his wife; although we may not agree with how he handles Myrtle’s affair (he locks her up until they have gone away from the Valley for good), it is all too clear that his guilt for not being a stable, financial provider has made him turn “green” and ill. Tom, on the other hand, is completely indifferent and by the end of Chapter 9, has no problem having a glass of whiskey and laughing off the affair as a complete joke.
Plaza Hotel – Ending Scene
As predicted, Daisy is incapable of making tough decisions. After finding out that Gatsby is involved in organized crime, she revokes her love for him and tells Tom that she cannot stand it anymore. Why do you think this is? We discussed in class that Daisy is not willing to accept Gatsby for who he really is; although he lies to her, he will not be taken seriously if he doesn’t put on this facade of appearing as “Old Money” or aristocratic. The fact that she revokes her love and admiration of Gatsby with a snap of a finger (after finding out about his involvement in crime) indicates that the only way Gatsby and Daisy could be together is if he is born into wealth (Old Money). One might argue and say that Daisy was right to act in this way because Gatsby’s involvement in crime in not attractive nor pleasing; however, Daisy is not willing to give Gatsby a chance. His facade has been demolished. Now that he no longer appears as Old Money, the affair has been broken and Daisy simply wants to go home. After Tom exposes him, Nick describes Gatsby’s as though he had just “killed a man” (134); this emphasizes that Gatsby’s chance to achieve the American Dream has most probably been dismantled. Tom dismantles a dream that Gatsby has been holding onto for five years in less than an hour at the Plaza Hotel. Tom then sends both Daisy and Gatsby home in Gatsby’s “circus wagon”; this last action is incredibly cruel in that Tom is just being spiteful at this point. He knows now that nothing will amount between Gatsby and Daisy, and at this point, he just wants to shove Gatsby’s failed dream in his face. Although he is giving Gatsby alone time with Daisy, he knows that Daisy will reject him — which makes this last scene all too painful to read.
In addition, Daisy admits that she loved Tom during their marriage. This again highlights that Gatsby cannot recreate the past, and perhaps he is asking for too much. Gatsby and Tom also see things differently; Gatsby puts a wealth of faith in the five years that he and Daisy were separated. He thinks that they loved each other all that time; it is definitely true on Gatsby’s part, but it is obvious that Daisy forgot about Gatsby after her marriage with Tom. Tom sees this pining for five years as being meaningless, and completely delusional. They were not actually seeing each other during the past five years, so what does he care? This means nothing to him. Daisy later tells Gatsby that he “wants too much” (132); perhaps this is true, but we love Gatsby for it. The fact that he wants too much symbolizes his ambition, and his unwillingness to let go of the past — both a negative and positive trait wrapped in one.
At the end of this scene, Nick then suddenly remembers that it is his birthday! Ironically enough, he forgot; as we discussed in class, on a superficial level, this highlights the fact that up until this point, Nick has had no serious romantic encounters nor dreams. The fact that he is thirty is somewhat depressing because he has not exactly made a life for himself. On a deeper level, though, this also symbolizes the introduction of a new “portentous” and “menacing” decade. Although this novel was published in 1925, Fitzgerald was onto something; the new decade will be threatening and dangerous indeed, considering the Great Depression and what the 1929 Stock Market Crash attributed to the U.S. To a large degree, Fitzgerald is stating that sooner or later 1920s American society must grow up and take responsibility for their actions! Loose morals, counterfeit bonds, uninsured banks, organized crime — all of these traits catch up with the U.S. and lead them into a horrific decade. Interestingly enough, this comes right after the Plaza Hotel scene which is very fitting; considering the careless nature of both Tom and Daisy, it is all too fitting to suggest that society must grow up and take responsibility for their fruitless actions.
We briefly glazed over the fact that this also alludes to the recent market crash that happened in this country; in a way, this book is very relevant to our times. Although it may not seem that way, we are dealing with very similar issues that the U.S. dealt with in the 1930s — and due to very similar reasons as well!
Myrtle’s Death
One can argue that Myrtle dies due to the fact that Tom leads her on; Myrtle actually believes that Tom will actually take her out of the Valley of Ashes at some point. Unfortunately, Tom sees no future in Myrtle; their affair is in place to simply enlarge his ego and to give him more control. Fitzgerald describes Myrtle’s death in a gruesome way; he states that her “left breast was swinging loose like a flap” (137). One cannot deny the significance in such an image; “swinging loose like a flap” relates back to the lack of ethics that flappers had during the 1920s. By no means am I condemning flappers, but the new woman, in Fitzgerald’s eyes, was swinging a bit too loose and was not taking responsibility for her actions, nor following any moral conduct. A bit sexist, but we see this in Myrtle’s adulterous behavior; perhaps then, Fitzgerald is commenting on the fact that Myrtle’s loose behavior attributed to her death. It is also significant to note that Myrtle choked on her own American Dream — to leave the Valley of Ashes for good: she “choked a little in giving up the tremendous vitality she had stored for so long” (137).
When Tom realizes that Myrtle has died, one can argue that he only stays around in order to extinguish any rumors that Myrtle’s death is connected back to him. Although he cries, we question his emotions; does he cry because he has lost control of Myrtle forever? Does he cry because he has lost an outlet that enlarges his ego? This is up to you to decide. However, it is all too clear that Tom is a hypocrite; he calls Gatsby a coward for not stopping his car, but it is really Tom that is a coward for not telling Myrtle that their relationship is futile. In a way, one can argue that Tom inadvertently kills Myrtle by leading her along; the whole reason she jumps to Tom’s (Gatsby’s) car is because she actually thinks that Tom will rescue her and take her away! Again, these people are careless; they play with peoples’ emotions out of pure entertainment. Also note that the only time Wilson actually gets business is when his own wife dies… signifying that these people can only participate and receive the benefits that consumerism gives them if they are suffering or experiencing death/loss…
End of Chapter 7
We see Gatsby’s immense amount of hope and ambition by the end of this Chapter; although he has clearly lost Daisy forever, he still waits outside of their house until 4 a.m. just in case Tom abuses Daisy. Even though Gatsby may be delusional, we cannot help but notice his deep sentimentality and the impenetrable amount of passion and ambition he has in achieving his idea of the American Dream. Other people would have given up a long time ago, but Gatsby refuses to give up on his idea of reinventing the past. He will stop at nothing until it is done. Nick is disgusted by this behavior, but we see in the next Chapter that he actually loves and admires Gatsby for his incredibly ambitious and passionate qualities.
We also see by the end of this Chapter that Daisy and Tom are conspiring; obviously at this point we know that Daisy killed Myrtle. Yet, they are acting so nonchalantly about a murder that was clearly Daisy’s fault. This highlights how cruel and careless the East Eggers are, and how they have no respect for peoples’ feelings and lives. They run people down and are quick to have a meal, and get over it. We also see that Tom and Daisy are married simply because of their social status; they weren’t happy but they weren’t unhappy either. Because they married due to practical reasons, they have simply evolved and gotten used to one another. They are comfortable, if that makes any sense. This again highlights on the fact that Daisy would have probably never left Tom; why would she when she is comfortable with Tom and has everything already made? Remember that Daisy is not capable of making tough decisions.
Questions to Consider:
Do you agree with Fitzgerald’s critique that I mentioned in the beginning-middle of the post?
What do you make of the ending of this Chapter (specifically the way Gatsby behaves and the way Tom & Daisy behave)?
Comment on Nick’s realization that today was his birthday, and what you make of it.
Comment on why you think Gatsby is attracted to Daisy; use the “her voice is full of money” quote in your analysis.
