The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

Chapter 8Chapter 8

Question #1Question #1

What has prompted Gatsby to talk freely to What has prompted Gatsby to talk freely to Nick now, when he was unwilling to do so Nick now, when he was unwilling to do so in the past?in the past?

Tom has destroyed the Jay Gatsby Tom has destroyed the Jay Gatsby identity.identity.

Question #2Question #2

What further information do we learn about What further information do we learn about Gatsby?Gatsby?

From a farm in North DakotaFrom a farm in North Dakota

He meets Dan Cody and learns about the He meets Dan Cody and learns about the “good life.”“good life.”

Question #3Question #3

What is the compliment that Nick pays What is the compliment that Nick pays Gatsby?Gatsby?“… “… you’re worth the whole damn bunch of you’re worth the whole damn bunch of them together.”them together.”Why does he feel compelled to commend Why does he feel compelled to commend Gatsby?Gatsby?He likes Gatsby even though he He likes Gatsby even though he disapproves of him.disapproves of him.He feels he may not see Gatsby again.He feels he may not see Gatsby again.

Question #4Question #4

How does Wilson view the “eyes of Dr. How does Wilson view the “eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg”?T.J. Eckleburg”?As the eyes of God are watching over As the eyes of God are watching over them.them.Does Wilson’s statement have a symbolic Does Wilson’s statement have a symbolic level for the novel as a whole?level for the novel as a whole?Perhaps they are looking over the Perhaps they are looking over the wasteland that modern society has wasteland that modern society has become.become.

Question #5Question #5

Trace the movements of Gatsby and Trace the movements of Gatsby and Wilson at the end of Chapter 8.Wilson at the end of Chapter 8.

Wilson goes to Tom’s and then to Wilson goes to Tom’s and then to Gatsby's, where he finds Gatsby in the Gatsby's, where he finds Gatsby in the pool. He shoots Gatsby and then himself.pool. He shoots Gatsby and then himself.

SettingSetting

A few hours after Chapter 7.A few hours after Chapter 7.

This chapter takes place in early morning.This chapter takes place in early morning.

Autumn is in the air ( a symbol of change Autumn is in the air ( a symbol of change and the approach of death).and the approach of death).

OpeningOpening

Nick hears Gatsby come in and goes over Nick hears Gatsby come in and goes over to talk.to talk.

Nick and Gatsby are alone for most of the Nick and Gatsby are alone for most of the chapter. chapter.

Gatsby tells the story of his youth, his Gatsby tells the story of his youth, his courtship of Daisy, and his war courtship of Daisy, and his war experiences.experiences.

CharacterizationCharacterization

Gatsby is a sympathetic character Gatsby is a sympathetic character because we can relate to wanting because we can relate to wanting something we cannot have.something we cannot have.

Daisy represents everything that Gatsby Daisy represents everything that Gatsby wanted to have and become.wanted to have and become.

He “committed himself to the following of a He “committed himself to the following of a grail” --- Marrying Daisy was his ultimate grail” --- Marrying Daisy was his ultimate goal.goal.

The Holy GrailThe Holy Grail

The grail – or the chalice used by Christ at The grail – or the chalice used by Christ at the Last Supper – is what knights of the the Last Supper – is what knights of the round table were searching for. If they round table were searching for. If they found it they would be saved.found it they would be saved.

Fitzgerald uses the word Fitzgerald uses the word grail grail to suggest to suggest that for Gatsby, marrying Daisy was a kind that for Gatsby, marrying Daisy was a kind of religious quest.of religious quest.

CharacterizationCharacterization

Daisy promised to wait for Gatsby until the Daisy promised to wait for Gatsby until the war ended, but she was too young, war ended, but she was too young, frivolous, and insecure to stay alone for frivolous, and insecure to stay alone for long.long.

To Daisy, Tom Buchanan seemed safe To Daisy, Tom Buchanan seemed safe and strong.and strong.

She loved Gatsby, but she knew nothing She loved Gatsby, but she knew nothing about him.about him.

PlotPlot

Gatsby asks the gardener to postpone Gatsby asks the gardener to postpone draining the pool because he has never draining the pool because he has never used it and wants to swim.used it and wants to swim.

This is representative of all the material This is representative of all the material things Gatsby has obtained but has never things Gatsby has obtained but has never had the time to use.had the time to use.

Nick says goodbye to Gatsby.Nick says goodbye to Gatsby.

Nick Disapproves of GatsbyNick Disapproves of Gatsby

His vulgar materialismHis vulgar materialism

His tasteless suits/clothingHis tasteless suits/clothing

His connections with Meyer WolfsheimHis connections with Meyer Wolfsheim

His love of women as shallow as DaisyHis love of women as shallow as Daisy

His pathetic efforts to win her by showing His pathetic efforts to win her by showing off what he hasoff what he has

Gatsby’s DreamGatsby’s Dream

Gatsby is not a part of the “foul dust.”Gatsby is not a part of the “foul dust.”His dream has something pure and noble His dream has something pure and noble about it which sets him apart from the about it which sets him apart from the others.others.Gatsby’s total dedication to his dream Gatsby’s total dedication to his dream makes him “worth the whole damn bunch makes him “worth the whole damn bunch put together.”put together.”When his dream is gone, he has nothing When his dream is gone, he has nothing to live for.to live for.

““Rotten Crowd”Rotten Crowd”

Tom, Daisy, and JordanTom, Daisy, and Jordan

Selfish Selfish

MaterialisticMaterialistic

CruelCruel

Lack spiritual valuesLack spiritual values

Lack compassionLack compassion

Nick and JordanNick and Jordan

Nick goes to NY but cannot work.Nick goes to NY but cannot work.

Jordan calls for a date, but Nick refuses.Jordan calls for a date, but Nick refuses.

He’s tired of the “whole rotten bunch.”He’s tired of the “whole rotten bunch.”

PlotPlot

Nick takes an early train back to West Nick takes an early train back to West Egg.Egg.

He thinks about Myrtle’s death and tells us He thinks about Myrtle’s death and tells us what George Wilson was doing at the time what George Wilson was doing at the time of the accident until the present.of the accident until the present.

Nick’s information comes from Michaelis Nick’s information comes from Michaelis and newspaper reports.and newspaper reports.

PlotPlot

Wilson and Michaelis sat up all night.Wilson and Michaelis sat up all night.

To George, the eyes of Dr. T.J Eckleburg To George, the eyes of Dr. T.J Eckleburg are the all-seeing, all-judging eyes of God.are the all-seeing, all-judging eyes of God.

Wilson now believes the car that hit Myrtle Wilson now believes the car that hit Myrtle was driven by her lover.was driven by her lover.

Wilson has decided to play god himself Wilson has decided to play god himself and avenge the murder of his wife.and avenge the murder of his wife.

He just needs to ask Tom about the car.He just needs to ask Tom about the car.

The TragedyThe Tragedy

When Nick returns to West Egg, Gatsby is When Nick returns to West Egg, Gatsby is dead – the tragedy is complete.dead – the tragedy is complete.

Wilson found out from Tom where Gatsby Wilson found out from Tom where Gatsby is, goes to Gatsby’s, shoots him, and then is, goes to Gatsby’s, shoots him, and then himself.himself.

Without his dream, Gatsby was already Without his dream, Gatsby was already dead in a sense when Wilson shot him.dead in a sense when Wilson shot him.