The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

Chapter 7Chapter 7

The Party’s overThe Party’s over It was when curiosity It was when curiosity

about Gatsby was at about Gatsby was at its highest that the its highest that the lights in his house lights in his house failed to go on one failed to go on one Saturday night.Saturday night.

As obscurely as it had As obscurely as it had begun, his career as begun, his career as Trimalchio was over.Trimalchio was over.

Trimalchio Trimalchio is a character in the Roman “novel”

The Satyricon by Petronius. Trimalchio is a freedman who through hard work

and perseverance has attained power and wealth. His wife is Fortunata,

a former prostitute.

Trimalchio Trimalchio is known for throwing lavish dinner Trimalchio is known for throwing lavish dinner

parties, where his numerous servants bring course parties, where his numerous servants bring course after course of exotic delicacies, such as live birds after course of exotic delicacies, such as live birds sewn up inside a pig and a dish to represent every sewn up inside a pig and a dish to represent every sign of the zodiac. sign of the zodiac.

He sought to impress his He sought to impress his guests, the Roman nouveau guests, the Roman nouveau riche, mostly freedmen - riche, mostly freedmen - with the ubiquitous with the ubiquitous excesses seen throughout excesses seen throughout his dwelling.his dwelling.

ChangesChanges Wondering if he were sick I went over to Wondering if he were sick I went over to

find out, an unfamiliar butler with a find out, an unfamiliar butler with a villainous face squinted at me villainous face squinted at me suspiciously from the door. suspiciously from the door.

Nick learns that Gatsby has dismissed his Nick learns that Gatsby has dismissed his whole staff and replaced them with some whole staff and replaced them with some of Meyer Wolsheim's people. of Meyer Wolsheim's people. (Supposedly family members)(Supposedly family members)

Since Daisy frequently comes to Gatsby's Since Daisy frequently comes to Gatsby's house, he wants to prevent any gossip.house, he wants to prevent any gossip.

InvitationInvitation Gatsby calls Nick the Gatsby calls Nick the

next day and invites next day and invites him to lunch at him to lunch at Daisy's house the Daisy's house the following day. following day.

Daisy calls to confirm Daisy calls to confirm that he is coming. that he is coming.

Nick has a feeling Nick has a feeling that “something was that “something was up.” up.”

LunchLunch The next day was broiling, The next day was broiling,

almost the last, almost the last, certainly the warmest, of the summer. certainly the warmest, of the summer.

When Gatsby and Nick arrive at the When Gatsby and Nick arrive at the Buchanan's, Daisy and Jordan, in their Buchanan's, Daisy and Jordan, in their typical white dresses, lay upon an typical white dresses, lay upon an enormous couch, like silver idols. enormous couch, like silver idols.

Tom is on the phone arguing with Tom is on the phone arguing with Wilson about selling him an automobile. Wilson about selling him an automobile.

Cozy Gathering?Cozy Gathering? Tom goes to get Tom goes to get

drinksdrinks Daisy gets up, gives Daisy gets up, gives

Gatsby a kiss on the Gatsby a kiss on the mouth, and tells him mouth, and tells him she loves him. she loves him.

She tells Jordan to She tells Jordan to kiss Nick. kiss Nick.

Pammy EntersPammy Enters Daisy's daughter, Pammy, is then Daisy's daughter, Pammy, is then

brought into the room by her nurse. brought into the room by her nurse. ““Bles-sed pre-cious,” she crooned, Bles-sed pre-cious,” she crooned,

holding out her arms. “Come to your holding out her arms. “Come to your own mother that loves you.” own mother that loves you.”

Daisy shows her off like a toy or Daisy shows her off like a toy or plaything. plaything.

It is obvious that Daisy is incapable It is obvious that Daisy is incapable of sustained or true maternal of sustained or true maternal emotion. emotion.

Gatsby, however, cannot take his Gatsby, however, cannot take his eyes off the child, as if he cannot eyes off the child, as if he cannot believe that she really exists. believe that she really exists.

Drinks & conversationDrinks & conversation

Tom comes in carrying Tom comes in carrying cold gin rickeys for cold gin rickeys for everyone. everyone.

He then leads Gatsby He then leads Gatsby and Nick out to the and Nick out to the veranda in order to veranda in order to show them the place. show them the place.

Gatsby proudly points Gatsby proudly points out his own home out his own home directly across the directly across the bay.bay.

LunchLunch

We had luncheon We had luncheon in the dining-room, in the dining-room, darkened too darkened too against the heat, against the heat, and drank down and drank down nervous gayety nervous gayety with the cold ale.with the cold ale.

After lunchAfter lunch Daisy moans about her Daisy moans about her

boredom and asks, “What'll boredom and asks, “What'll we do with ourselves this we do with ourselves this afternoon and the day after afternoon and the day after that and the next thirty that and the next thirty years?”years?”

““But it's so hot,” insisted But it's so hot,” insisted Daisy, on the verge of tears, Daisy, on the verge of tears, “and everything's so confused. “and everything's so confused. Let's all go to town!” Let's all go to town!”

““Who wants to go to town?” Who wants to go to town?” demanded Daisy insistently. demanded Daisy insistently.

Gatsby's eyes floated toward Gatsby's eyes floated toward her. “Ah,” she cried, “you her. “Ah,” she cried, “you look so cool.”look so cool.”

Their eyes met, and they Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, stared together at each other, alone in space. alone in space.

With an effort she glanced With an effort she glanced down at the table. down at the table.

Trip to townTrip to town Tom insists that he drive Gatsby's car Tom insists that he drive Gatsby's car

into town, while Gatsby take his coupe. into town, while Gatsby take his coupe. Gatsby does not like the idea, but Gatsby does not like the idea, but

agrees to it. Tom pushes Daisy towards agrees to it. Tom pushes Daisy towards Gatsby's car, calling it a circus wagon. Gatsby's car, calling it a circus wagon.

Daisy resists going with Daisy resists going with Tom and announces she Tom and announces she

will ride with Gatsby. will ride with Gatsby.

Tom is ready to explode with Tom is ready to explode with anger. anger.

Once inside the car, he blurts out Once inside the car, he blurts out to Nick and Jordan that he knows to Nick and Jordan that he knows what is going on with Gatsby and what is going on with Gatsby and claims that he has been making claims that he has been making an investigation into his past. an investigation into his past.

Stopping for gasStopping for gas Nick, Jordan, and Tom Nick, Jordan, and Tom

grow irritable in the heat grow irritable in the heat of the car. of the car.

Just as they pass the faded Just as they pass the faded eyes of T.J. Eckelberg, the eyes of T.J. Eckelberg, the cautious Nick reminds cautious Nick reminds Tom that he needs gas. Tom that he needs gas.

Tom impatiently pulls into Tom impatiently pulls into Wilson's service station.Wilson's service station.

Wilson comes out and explains he Wilson comes out and explains he is not well and apologizes for is not well and apologizes for having called Tom.having called Tom.

He says that he needs money so He says that he needs money so he and Myrtle can move to the he and Myrtle can move to the

West, suggesting that West, suggesting that he has finally realized he has finally realized that Myrtle is having that Myrtle is having

an affair. an affair. Tom is suddenly in a Tom is suddenly in a

real panic. real panic.

MyrtleMyrtle In one of the windows over In one of the windows over

the garage the curtains had the garage the curtains had been moved aside a little, been moved aside a little, and Myrtle Wilson was and Myrtle Wilson was peering down at the car. peering down at the car.

Her eyes, wide with jealous Her eyes, wide with jealous terror, and were fixed not terror, and were fixed not on Tom, but on Jordan on Tom, but on Jordan Baker, whom she took to be Baker, whom she took to be his wife. his wife.

the Plaza Hotelthe Plaza Hotel They leave Wilson’s and catch up They leave Wilson’s and catch up

to Gatsby and Daisy. to Gatsby and Daisy. they all decide they all decide

to meet in to meet in front of the front of the Plaza Hotel, Plaza Hotel, where they where they rent a suite for rent a suite for the afternoon.the afternoon.

The SuiteThe Suite The room was large and stifling The room was large and stifling ““Open another window,” Open another window,”

commanded Daisy, without turning commanded Daisy, without turning around. around.

““The thing to do is to forget about The thing to do is to forget about the heat,” said Tom impatiently. the heat,” said Tom impatiently. “You make it ten times worse by “You make it ten times worse by crabbing about it.” crabbing about it.”

The FightThe Fight ““Why not let her alone, old sport?” Why not let her alone, old sport?”

remarked Gatsby. “You're the one that remarked Gatsby. “You're the one that wanted to come to town.” wanted to come to town.”

Tom then asks Gatsby, “What kind of a Tom then asks Gatsby, “What kind of a row are you trying to cause in my house?” row are you trying to cause in my house?”

Daisy comes to Gatsby's defense. Daisy comes to Gatsby's defense. Tom says, “I suppose the latest thing is to Tom says, “I suppose the latest thing is to

sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife. . .next they'll make love to your wife. . .next they'll have intermarriage between black and have intermarriage between black and white.”white.”

““Let’s Go”Let’s Go” ““I've got something to tell YOU, old I've got something to tell YOU, old

sport...” began Gatsby. But Daisy sport...” began Gatsby. But Daisy guessed at his intention.guessed at his intention.

““Please don't!” she interrupted Please don't!” she interrupted helplessly. “Please let's all go helplessly. “Please let's all go home. Why don't we all go home?”home. Why don't we all go home?”

““That's a good idea.” I got up. That's a good idea.” I got up. “Come on, Tom. Nobody wants a “Come on, Tom. Nobody wants a drink.” drink.”

““Your wife doesn't love you,” said Gatsby. Your wife doesn't love you,” said Gatsby. “She's never loved you. She loves me.”“She's never loved you. She loves me.”

““You must be crazy!” exclaimed Tom You must be crazy!” exclaimed Tom automatically.”automatically.”

Gatsby sprang to his feet, vivid with Gatsby sprang to his feet, vivid with excitement.excitement.   ”She never loved you, do you hear? he    ”She never loved you, do you hear? he cried.”cried.”

““She only married you because I was poor She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never never loved anyone except me!” loved anyone except me!”

Fighting over daisyFighting over daisy Daisy stands between the two men, looking Daisy stands between the two men, looking

terrified. Gatsby's expression looks like he had terrified. Gatsby's expression looks like he had just “killed a man.” just “killed a man.”

Gatsby tries to defend himself to Daisy, but she Gatsby tries to defend himself to Daisy, but she merely draws further and further into herself.merely draws further and further into herself.

Gatsby knows he is losing her - - that his dream Gatsby knows he is losing her - - that his dream is vanishing. is vanishing.

At the same time, Tom knows he has won the At the same time, Tom knows he has won the battle and will never lose Daisy. battle and will never lose Daisy.

Therefore, he feels comfortable in sending Daisy Therefore, he feels comfortable in sending Daisy and Gatsby off together in Gatsby's yellow car. and Gatsby off together in Gatsby's yellow car.

He has nothing to fear; He has nothing to fear; Daisy will always belong to him Daisy will always belong to him

LeavingLeavingNick suddenly remembers it is Nick suddenly remembers it is

his thirtieth birthday and he is his thirtieth birthday and he is feeling old.feeling old.

He notices that it is seven He notices that it is seven o'clock when he and Jordan get o'clock when he and Jordan get in the car with Tom.in the car with Tom.

The driveThe drive Tom talked incessantly, Tom talked incessantly,

exulting and laughing, exulting and laughing, but his voice was as but his voice was as remote from Jordan and remote from Jordan and me as the foreign me as the foreign clamor on the sidewalk clamor on the sidewalk or the tumult of the or the tumult of the elevated overhead. elevated overhead.

So we drove on toward So we drove on toward death through the death through the cooling twilight.cooling twilight.

Michaelis Michaelis Nick now brings up Michaelis and Nick now brings up Michaelis and

the accidentthe accident The young Greek who ran the coffee The young Greek who ran the coffee

joint beside the ashheaps was the joint beside the ashheaps was the principal witness at the inquest.principal witness at the inquest.

He had slept through the heat until He had slept through the heat until after five, when he strolled over to after five, when he strolled over to the garage, and found George the garage, and found George Wilson sick in his officeWilson sick in his office

Michaelis advised him to go to bed, Michaelis advised him to go to bed, but Wilson refused, saying that he'd but Wilson refused, saying that he'd miss a lot of business if he did. miss a lot of business if he did.

While his neighbor was trying to While his neighbor was trying to persuade him a violent racket broke persuade him a violent racket broke out overhead. out overhead.

““I've got my wife locked in up there,” I've got my wife locked in up there,” explained Wilson calmly. “She's going to explained Wilson calmly. “She's going to stay there till the day after to-morrow, stay there till the day after to-morrow, and then we're going to move away.” and then we're going to move away.”

Michaelis is shocked at Wilson's words, Michaelis is shocked at Wilson's words, for he is normally a mild, colorless man. for he is normally a mild, colorless man.

A little after 7:00, Michaelis comes A little after 7:00, Michaelis comes outside and hears Myrtle outside and hears Myrtle screaming at her husband. screaming at her husband.

““Beat me! Throw me down and Beat me! Throw me down and beat me, you dirty little coward!” beat me, you dirty little coward!”

A moment later she rushed out A moment later she rushed out into the dusk, waving her hands into the dusk, waving her hands and shouting - before he could and shouting - before he could move from his door the business move from his door the business was over. was over.

The accidentThe accident The “death car.” as the newspapers The “death car.” as the newspapers

called it, didn't stop; it came out of called it, didn't stop; it came out of the gathering darkness, wavered the gathering darkness, wavered tragically for a moment, and then tragically for a moment, and then disappeared around the next bend. disappeared around the next bend.

Michaelis wasn't even sure of Michaelis wasn't even sure of its color - he told the first its color - he told the first policeman that it was light policeman that it was light green. green.

It is immediately obvious that It is immediately obvious that she is dead. she is dead.

When Tom, Nick, and Jordan When Tom, Nick, and Jordan approach the Valley of Ashes, a approach the Valley of Ashes, a crowd has already gathered crowd has already gathered around the site of the accident.around the site of the accident.

Tom decides to stop and see what Tom decides to stop and see what is going on. is going on.

When Tom peers inside the When Tom peers inside the garage, he makes a harsh sound garage, he makes a harsh sound and shoves his way through the and shoves his way through the crowd.crowd.

Myrtle is deadMyrtle is dead Nick and Jordan follow Tom inside, Nick and Jordan follow Tom inside,

where Myrtle's body, wrapped in a where Myrtle's body, wrapped in a blanket, is laying on a work table. blanket, is laying on a work table.

Wilson is in his office staring down Wilson is in his office staring down at the lifeless form and moaning, at the lifeless form and moaning, “O my Gao-od!” over and over. “O my Gao-od!” over and over.

Tom, with a dazed look and Tom, with a dazed look and glazed eyes, is bending over glazed eyes, is bending over Myrtle's body. Myrtle's body.

Tom physically picks up Wilson and Tom physically picks up Wilson and carries him back to his office, putting carries him back to his office, putting him in a chair. him in a chair.

He then tells Nick and Jordan it is time He then tells Nick and Jordan it is time for them to leave. for them to leave.

As Tom drives away from the death As Tom drives away from the death scene and the Valley of Ashes, he scene and the Valley of Ashes, he moans, “The God Damn coward! . . . He moans, “The God Damn coward! . . . He didn't even stop his car.” didn't even stop his car.”

He obviously believes that the driver He obviously believes that the driver was Gatsby. was Gatsby.

Home againHome again When they arrive at the Buchanan's, When they arrive at the Buchanan's,

Tom is relieved to see that Daisy is Tom is relieved to see that Daisy is home. home.

He tells Nick and Jordan to come inside He tells Nick and Jordan to come inside and have the help prepare them some and have the help prepare them some dinner. dinner.

Nick, feeling a little sick about the Nick, feeling a little sick about the events of the day, refuses to go inside, events of the day, refuses to go inside, saying to himself, “I'd had enough of all saying to himself, “I'd had enough of all of them for one day.” of them for one day.”

As he walks down the driveway to wait for As he walks down the driveway to wait for his taxi, Gatsby steps out from the bushes his taxi, Gatsby steps out from the bushes and asks if Nick has seen the scene of the and asks if Nick has seen the scene of the accident and if the woman was killed. accident and if the woman was killed.

Gatsby explains that he drove to West Gatsby explains that he drove to West Egg by a side road and put the car in his Egg by a side road and put the car in his garage and came to Daisy's in a taxi. garage and came to Daisy's in a taxi.

He hopes that no one has spotted the car.He hopes that no one has spotted the car. Suddenly Nick realizes that Gatsby was Suddenly Nick realizes that Gatsby was

not driving the car; it was Daisy who hit not driving the car; it was Daisy who hit Myrtle and kept going. Myrtle and kept going.

Gatsby admits the truth and adds, “But of Gatsby admits the truth and adds, “But of course I'll say I was driving.” course I'll say I was driving.”

Meanwhile…Meanwhile… Daisy and Tom were sitting Daisy and Tom were sitting

opposite each other at the opposite each other at the kitchen table, with a plate of cold kitchen table, with a plate of cold fried chicken between them, and fried chicken between them, and two bottles of ale. two bottles of ale.

They weren't happy, and neither of They weren't happy, and neither of them had touched the chicken or them had touched the chicken or the ale - and yet they weren't the ale - and yet they weren't unhappy either. unhappy either.

There was an unmistakable air of There was an unmistakable air of natural intimacy about the picture, natural intimacy about the picture, and anybody would have said that and anybody would have said that they were conspiring together. they were conspiring together.

““I want to wait here till Daisy goes to I want to wait here till Daisy goes to bed. Good night, old sport.”bed. Good night, old sport.”

He put his hands in his coat pockets He put his hands in his coat pockets and turned back eagerly to his scrutiny and turned back eagerly to his scrutiny of the house, as though my presence of the house, as though my presence marred the sacredness of the vigil. marred the sacredness of the vigil.

So I walked away So I walked away and left him and left him standing there in standing there in the moonlight - the moonlight - watching over watching over nothing. nothing.