Fitzgerald opens the chapter with Nicks narration that shows a type of concern for Gatsby, he notes that 'his lights failed to come on' when curiosity 'of Gatsby was at its highest'- we infer from this that not only the main characters within the novel are curios about Gatsby but rather like the reporter in the previous chapter people have become uneasy about the man, we ended the last chapter with Tom vowing to 'find out' exactly what Gatsby does, this tension that is accumulating foreshadows Gatsby's collapse and eventual downfall. We learn that Gatsby has fired his servants and had them replaced with a few, that nicks describes as having, 'villanous face'. These shady characters seem to have some link with the criminal business surround Gatsby and Wolfsheim that we still know nothing about. We learn from Gatsby himself that 'Daisy comes over quite often in the afternoon' so the affair is obviously in full swing, however Nick himself realises 'something was up'.
Fitzgerald makes it extremely hot in this chapter, in fact it is 'the warmest of the summer' which symbolises the heat and tensity that is building up between the Buchanan's and Gatsby. The Buchanan home is described as being remotely cooler, with a 'breeze blowing through the hallway' shadowed from the sun described as being 'Dark and Cool'. This setting seems sheltered and safe from the heat, subtly implying that nothing ferocious will happen here. Daisy for the first time reveals that she 'loves' Gatsby, but as her child comes into the room the position become all the more realistic when Gatsby looks at her 'as if he never really believed her existence before' suddenly the affair does not seem entirely innocent when it is obvious Daisy has a cemented, very much real, life post Gatsby. Tom becomes aware that something is going on between Daisy and Gatsby when the pairs eyes 'meet' when she is complementing him, this results in a build up of tension where the party agree to move to town despite the unbearable heat. The pair swap cars as Daisy goes with Gatsby in Toms and vice versa. Gatsby states that Daisy's voice is 'full of money' , which illustrates the entire aesthetic materialistic notion of the woman. She is driven by money and was only content with Gatsby upon discovering his wealth and luxurious home. The tension continues to build as Tom regards Gatsby's car as 'a circus wagon', the pair remain polite but continue snide remarks about each other. Tom stops at Wilson's garage where Wilson is obviously distressed, he exclaims that he 'and my wife want to go west'. Tom is obviously shocked that his mistress is wanting to move away with a man she claimed to distaste so much. Tom is finally becoming aware that his previous stability within life is falling apart as he realised 'Myrtle had some sort of life apart from him'. Notices Jordan watching from the upper window with eyes entirely fixated with jealously on Jordan 'whom she took to be Tom's wife'.
Fitzgerald juxtaposes the setting of the Buchanan home with the now 'stifling' heat of Tom's apartment. Tom begins interrogating Gatsby on the origin of his 'oxford days' to which he answers with an answer that Nick finds tremendous. The language seems like a battle of wits between the two men. Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy 'does not love you. She loves me.' Tom's reaction is ferocious but he suddenly admits that 'i love her too. Sometimes i go off on a wild spree' Tom's honesty is shocking for a man so corrupt about the way he lives. However to Gatsby's surprise Daisy is not entirely fixated of him, she admits that she did love Tom one time, even remarks that Gatsby 'wants too much'. Tom tells us of Gatsby's criminal dealing with Wolfsheim, 'graining alcohol' and Daisy is obviously distressed as she becomes known to Gatsby's criminality for the first time. This is the first time that Nick truly believes that 'he killed a man', Nick then remarks how 'it was my birthday. i was thirty and new decade' precedes him. This language infers that Nick has had a sort of epitome about his life, he realises that he needs to move on from the company he is currently in, he is tired of the West Egg drama and materialism. Tom has ordered Gatsby and Daisy to return home together upon realising he has won, the fact he has ordered their company only resonates his dominant sporting nature, as if he is showing off his trophy in front of Gatsby.
'SO WE DROVE ON TOWARDS DEATH THROUGH THE COOLING TWILIGHT' This is Fitzgerald most obviously foreshadowing the immanent discovery of Myrtles death and corpse in the valley of the ashes. The Valley of ashes has never had such a suitable name as it not holds the murder of Mrs Wilson.
Fitzgerald then uses the voice of the young greek 'Michaelis' a friend of Wilson who earlier that day, had discovered Myrtle had been having an affair because of the 'dog collar' he found "we dont even own a Dog". This input of narrative distorts the timeline within the book, but inputs the significance of the Wilson's as to draw our focus just before we witness Myrtle's body. The description of Myrtle's body is horrific as Fitzgerald describes 'left breast swinging loose like a flap'. Telling us that \a death car' which didn't stop, had run her down.
Through Nick's narration we step back into the default timeline and he describes Tom stood 'motionless' over Myrtles body. However it is Wilson who gains more sympathy, as he is stated to be rocking in the corner, repeating 'oh my ga-wd' over and over to himself as the man, who has nothing, now truly has been left with nothing in his life. The one true honest man in the book has had his life ripped from him, while being completely unaware. A young Negro reveals that 'a new yellow car' was the car to hit Myrtle, which we assume is the new yellow coupe that Gatsby and Daisy disappeared in.
We are left at the Buchanan home, Daisy is inside and Tom reluctantly goes in to see her. Nick states that he is sick of their company 'and suddenly this included Jordan.' Nick has marginalised himself and he wishes to be alone. He attempts to leave the house when Gatsby appears from the shadows, at this point we realise how Nick's perception of Gatsby has completely changed as he 'wouldn't be surprised if Wolfsheim's men appeared from behind him'. Gatsby reveals it was in fact Daisy that was driving, however his determination to protect and love Daisy still remains as he promises to stay at the Buchanan home incase Tom hits Daisy. However Fitzgerald ends the chapter stating that Gatsby was 'watching over nothing' it is evident that Gatsby's hopes of attaining Daisy is lost as he has nothing.
No comments:
Post a Comment