Sunday, 7 April 2013

How does Fitzgerald tell the story in chapter 8?

Fitzgerald opens the chapter with Nick showing his stress within his narration, he admits that he could not sleep the night of Myrtle's Death and jumps out of bed when he hears the noise if a taxi emerging up Gatsby's drive. Gatsby exclaimed that nothing happened, she went to the window and turned out the light, except his language tells he is disappointed by this, we half expect Gatsby to illustrate how he wanted to Daisy to come to a revelation and want him, except after she realised Gatsby's criminal nature in the previous chapter she wants nothing to do with him. It is at this point where Gatsby tells of his true background, of Dan Cody and his real name of which Nick had already informed us of earlier in the novel. Nick cannot help but feel that his company is unwelcome, stating that he knew 'he wanted to talk to Daisy'. Gatsby reveals that Daisy was 'the first real nice girl he'd known' illustrating why he felt so attached to her, for we know that in Gatsby's youth he fell tired of women easily. To finally meet a nice girl, Gatsby has hung onto this idea ever since. Fitzgerald inputs Gatsby's account of when he met Daisy, revealing a youthful magnificence of which Gatsby was astounded by her, this account falls bitterly on the fact that only moments ago the relationship was destroyed forever. We learn that she moved on from Gatsby because he was ' a young penniless man' which explains why he was so eager to show Daisy his material wealth. It appears when Gatsby had left for the war Daisy's love letters were drawing thin, for a man who was 'falling hopelessly in love' he was panicked. But news came that she found Tom in the autumn. Gatsby still appears to be in denial about the pair as even now he exclaims that 'she didnt love him' explaining that the scene in the previous chapter where she admitted love for Tom was simply demanded by the man.

The next morning Gatsby remarks how he 'hasn't used the pool all summer', Fitzgerald is foreshadowing his death as he makes it clear what Gatsby's plans are to do. Nick admits that he doesn't want to leave Gatsby, the tone and language in this chapter seem profoundly sentimental as if the characters know Gatsby will soon meet his demise.

Nick the narrates the events that happened after discovering Myrtle's body, changing the linear time format for a moment, the story consists of Michaelis attempting to console Wilson, asking if he had children or some kind of family member they could contact. Upon realising that he has no one, he is then asked to go to a church, find his faith with God, but even this seems a hollow judgement, no one seems to know Wilson at all, he now a man with no emotion or sentiment as he has nothing. Wilson then confesses that 'he murdered her' although no revealing the name of whom this 'he' was, in this event he references the eyes of Eckleburg as god, stating 'you cant fool god' while looking at them. Eckleburg represents the meaningless images that religion has become, in this materialistic world no one has turned to religion, they thrive of materialism and wealth, Eckleburg is the eyes of God left in the valley of ashes, the destruction left by the modern materialists. Nick then narrates the movements of Wilson, Nick reveals that he walked the whole way to West Egg upon enquiring about the yellow car, and hearing Gatsby's name.

Nick narrates Gatsby's last moments, waiting for a phone call that never came, Gatsby 'discovers how ugly a rose is' as he begin to hate the beauty within the natural world, and becomes to realise the materialism and fabricated life around him 'a new world, material without being real'. Gatsby was shot by 'some figure approaching through the yellowing trees' and killed. The chapter when Nick states how 'the holocaust' is complete when Wilsons body has been found.

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