In groups of 3-4, use the posters provided to create a visual representation of at least two of the eight relationships.
Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan
Tom Buchanan and Mr. Wilson
Wilson and Myrtle
Gatsby and Myrtle
Gatsby and Daisy
Jordan and Nick
Tom and Daisy
Nick and Gatsby
*these posters can be used as a prop (background) for a skit for this visual representation or as a comparison poster, etc.
“So I walked away and left [Gatsby] standing there in the moonlight-watching over nothing”(pg 145).
1. How do you think Myrtle’s death affects Tom? Is he angry because he loved her, or because he no longer possesses her?
2. Is Tom’s anger over Daisy wanting to leave him righteous, or is it unjustified?
3. How does Gatsby yearning for the green light in chapter 1 still have an influence on him yearning for Daisy’s love in this chapter?
4. How does the way that Tom deals with Myrtle’s death show about how he conducts his relationships with women in general?
5. What is the significance of Fitzgerald adding in Nick's birthday into the chapter?
6. Do you think Tom knows that Daisy killed Myrtle? Do you think that he will find out?
7. By the end of the chapter, how would describe Gatsby? He is still "mysterious, isolated, a victim, withdrawn, or disturbed" as he might have been in Chapter 3.
The last time we see Gatsby alone, he is looking out at the green light on Daisy’s dock across the bay. At this point, there is no beacon of light for Gatsby in the distance. It has been extinguished along with living out his dream with Daisy. The Green Light represented the distance between he and his love and even when Daisy came to his house for the first time. It is possible however that when Daisy hit Myrtle with her car, this tragic event also snuffed out their chances at being happily together with each other. This car accident, in a sense, demonstrates the shattering of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship. The green light was a guide for Gatsby for so long and now that he no longer sees it, what is there for him to do now? With Daisy no longer in obtainable reach for him, Gatsby might try to resort to desperate measures.
Previously in the story, we saw that Gatsby has had a tough time obtaining validation from Daisy; She negates his attempts through her love for Tom Buchanan. In this chapter, we see that Gatsby puts out a limb for Daisy expecting her to notice him but in return, all he gets is being alone in their backyard. Gatsby has rekindled the relationship only as far as his dreams can take him and here we see that his dream has ultimately come to an end. Even after all of his attempts, Daisy still spends the night with Tom while he is alone outside their home.
We can also predict that Gatsby will be blamed for Myrtle Wilson’s death. Given Gatsby’s willingness to take the blame on himself while speaking to Nick: “Well, I tried to swing the wheel---” (pg 151). Also considering that Nick described Daisy and Tom as looking though they were “conspiring” together (pg 153) after the accident. Daisy and Tom may try to blame Gatsby for the accident to try to exonerate Daisy. Even if Daisy were to accuse him of hitting Myrtle Gatsby may not attempt to defend himself or deny the claim. He may love Daisy enough to go to prison for her, but Daisy probably doesn’t love Gatsby enough to do the same. This shows how Daisy ultimately doesn’t share the same vision that Gatsby has. Daisy is able to realize the importance of the past relationship she had with Gatsby but doesn’t have it control her life in the way Gatsby does. This is what, in the end, really separated them for good. Daisy destroyed Gatsby’s dream which inevitably destroyed Gatsby altogether.