The Great Gatsby Chapter 7
Gatsby’s estate seems to fall into disrepair, and a Saturday night goes by with no party. Gatsby becomes reclusive, but calls Nick one day. He was calling on behalf of Daisy, who Gatsby was now seeing regularly, who wanted to invite Nick to join them, and Jordan, for lunch the following day.
The next day, Gatsby and Nick arrive to meet Daisy and Jordan. Tom is in another room, presumably talking on the phone to his girlfriend. Nick overhears, and believes that Tom’s conversation really is business. Tom finishes the call, and warmly greets the two men. Daisy’s young daughter enters the room, the first time either man had ever seen the child. The child is tended by a house nanny.
Tom brings drinks, and invites Gatsby outside to admire the estate.
Later, over lunch, Tom seems to suddenly recognize that Daisy is in love with Gatsby. Daisy has suggested that the quintet go into town, and Tom oddly expresses great enthusiasm for the idea. The two women go upstairs to get ready, while the three men wait outside. Conversation between Gatsby and Tom is clearly nervous, strained, and hostile.
Bringing a bottle of alcohol along, the group departs, but with Tom driving Gatsby’s car (with Nick and Jordan), and Gatsby and Daisy in Tom’s car.
Tom stops for gas at at Wilson’s garage, and exchanges unpleasant words with Mr. Wilson. However, in conversation, Mr. Wilson announces that will soon take his wife (Myrtle) out west, as Mr. Wilson has “discovered” some problem here. Nick notices Myrtle looking through the window, and is clearly disturbed, thinking that Tom is with Jordan.
On the road, Tom announces that he’s looked into Gatsby’s past, and finds him to be a fraud.
The five meet in town, and rent a suite at a hotel. The group drinks, and arguments ensue, interjected with some small talk from the nervous group. Tom tries to corner Gatsby in a lie, by having him explain when he attended Oxford, a claim Gatsby repeated. Gatsby’s answer was that he’d attended for a short time, but had not graduated. Next, Tom comes right out and asks Gatsby why he is disrupting Tom and Daisy’s home life.
Gatsby announces that Daisy does not love Tom. The affair is openly acknowledged, enraging Tom. Daisy acknowledges that she never loved Tom… but then takes her words back. Then, Gatsby and Daisy both announce that Daisy will be leaving Tom. Tom continues to level accusations of shady business dealings at Gatsby, who tries to defend himself, but appears guilty as charged.
Tom then orders Daisy and Gatsby to go home, in Tom’s car, which they immediately do. Then, Tom, Jordan and Nick leave, driving Gatsby’s car.
It is revealed by a “witness” that Mr. Wilson stated that day that he was holding his wife captive in a room above the garage. The witness had been shocked, but was unable to find out any more about the captivity. However, in the early evening, Myrtle had escaped, and while running away, was hit and killed by a passing car. The car, noted as yellow by a witness, never stops.
Shortly afterwards, Tom, Jordan and Nick see that an accident has occurred in front of Wilson’s garage. Tom stops to investigate, and is stunned to see his mistress, Myrtle, dead.
The three continue to the Buchanan place. A taxi is summoned for Nick, and Nick goes to wait by the gate, when Gatsby appears from the shadows. Gatsby mentions that he’s hidden the car in his garage. Nick mentions that the woman is dead. Gatsby tries to claim that he was driving, but it is quickly apparent that Daisy had been driving.
Gatsby is going to wait in the shadows, watching the Buchanan house, to ensure Daisy’s safety, in case Tom gets violent, However, Nick glances inside, and all seems to be well between Tom and Daisy. Nick then leaves, but Gatsby stands by.
Analysis:
Here we see Gatsby’s persona crumble. As he is revealed and exposed, and as Tom becomes confrontational, Gatsby sees his dream slipping away, and he is unable to maintain composure. His grand plan is failing, and he is unable to maintain his status or his grasp on Daisy. His desperation is clumsy, and the Grand Gatsby becomes a common man, with failing hopes. It becomes clear that in spite of Gatsby’s best efforts, his new health will never grant him the privileges that those of old wealth will allow.
We see Daisy’s shallow nature revealed further, as it becomes clear that her love for Gatsby is not deep and real, but is based upon shallow motives. We see that she is willing to kill a person, and then accept no responsibility. We see that her loyalty to Gatsby evaporates under any hint of conflict.
The chapter ends with an image of Gatsby at his lowest, as he impotently posts guard outside of Daisy’s house. He waits most of the night, before she makes any effort to signal him of her safety, and her signal may not have even been intentional. He remains dutiful and desperate, while she remains aloof and unaffected.
