The Great Gatsby Chapter 8

Nick finds sleep difficult. He hears Gatsby arrive home at dawn, so Nick goes to see him. Nick advises Gatsby to disappear for a while, to avoid the search for the hit and run car parked in Gatsby’s garage. Gatsby will not consider it.  

Gatsby regrets that he’d been sent away for military service, because this was when Daisy had moved on with her life, dating other men, and eventually marrying Tom. Gatsby had always thought that if he could become wealthy enough, he could win her back. Even now, Gatsby is convinced that Daisy has never loved Tom, or at least not as much as she loves Gatsby.  

At 9AM, Nick leaves, offering Gatsby the only compliment he ever gave him. He told Gatsby that he was worth more than all of the others in their crowd, put together.  

Jordan calls Nick on the phone, and says she wants to see Nick, but her manner is hesitant. They abruptly end their conversation.  

On the train later, Nick seats himself in the car so that he will not see the scene of last night’s collision. However, Nick’s narration shares knowledge he gathered later on. At the garage that night, Myrtle’s sister had been drunk when she was notified of her sister’s death, and through much of the night, curiosity- driven people were at the garage. Mr. Wilson was inconsolable. His friend Michaelis stayed, talking to him. Mr. Wilson revealed that he had recently found that Myrtle had purchased a dog leash, which had alerted him to suspicious behavior. Mr. Wilson has now drawn the conclusion that “he” killed her, meaning Mr. Gatsby, although he did not know Gatsby’s name. Early the next day, Mr. Wilson begins searching for his wife’s killer.  

That afternoon, Gatsby goes out to spend time lounging in his pool. A short time later, shots are heard. Gatsby is found dead by Nick and some of the household help. Nearby, Mr. Wilson is found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot.  

Analysis:

In Chapter 8, Nick struggles with determining what is right vs. wrong, not only when it comes to Gatsby’s pursuit of Daisy, but with the array of other examples of moral turpitude all around. Nick has found a certain loyalty towards Gatsby, though, and becomes one of the very few actual friends that Gatsby can claim, even offering Gatsby one of the few compliments that Gatsby has received. Nick almost seems surprised by his own compliment, but has realized that he cares for Gatsby as a friend.  

When Gatsby is shot and killed, the conflict of whether his death was deserved or not is left for the reader to ponder, but more importantly, the results of Gatsby’s all-consuming attempts to recapture the past become the flailings of a desperate man, who fails in the end. All is lost, with Gatsby’s heroic, if misguided, efforts resulting in the ultimate failure.  

However, the implication that this is Gatsby’s final chivalrous act is implied. Daisy is unobtainable, and it is impossible to recapture the past, leaving Gatsby with few options by which to express the magnitude of his love. To die in her pursuit leaves him the legacy of being  a martyr and a romantic hero.