Chapter 7
Gatsby calls off the parties because they were simply a way to lure Daisy. He also fires some servant to prevent gossip.
On the hottest day that summer, Nick goes to East Egg to have lunch with Daisy and Tom. When he arrives he sees that Gatsby and Jordan are also there. During an awkward afternoon Daisy and Gatsby are unable to hide their love. To break her boredom, Daisy asks Gatsby if he would like to go into the city. Gatsby stares at Daisy passionately and Tom becomes certain of their love. Tom suddenly insists that everyone go to the city together. Nick, Jordan, and Tom take Gatsby’s car. Gatsby and Daisy take Tom’s car. While stopped at Wilson’s garage for gas, George tells Tom that he discovered that Myrtle is having an affair, but he doesn't know with who. He also share his plans to move her west. Under the watchful eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, Nick decides that Tom and George are in the same position. They are both losing the woman they love. Once in the city, the group go to a hotel room. Tom begins to mock Gatsby and his use of the term “old sport”. He also accuses Gatsby of never attending Oxford. GAtsby replies that he did attend Oxford for a few months after the war. Tom asks about Gatsby’s intentions with Daisy. Gatsby responds by saying that Daisy loves him and not Tom. In anger Tom claims that he and Daisy have a deep history together and accuses Gatsby of running a bootleg operation. Daisy finds herself moving closer to Tom instead of Gatsby. Tom sends Daisy home with Gatsby to prove that Gatsby is unwilling to hurt him. As they leave, Nick remembers that it is his thirtieth birthday. On the way home, Nick, Jordan, and Tom come across a crowd of people at Wilson’s garage. As they exit the car, they discover that they has been fatal car accident and that Myrtle was the victim. A yellow car hit her and continued to drive. Tom realizes that it was Gatsby and Daisy in the car and that Wilson will recognize the car from earlier that day. When they return home, Nick finds Gatsby outside of Tom and Daisy’s house. He tells Nick that he is making sure that Tom will not hurt Daisy. He also tells Nick that Daisy was driving the car but he will take the blame. To satisfy Gatsby’s worry, Nick goes to check on Daisy. He discovers that Daisy and Tom have made up. Nick goes home, leaving Gatsby in the yard. |