The Great Gatsby | Chapter 8 Summary & Analysis | F. Scott Fitzgerald

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13 Feb 201803:02

Summary

TLDRIn Chapter 8, Nick visits Gatsby the morning after the accident and encourages him to leave West Egg, but Gatsby refuses due to his love for Daisy. Gatsby recounts their past romance and Daisy's subsequent marriage to Tom. George Wilson, grief-stricken over Myrtle's death and infidelity, believes Gatsby is responsible and kills him before taking his own life. Nick, disillusioned by the elitist society, ends his relationship with Jordan. The chapter explores themes of love, obsession, class struggle, and the distorted sense of morality among the characters.

Takeaways

🌅 The narrative begins with Nick visiting Gatsby after an accident, highlighting the depth of their friendship.
🚫 Gatsby's refusal to leave Daisy, despite Nick's advice, underscores his unwavering love and commitment to her.
💔 Gatsby's recollection of his past with Daisy reveals a deep emotional connection that he believes is still intact.
💍 The notion of Gatsby feeling 'married' to Daisy, despite her marriage to Tom, shows his idealized view of their relationship.
😔 Daisy's anxiety and eventual marriage to Tom while Gatsby was away paints a picture of a love lost to the passage of time and distance.
🚂 Nick's realization of Gatsby's worth compared to the rest of the characters in the 'Valley of Ashes' suggests a moral judgment on the society depicted.
🔍 George Wilson's search for the truth behind Myrtle's death and his misguided quest for revenge introduces a tragic subplot.
🚗 The revelation that Gatsby's car was involved in Myrtle's death adds a layer of irony and tragedy to the story.
🎯 George's act of shooting Gatsby and then himself is a culmination of his distorted reality and misplaced vengeance.
📞 Nick's failed attempts to contact Gatsby and subsequent discovery of the bodies adds suspense and a sense of urgency to the narrative.
💔 Gatsby's disillusionment with Daisy's changed nature since their first meeting reflects the theme of unattainable dreams and the passage of time.
👁 The reappearance of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes symbolizes the moral decay and the characters' loss of innocence.
💔 The contrast between Daisy's guilt and her ability to continue life without consequence, versus Gatsby's tragic end, highlights the theme of social class and its impact on individual fate.

Q & A

What does Nick encourage Gatsby to do the morning after the accident?
-Nick encourages Gatsby to leave West Egg for a while.
Why does Gatsby refuse to leave West Egg?
-Gatsby refuses to leave because he wants to stay close to Daisy.
How did Gatsby feel after making love to Daisy before the war?
-Gatsby felt married to Daisy after they made love.
Why didn't Daisy wait for Gatsby to return from the war?
-Daisy grew anxious while Gatsby was away and eventually married Tom, who matched her social rank and was approved by her parents.
What is Gatsby's conviction about his relationship with Daisy?
-Gatsby is still convinced that he and Daisy will end up together.
What does Nick shout to Gatsby before boarding the train to work?
-Nick calls out that Gatsby is worth the whole damn bunch put together.
How does George Wilson react to Myrtle's death and her infidelity?
-George Wilson struggles with Myrtle's death and convinces himself it was murder, believing God demands revenge.
What information does George Wilson obtain from Tom?
-George learns from Tom that it was Gatsby's car that killed Myrtle.
What tragic event occurs when George Wilson travels to West Egg?
-George Wilson shoots Gatsby and then turns the gun on himself.
How does Nick react when he can't reach Gatsby on the phone?
-Nick leaves work early and discovers the bodies of Gatsby and George Wilson.
What realization does Gatsby have about Daisy when he returns from visiting her?
-Gatsby realizes that Daisy didn't need him and that she has changed significantly since he first met her.
What does Nick prefer about Gatsby compared to the elitist crowd?
-Nick prefers Gatsby's frustrating dream over the superficial and elitist crowd.
What symbolic element returns with George Wilson's belief that Myrtle can't fool God?
-The symbolism of Dr. Eckleburg's eyes returns, representing the distorted reality and the characters' moral degradation.
How does Fitzgerald use the characters' actions to examine class struggle?
-Fitzgerald shows how the poor become collateral damage in the pursuit of the rich's personal gain, with Daisy continuing her life without consequence while Gatsby is sacrificed.

Outlines

00:00

😢 Gatsby's Tragic Love and Unfulfilled Dreams

In Chapter 8, the story unfolds the morning after a tragic accident. Nick visits Gatsby, who is still deeply in love with Daisy despite her marriage to Tom. Gatsby recounts his initial courtship with Daisy and how he felt married to her even before he left for war. Upon his return, he finds Daisy married to Tom, but remains hopeful of rekindling their relationship. Meanwhile, George Wilson, devastated by Myrtle's death, learns from Tom that Gatsby's car was involved in the accident. Driven by a sense of divine retribution, George shoots Gatsby and then kills himself. Nick, unable to reach Gatsby, discovers the aftermath of this tragedy. The narrative highlights the disconnect between Gatsby's idealized vision of Daisy and her actual feelings, and the broader theme of class struggle and the consequences of the wealthy's actions on the less fortunate.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Accident

The term 'accident' in the script refers to a fatal event that triggers a series of dramatic developments in the story. It is a pivotal moment that sets the stage for the tragic unraveling of the characters' lives. The accident is the death of Myrtle, which is mistakenly believed to be caused by Gatsby's car, leading to a chain of misunderstandings and ultimately, Gatsby's own demise.

💡West Egg

West Egg is a fictional location in the novel 'The Great Gatsby' and represents the new money class of Long Island, in contrast to the more established and aristocratic East Egg. In the script, Gatsby's refusal to leave West Egg signifies his attachment to Daisy and his unwillingness to abandon his dream, despite the looming danger.

💡Daisy

Daisy is a central character in the narrative, embodying the allure and the moral ambiguity of the upper class. She is Gatsby's love interest and the object of his unattainable dream. The script highlights her as a character who has changed significantly since Gatsby first met her, and her actions contribute to the tragic conclusion of the story.

💡Social Rank

Social rank is a key concept in the script, illustrating the rigid class structure of the 1920s. It is the reason why Daisy marries Tom, who matches her social standing, despite her feelings for Gatsby. The theme of social rank is a driving force behind the characters' actions and the societal critique present in the video's narrative.

💡Infidelity

Infidelity is a significant theme in the script, particularly in the context of Myrtle's affair with Tom and the implications it has for her marriage to George Wilson. The discovery of Myrtle's infidelity leads to George's quest for revenge, further complicating the plot and contributing to the tragic outcome.

💡Revenge

Revenge is a motive that drives George Wilson's actions after the death of Myrtle. He believes that her death was not accidental but a murder, and he seeks to avenge her by finding and killing the person responsible. This quest for revenge is a manifestation of the distorted morality and the consequences of the characters' actions.

💡Egotism

Egotism is a theme that permeates the narrative, particularly in the character of Tom, who is portrayed as self-centered and unfaithful. His egotism contributes to the tragic events, as his affair with Myrtle and subsequent actions lead to a series of misunderstandings and ultimately, to Gatsby's death.

💡Class Struggle

The class struggle is a central theme in the script, reflecting the tension between the old money of East Egg and the new money of West Egg. The characters' actions and the consequences they face highlight the disparities and conflicts between different social classes, with the poor often becoming collateral damage in the pursuit of personal gain by the rich.

💡Distorted Reality

Distorted reality is evident in the script through characters like George Wilson, who believes he is enacting God's will when seeking revenge. This concept illustrates how the characters' perceptions of their actions and the world around them are skewed, leading to tragic misunderstandings and decisions.

💡Dr. T.J. Eckleburg

Dr. T.J. Eckleburg is a symbol in the novel, represented by a pair of eyes on a billboard. In the script, the eyes serve as a reminder of the moral decay and the loss of values in society. They symbolize the omnipresent judgment and the emptiness of the characters' lives, as well as the superficiality of their pursuits.

💡Moral Ambiguity

Moral ambiguity is a theme that runs throughout the script, particularly in the actions and decisions of the characters. It refers to the complexity of their moral choices and the gray areas in their actions. For example, Daisy's decision to continue her life without consequence after Myrtle's death and Gatsby's insistence on his love for her despite her changed nature highlight the moral ambiguity of the characters.

Highlights

Nick visits Gatsby and encourages him to leave West Egg, but Gatsby refuses to leave Daisy.

Gatsby describes how he and Daisy first met, courted before the war, and how he felt married to her after making love.

Daisy promised to wait for Gatsby but grew anxious and married Tom, who matched her social rank.

Despite Daisy marrying Tom, Gatsby is still convinced they will end up together.

Nick tells Gatsby he is worth the whole damn bunch put together before leaving for work.

George Wilson struggles with Myrtle's death and believes it was murder, demanding revenge.

George learns from Tom that it was Gatsby's car that killed Myrtle and sets out to find Gatsby.

George travels to West Egg, shoots Gatsby in his pool, and then kills himself.

Nick discovers the bodies after leaving work early when he can't get through to Gatsby on the phone.

Gatsby is surprised that Daisy didn't need him and struggles to accept that she's changed.

Gatsby clings to the idea that Daisy needs him to save her, though it's clear she doesn't feel the same way.

Nick prefers Gatsby's dream over the elitist superficial crowd and ends his relationship with Jordan.

The symbolism of Dr. Eckleburg's eyes returns, with George insisting Myrtle can't fool God.

The characters' morality is highlighted, showing how easily they have abandoned it for personal gain.

Daisy, the true guilty party, continues her life without consequence, while Gatsby is sacrificed.