The Great Gatsby: the morning after the most awful chapter

Chapter VIII Notes

The Great Gatsby Character Map

The next morning, Nick speaks to Gatsby who is still holding out hope for Daisy. Gatsby tells Nick his story about Daisy - she was a “nice” girl; “he found her exceedingly desirable.” (In other words: he lusted after her.)  She came from a wealthy family, but he was poor; hence he deceived her into thinking that he was in her class.   He idolized her and her lifestyle, and he worshiped both.    He convinced himself that she loved him and that he loved her.

When Gatsby was held over after the War, he did not return home soon enough, and Daisy, anxious to start her own life, met and married Tom.  Gatsby still thinks she did not love Tom.

The author returns to the night of the accident where Wilson is dealing with Myrtle’s death.  Wilson tells his neighbor, it may have been Myrtle’s lover who killed her.  He recalls the conversation he had with his wife telling her that she may deceive him, but the eyes of God see everything.  Wilson is sure he can find out who the owner of the yellow car is assuming the owner was the driver.

Now it is the morning after, and Gatsby is alone and daydreaming in his pool, hopeful to hear from Daisy; but it is Wilson who visits him.  The distraught man shoots and kills Gatsby.