The Great Gatsby Ch 2 pg 27-42

In this chapter, Nick goes with Tom to meet Tom’s mistress. Her name is Myrtle and she is married to a sad man. Nick, Tom, and Myrtle go to Tom and Myrtle’s apartment where they drink and have people come over. The whole scene is very dysfunctional, especially when Tom breaks Myrtle’s nose when she mentions Daisy’s name. The chapter ends with Nick waiting for the four o’clock train in the Pennsylvania Station.

George B. Wilson

“’Get some chairs, why don’t you, so somebody can sit down.’ ‘Oh sure,’ agreed Wilson hurriedly and went towards the little office, mingling immediately with the cement color of the walls.” Pg 30

He had blonde hair, with light blue eyes. He was a spiritless man, anaemic, and faintly handsome. His eyes had a small gleam of hope when he saw Nick and Tom.

Wilson is Tom’s mistress’s husband. He owns a repair shop between West Egg and New York.

“Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.” Pg 41 This quote stood out to me because it made me question how much Tom really cares for Myrtle. According to Myrtles sister, Myrtle and Tom cannot stand who they are married to. If he really cannot stand being married to Daisy, then I don’t understand why Tom wouldn’t allow Myrtle to say her name. It seemed as if the sound of her name made him feel guilty about everything he was doing “behind her back.”

The Great Gatsby: Ch 1 pg 5-26

In the beginning of chapter one, we are introduced to the narrator of the book, Nick. He tells of his life and how he moved to West Egg. He went to visit his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and her husband, Tom, at their house in East Egg. Their house is much more elaborate than his. Nick finds out that Tom has a woman in New York and Daisy keeps trying to ignore it. The chapter ends with Nick sitting at home, looking out at the bay, in the “unquiet darkness.”

Daisy Buchanan

“That’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” Pg 21

Her face is sad and lovely. She has bright eyes and a bright, passionate mouth. She has an excitement in her voice, a singing compulsion. She hypnotizes people with her voice.

Daisy Buchanan is Nick’s second cousin. She is beautiful and has, what seems to be, a perfect life. She is married to Tom Buchanan.  I feel that she is insecure because her husband “has a woman in New York.” She tries to make him happy and ignore the fact that someone else could replace her.

“I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” Pg 8 This quote stood out to me because people look for a chance to start over in life. Nick is in a new place and he can be whoever he wants. Sometimes when I go to a new place where no one knows me, I feel that I have taken on a fresh, new life. No one knows who I am, so I can be whoever I want to be. Also, when life begins, we have had no chances to make mistakes. We’re flawless.