The Great Gatsby: Chapter Seven Summary & Imaginary Journal

Summary

In the first part, Fitzgerald uses the literary device of hot weather to produce the overall effect of choaking. It is as if characters cannot get fresh air and they continuously sweat. If it rained everything would return to normal but extreme heat and hotness of the sun do not permit characters to be relaxed and cooled down. Everywhere is “broiling, almost the last, certainly the warmest, of the summer” (p.109). Fitzgerald makes the conductor of the train repeat hotness over and over again, “Some weather!...Hot!...Hot!...Hot!... Is it hot enough for you?”(p.109) In the second part, where all characters go to Plaza Hotel “to the side of Central Park” they are still under the effect of the hot weather. Fitzgerald uses hotness of the weather on his second part to produce the overall effect of confusion as Nick explains: “The relentless beating heat was beginning to confuse me” (p. 118). This confusion produces a conflict between the characters, especially between Gatsby and Tom. There are three points of conflict between them. One of them is Gatsby’s picking up “old sport”(p.121). The second one is that Gatsby is not “an Oxford man”(p.122). The third one is Gatsby’s bootlegging “in Chicago”(p.127) and selling “grain alcohol over the counter”(p.127). In the third part, Fitzgerald uses the literary device of an accident in front of George Wilson’s garage to produce the overall effect of violence. Although Fitzgerald does not give the actual scene, the reader understands the violence by the words of a police man “auto hit her. Ins’antly killed”(p. 133). The police man says “she ran out ina road. Son-of-a-bitch didn’t even stopus car” (p.133). The effect of violence is more than the actual scene. Fitzgerald provides the reader with the following insight about Gatsby that he is ready to face everything in order to have Daisy. He keeps on waiting for her and he is ready to get the responsibility of the accident on him, saying “but of course I’ll say I was.” (p. 137)

Imaginary Journal

I have made inquiry about Gatsby. He uses “old sport” very often. This shows that he comes from a vulgar background. He is not a gentleman. He did not attend Oxford at all. He had been in bootleggin business with Meyer Wolfshiem. Although he says that he and Daisy love each other, Daisy does not have a choice to be with such a man. She needs both money and aristocratic reputation. I will show Gatsby that Daisy will always return to me. But this accident! Myrtle Wilson is killed. It must have been Gatsby, who ran over her. This will finish him off.

Key Sentences

1) Some weather!...Hot!...Hot!...Hot!... Is it hot enough for you? (p. 109)
2) The relentless beating heat was beginning to confuse me and I had a bad moment. (p. 118)
3) Why not let her alone, old sport? (p. 121)
4) Your wife doesn't love you, said Gatsby. She's never loved you. She loves me. (p. 124)
5) Yes, he said after a moment, but of course I'll say I was. (p. 137)