The Great Gatsby
Chapter 7 Discussion Questions
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“Please have a little self-control.” – Daisy, p. 163
“You’re revolting.” – Daisy, p. 166
o Is Daisy’s standing up for herself “too little, too late”?
o Considering the time period, is this a significant stand?
o Do you feel badly for Daisy, or is part of this her own predicament?
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“Nowadays people begin by sneering at family life and family institutions, and next
they’ll throw everything overboard and have intermarriage between black and white.”
- p. 163
o What do you make of Tom’s hypocrisy?
o How can he be so concerned about certain “values,” but not possess any
“family values”?
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“She’s not leaving me!” Tom’s words suddenly leaned down over Gatsby.
“Certainly not for a common swindler who’d have to steal the ring her put on her
finger…Who are you anyhow?” broke out Tom. “You’re one of that bunch that
hangs around with Meyer Wolfsheim – that much I happen to know. I’ve made a
little investigation into your affairs – and I’ll carry it further tomorrow…I found out
what your ‘drugstores’ were…He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street
drugstores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of
his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t
far wrong.” - Tom, p. 168
o We have already identified Tom as a big jerk, but does he have a point here?
o Is Tom absolutely bad, and Gatsby absolutely good?
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“It was a yellow car,” he said, “big yellow car. New.” – p. 176
o If yellow is the color of opulence, what is the significance of this scene?
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“Well, I tried to swing the wheel –“ He broke off, and suddenly I guess at the truth.
“Was Daisy driving?”
“Yes,” he said after a moment, “but of course I’ll say I was.” – p. 181
o Do you think this is a noble or stupid act on the part of Gatsby?
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So I walked away and left him standing there in the moonlight – watching over
nothing.” – p. 183
o What is the significance of this, the final sentence in the chapter?
English 11 Honors: American Literature
Mr. Ambrose
Chapter 8 Discussion Questions
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Before he compliments Gatsby, Nick remarks, “They’re a rotten crowd.” To whom
does “they” refer? Is Nick’s compliment to Gatsby sincere?
A bit later Nick refers to Gatsby’s “corruption,” and against this is balanced “his
incorruptible dream.” How would you explain the paradox of the latter reference?
“I spoke to her…I told her she might fool me but she couldn’t fool God. I took her to
the window…and I said ‘God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve
been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!’”
Standing behind him, Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of
Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, which had just emerged, pale and enormous, from the
dissolving night.
“God sees everything,” repeated Wilson.
“That’s an advertisement.” – pp. 200-201
o How does this work into the “eyes” motif?
o Do you think the eyes represent the “all-seeing” power of God?
 Does that modify your view of any of the themes in the novel?
o Is Wilson as stupid as we initially thought? Why or why not?
How did Gatsby and Wilson die? The chauffeur who had heard the shots “hadn’t
thought anything much about them.” What do you think was the explanation for the
servants’ cool indifference?
Are there any other questions you would like to pose?
English 11 Honors: American Literature
Mr. Ambrose