The Great Gatsby, Chapters 7-9
with Complete Solutions
What is a "libertine," and who behaves like one in this book? - ANSWER - A libertine
is a person who is unrestrained by conventions or morality, and many of the guests
at Gatsby's parties, or perhaps even Tom & Daisy are libertines--Myrtle, too
How is the behavior of the characters linked to the hottest day of the summer? -
ANSWER - Tom appears short-tempered, and Daisy is on edge--the heat causes even
the smallest frustration to make them angry
What does Tom discover in Chapter VII that unnerves him? - ANSWER - In Chapter
VII, Tom sees the look in Daisy's eyes, and realizes that she actually loves Gatsby
What does Gatsby understand about Daisy's voice that Nick does not? - ANSWER -
Nick had been fascinated by Daisy's voice, but couldn't figure out why, exactly,
while Gatsby identifies her voice as "full of money," and understands all of her
voice's varied forms without question
What is a "prig," and who IS one? - ANSWER - A prig is an obnoxiously proper
person, and the only one who seems to act this way is Tom, though he is improper
himself
When the group travels to the city in Chapter VII, how do they get there? - ANSWER
- Gatsby and Daisy are in the coupe owned by the Buchanans when they drive to
the city, and Tom, Jordan, and Nick are in Gatsby's car
Why does Tom finally let Wilson have the car he has been promising him since
Chapter II? - ANSWER - Tom finally agrees to let Wilson have the car in Chapter VII,
but it's not clear whether it is out of guilt or some sort of understanding of how it
feels to be a husband who has been cheated on
What happens in Chapter VII that makes us believe that Myrtle is quite taken with
Tom for real? - ANSWER - Nick sees Myrtle's eyes widen in horror when she sees
, Jordan Baker in the car, and imagines her to be Tom's wife--this implies that Myrtle
really loves Tom
As earlier in the book, whose eyes besides Myrtle's keep "their vigil"? - ANSWER -
The eyes that really seem to be watching everything are the eyes of Doctor T.J.
Eckleburg
In what sense is Gatsby and "Oxford man," and what does this tell us about him? -
ANSWER - Since Gatsby attended a program at Oxford for former officers for five
months, there is a grain of truth to his contention that he is an "Oxford man," just
like every story he relates about himself
Nick tells us he is tempted to laugh at Tom, who is shouting about the absence of
morality and fidelity in the world--why is this? - ANSWER - Nick feels like laughing at
Tom, who is shouting about the absence of morality and fidelity even as he himself
is carrying on an affair with Myrtle
Why does Daisy call Tom "revolting"? - ANSWER - Daisy finds it revolting that Tom is
a known philanderer (cheater) who passes off his infidelity as "a little spree"
Why does Daisy have a very hard time telling Tom that she never loved him, as
Gatsby wishes? - ANSWER - Daisy may not care for Tom now, but she did once--and
saying she never did could be a very final act for her
Why does Gatsby need Daisy to admit she never loved Tom, and only cared for
Gatsby? - ANSWER - Gatsby needs Daisy to admit she never loved Tom because she
would then become part of Gatsby's attempt to control everything in his world
How has Gatsby gotten some of his money, according to Tom? - ANSWER - Tom says
that Gatsby's drugstores sell illegal alcohol
When Tom is talking about Gatsby's income in Chapter VII, what does he say that
startles Gatsby? - ANSWER - In addition to mentioning that Gatsby is a "bootlegger,"
Tom also says that Gatsby is involved in something so big that Tom's source was
even afraid to identify it
with Complete Solutions
What is a "libertine," and who behaves like one in this book? - ANSWER - A libertine
is a person who is unrestrained by conventions or morality, and many of the guests
at Gatsby's parties, or perhaps even Tom & Daisy are libertines--Myrtle, too
How is the behavior of the characters linked to the hottest day of the summer? -
ANSWER - Tom appears short-tempered, and Daisy is on edge--the heat causes even
the smallest frustration to make them angry
What does Tom discover in Chapter VII that unnerves him? - ANSWER - In Chapter
VII, Tom sees the look in Daisy's eyes, and realizes that she actually loves Gatsby
What does Gatsby understand about Daisy's voice that Nick does not? - ANSWER -
Nick had been fascinated by Daisy's voice, but couldn't figure out why, exactly,
while Gatsby identifies her voice as "full of money," and understands all of her
voice's varied forms without question
What is a "prig," and who IS one? - ANSWER - A prig is an obnoxiously proper
person, and the only one who seems to act this way is Tom, though he is improper
himself
When the group travels to the city in Chapter VII, how do they get there? - ANSWER
- Gatsby and Daisy are in the coupe owned by the Buchanans when they drive to
the city, and Tom, Jordan, and Nick are in Gatsby's car
Why does Tom finally let Wilson have the car he has been promising him since
Chapter II? - ANSWER - Tom finally agrees to let Wilson have the car in Chapter VII,
but it's not clear whether it is out of guilt or some sort of understanding of how it
feels to be a husband who has been cheated on
What happens in Chapter VII that makes us believe that Myrtle is quite taken with
Tom for real? - ANSWER - Nick sees Myrtle's eyes widen in horror when she sees
, Jordan Baker in the car, and imagines her to be Tom's wife--this implies that Myrtle
really loves Tom
As earlier in the book, whose eyes besides Myrtle's keep "their vigil"? - ANSWER -
The eyes that really seem to be watching everything are the eyes of Doctor T.J.
Eckleburg
In what sense is Gatsby and "Oxford man," and what does this tell us about him? -
ANSWER - Since Gatsby attended a program at Oxford for former officers for five
months, there is a grain of truth to his contention that he is an "Oxford man," just
like every story he relates about himself
Nick tells us he is tempted to laugh at Tom, who is shouting about the absence of
morality and fidelity in the world--why is this? - ANSWER - Nick feels like laughing at
Tom, who is shouting about the absence of morality and fidelity even as he himself
is carrying on an affair with Myrtle
Why does Daisy call Tom "revolting"? - ANSWER - Daisy finds it revolting that Tom is
a known philanderer (cheater) who passes off his infidelity as "a little spree"
Why does Daisy have a very hard time telling Tom that she never loved him, as
Gatsby wishes? - ANSWER - Daisy may not care for Tom now, but she did once--and
saying she never did could be a very final act for her
Why does Gatsby need Daisy to admit she never loved Tom, and only cared for
Gatsby? - ANSWER - Gatsby needs Daisy to admit she never loved Tom because she
would then become part of Gatsby's attempt to control everything in his world
How has Gatsby gotten some of his money, according to Tom? - ANSWER - Tom says
that Gatsby's drugstores sell illegal alcohol
When Tom is talking about Gatsby's income in Chapter VII, what does he say that
startles Gatsby? - ANSWER - In addition to mentioning that Gatsby is a "bootlegger,"
Tom also says that Gatsby is involved in something so big that Tom's source was
even afraid to identify it
