Nickis repulsed by the way Tomtreats Myrtle; he sees Tomfor what he truly is and how he truly sees women. He sees that Tomtreats women like property-because he pays for the apartment in the city and buys her things he believes that he can treather however he wants to (including breaking her nose). Click to see full answer
Full Answer
How does Nick react to Tom's reaction to Myrtle's death?
May 18, 2020 · Nick is repulsed by the way Tom treats Myrtle; he sees Tom for what he truly is and how he truly sees women. He sees that Tom treats women like property-because he pays for the apartment in the city and buys her things he believes that he can treat her however he wants to (including breaking her nose).
Why does Myrtle want to stick with Tom?
In this chapter, Tom insists in taking Nick with him to go to the city and see Myrtle Wilson, his mistress. Myrtle is married to George B. Wilson, who is doing auto mechanic work for Tom.
Why does Tom break Myrtle's nose?
Nick Carraway, a narrator seemingly born to be disappointed, gets a revelation about the West Eggers he initially reveres as he sees Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson's interactions in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." The attitude of Daisy Buchanan's brutal husband towards his common-born mistress moves Nick from a state of admiration to disillusion, uncertainty and …
Why does Nick worry about Tom grieving for Myrtle?
Mar 30, 2014 · When Nick, Tom and Myrtle finally arrive to their apartment in New York, Myrtle does several things: she changes her clothes at a rapid rate, and Nick notes that she changes her dress to a “muslin” which is a dress that suggests a higher social class.
What does Nick feel about Tom?
Nick's subsequent responses to the novel's events arise from this encounter; from this moment on, Nick feels only revulsion for Tom. He sees that Tom's attitude toward Mrs. Wilson, indeed to all women, is to consider them as property and chattel. Nick's reaction to this is two-fold: he does nothing to help the West Eggers reconcile or solve problems, small as his help might be. He also increases his admiration for Gatsby who is deeply in love with Daisy: "a son of God ... about His Father's business." Nick adores the romanticism Gatsby represents, but he despises Tom's lack of commitment.
What is Nick's point of view in Gatsby?
Nick's actions now reflect what Douglas Taylor calls his "bifocal," or two-sided, point of view: he encourages Gatsby's reconciliation with Daisy while looking askance not only at Tom and Myrtle's seamy affair but also the party-goers they associate with, as if Tom is responsible for the social ills of West Egg. He retreats from active involvement more and more: when Mrs. Wilson is killed in a hit-and-run, Nick refuses to comfort Tom, saying "I wanted to be alone," and he allows Gatsby to take the blame. Nick knows Daisy is the driver, but says nothing, retreating passively.
Why is Nick the only survivor in the book?
In the book's final chapter, Nick, who did nothing to prevent Gatsby's murder, becomes uselessly frantic over the details of his friend's burial, and even forces himself to shake hands with Tom. "Po or son of a bitch," says an observer of Gatsby's service; he could also be speaking of the rudderless narrator.
What is Nick's character change?
Nick's initial character change occurs in Chapter Two when Myrtle Wilson exchanges what he sees as "intense vitality" for "hauteur": she leaves her home to party with her lover, and Tom breaks her nose for repeating Daisy's name. Fitzgerald plays an unusual narrative trick when Nick describes the chaos: "bloody towels upon the bathroom floor ... a long broken wail of pain." Nick is far from the scene, talking to McKee over portfolios, and the subject already closed. W.H. Frohack notes that Nick is mentally blocking the violence against Daisy, and Nick's narration represents Fitzgerald's reaction to brutality in his own circle.
Who is Nick Carraway?
Nick Carraway, a narrator seemingly born to be disappointed, gets a revelation about the West Eggers he initially reveres as he sees Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson's interactions in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." The attitude of Daisy Buchanan's brutal husband towards his common-born mistress moves Nick from a state of admiration to disillusion, uncertainty and passive acceptance of the novel's final events.
Who is Michael Stratford?
Michael Stratford is a National Board-certified and Single Subject Credentialed teacher with a Master of Science in educational rehabilitation (University of Montana, 1995). He has taught English at the 6-12 level for more than 20 years. He has written extensively in literary criticism, student writing syllabi and numerous classroom educational paradigms.
What does Myrtle do when she arrives in New York?
When Nick, Tom and Myrtle finally arrive to their apartment in New York, Myrtle does several things: she changes her clothes at a rapid rate , and Nick notes that she changes her dress to a “muslin” which is a dress that suggests a higher social class. As we discussed, there is a lot of importance in how we dress — especially in the novel; the characters pay special attention to their outer appearances, since class is really based on general superficialities — such as what they wear, and what possessions they obtain. We still see instances of this today. Before even arriving to their apartment, Tom buys Myrtle an expensive dog (now $133), and lets about four taxi cabs pass her by before she decides to get into one. Myrtle is behaving like she is from East Egg; New York is a key setting in the novel in that characters can create their own identities in New York because anything seems to be possible. Therefore, it is all too easy for Myrtle to behave like an aristocrat, when in reality, she is from the “Valley of Ashes” and is extremely poor.
What is the chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby?
Chapter 2 – Myrtle’s Party. In Chapter 2, we are also introduced to Myrtle — Tom Buchanan’s mistress and George Wilson’s wife. Myrtle is described as being “faintly stout, but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can” (25). Contrary to Daisy, Myrtle is not a dainty, thin woman, but rather on the bigger side.
Does Tom introduce Nick to Myrtle?
Interestingly enough, Tom introduces Nick to Myrtle, even though Daisy is Nick’s second cousin; the fact that he does so obviously indicates his sociopathic tendencies. We also discussed that Tom is most likely using Nick to boost his own ego. Remember that contrary to Tom, Wilson actually works and has his own business, ...
Is Myrtle a dainty woman?
Contrary to Daisy, Myrtle is not a dainty, thin woman, but rather on the bigger side. However, although she is not as pristine and dainty as Daisy, she still possesses a vitality about her that is striking; Myrtle is interesting in that she is not the typical definition of “beautiful”, but rather she possesses a charm that separates her from ...
What does Tom do when Myrtle repeats Daisy's name?
When Myrtle begins repeating Daisy's name over and over, Tom makes a "short deft movement" and breaks her nose with his open hand. Tom's violent reaction portrays him as an aggressive, insensitive man who is impulsive and lacks discretion. Tom's display of violence also reveals his feelings towards Myrtle Wilson.
Why does Tom refuse to allow Daisy to speak of her?
Instead, Tom's alliance is clearly with his wife Daisy, which is why he refuses to allow his mistress to speak of her. Despite his affair, this scene proves that Tom holds Daisy in a higher regard than Myrtle, and he doesn't flinch to use violence to remind Myrtle where his loyalties lie.
What does Tom's display of violence reveal about Myrtle Wilson?
Tom's display of violence also reveals his feelings towards Myrtle Wilson. In Tom's eyes, Myrtle is simply an object with which he can do whatever he wishes. Tom is not shy about his affairs. He does not view Myrtle as a potential spouse and appears to have no plans of leaving Daisy for her.
What does Tom's violent actions reveal about him in chapter 2?
Tom's violent actions reveal that he views Myrtle as an object with which he can do whatever he pleases.
What does Tom do to Myrtle?
In response, Tom unexpectedly uses his open hand to break Myrtle's nose. Blood goes everywhere. This act shows that Tom is a violent man with no respect for Myrtle.
Why does Tom break his mistress's nose?
He breaks his mistress's nose for speaking his wife's name. This shows that Tom views Myrtle much differently from the way he views his wife. He's elitist, and so he treats his wife, who is of much higher worth and value, much better than he treats his mistress, who is of a lower social class and is relatively poor.
Why do women line up to be with Tom?
There will always be women lining up to be with Tom because he's so rich and young and handsome. Back in Chapter One, when Daisy insisted on repeating a word—"hulking"—that Tom doesn't like, he merely "object [s] [...] crossly" at her use of the word. He doesn't slap her or even get angry at her.
What chapter does Nick learn about Tom's relationship with Myrtle?
This violence, always implicit in Tom's character, is unleashed at the end of chapter 2 , when Nick learns that Tom's relationship with Myrtle is, if anything, unhappier and more abusive than his relationship with Daisy. They have been getting drunk together, along with Myrtle's sister, Catherine , and the residents of a neighboring apartment. Nick has already learned that Tom is dishonest with his mistress as well as with his wife. He has told Myrtle, for instance, that he cannot obtain a divorce because Daisy...
What is a certified educator?
Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team.
Did Nick know Tom Buchanan?
Nick did not know Tom Buchanan particularly well at Yale, but in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby, he is plunged into the midst of his domestic affairs when they become neighbors in West and East Egg. At the beginning of Chapter 2, Tom announces peremptorily that he is going to introduce Nick to his mistress, Myrtle Wilson:
Where does Myrtle Wilson live?
She feels imprisoned in her marriage to George, a downtrodden and uninspiring man who she mistakenly believed had good “breeding.” Myrtle and George live together in a ramshackle garage in the squalid “valley of ashes,” a pocket of working-class desperation situated midway between New York and the suburbs of East and West Egg . Myrtle attempts to escape her social position by becoming a mistress to the wealthy Tom Buchanan, who buys her gifts (including a puppy) and rents her an apartment in Manhattan, where Myrtle play-acts an upper-class lifestyle, dressing up, throwing parties, expressing disgust for servants. Myrtle seems to believe Tom genuinely loves her, and would marry her if only Daisy would divorce him. Nick knows that Tom would never marry Myrtle, and the lopsidedness of the relationship makes Myrtle a more sympathetic character than she would be otherwise. To Tom, Myrtle is just another possession, and when she tries to assert her own will, he resorts to violence to put her in her place. Tom at once ensures and endangers her upwardly mobile desires.
What does Tom do to Myrtle?
To Tom, Myrtle is just another possession, and when she tries to assert her own will, he resorts to violence to put her in her place. Tom at once ensures and endangers her upwardly mobile desires. Although The Great Gatsby is full of tragic characters who don’t get what they want, Myrtle’s fate is among the most tragic, ...
Why does Daisy run out in front of Gatsby's car?
When she escapes and runs out in front of Gatsby’s car, she does so because she saw Tom driving it earlier in the day; she thinks he’s behind the wheel. Daisy, who doesn’t know Myrtle, is driving the car when it strikes Myrtle down; Daisy doesn’t even stop to see what happened , and escapes without consequences.
Where do George and Myrtle live?
Myrtle and George live together in a ramshackle garage in the squalid “valley of ashes,” a pocket of working-class desperation situated midway between New York and the suburbs of East and West Egg.
Where does Myrtle live in the movie?
Myrtle attempts to escape her social position by becoming a mistress to the wealthy Tom Buchanan, who buys her gifts (including a puppy) and rents her an apartment in Manhattan, where Myrtle play-acts an upper-class lifestyle, dressing up, throwing parties, expressing disgust for servants.
Who are the lower class characters in Tom and Daisy?
The lower class characters – Gatsby, Myrtle, and George – are thus essentially sacrificed for the moral failings of the upper class characters of Tom and Daisy. Previous section Jordan Baker. Test your knowledge.
What does Gatsby say to Nick about Myrtle?
stood it pretty well." The next day, Nick suggests that he "go away," perhaps to "Atlantic City or Montreal" until things blow over, but Gatsby refuses. He assures Nick that he and Daisy will reunite, telling him Daisy barely knew what she was saying the day before at the hotel. As he leaves, Gatsby says, "I suppose Daisy'll call..." and Nick, although he knows better, replies, "I suppose so."
What does Nick think of Myrtle's death?
Nick is more or less unaffected by Myrtle's death and simply narrates the events without revealing his emotions. Following Myrtle's death, Nick is fed up with Jay Gatsby and disgusted by the personalities and lifestyles of the Buchanans. Nick has nothing to say to Gatsby and believes that he is capable of anything. At the same time, Nick recognizes that Tom and Daisy are primarily responsible for the entire incident and understands that his friend is simply a hopeless romantic.
What happens when Tom discovers that Myrtle is dead?
Once Tom informs him that Gatsby was responsible for her death, George vows revenge and proceeds to murder Jay Gatsby. Similarly, Tom also become s emotional after discovering that Myrtle is dead. Myrtle's death also shatters Tom's stable life, and he recognizes that he will be forced to adjust his lifestyle once again.
What does George Wilson scream?
George Wilson is completely devastated by his wife's sudden death and cannot maintain his composure as he proceeds to incessantly scream, "O, my Ga-od! O, my Ga-od! Oh, Ga-od!". while the police attempt to gather more information regarding the unfortunate incident.
How long is the free trial for eNotes?
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.
What is a certified educator?
Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team.
Does Jay Gatsby regret Myrtle's death?
Jay Gatsby is relatively unfazed by Myrtle's death and does not show much remorse. He is primarily concerned with Daisy's well-being and is even willing to take the blame for Myrtle's death. Gatsby decides to remain outside Daisy's home and wait for Tom to return in order to protect her if Tom becomes aggressive. However, Gatsby does not realize that Daisy is content living with Tom and that the couple plans on moving away until the dust settles.
Why did Nick think Daisy ran over Myrtle?
He worries that if Tom knows Daisy was responsible for Myrtle's death, he might think she ran Myrtle over on purpose because she realized Tom was sleeping with her . Nick fears that Tom, grieving for his dead lover, might hurt Daisy:
What does Nick believe about Tom's tears?
Nick seems to believe, however, that Tom's tears really were for his mistress, as he tells Gatsby that " [Tom] won't touch [Daisy] [...]. He's not thinking about her.". He believes that Tom genuinely did care for Myrtle. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team.
What is Tom's first thought when he finds out what happened?
He had earlier taunted George Wilson with Gatsby 's car, pretending it was his own. Now, Tom's first thought is to walk that back and make sure Wilson doesn't identify the car as his.
What car hit Myrtle?
Tom realizes that witnesses will soon piece together that the car which hit Myrtle was the ostentatious, yellow Rolls-Royce that has shuttled the city's elite back and forth to Gatsby's residence for months.
What is Tom's reaction to Myrtle's death in The Great Gatsby?
Tom's reaction to Myrtle's death in The Great Gatsby indicates that he is shocked by her violent and sudden death. However, his quick recovery and intentional efforts to distance himself from the yellow Rolls Royce demonstrate that he cares much more about himself than he ever did about Myrtle. Download PDF.
How long is the free trial for eNotes?
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.
What is Tom's immediate response after learning what happened to Myrtle, speaking with her widower, and
Tom's immediate response, after learning what happened to Myrtle, speaking with her widower, and seeing her body, is to cry. Nick says, as they are driving speedily away from the scene of the gruesome accident,
