Heat
In this chapter, heat and temperature is seen as a catalyst that drives the characters to the edge, and causes tempers to fly. The heat escalates emotions, which caused Gatsby and Tom to have the face of in the hot and stuffy hotel room over their affection of Daisy.
Early on in the chapter as tempers begin to flare on the train to East Egg, it foresdadows the upcoming events towards the end of the chapter.
"The straw seats of the car hovered on the edge of combustion; the woman next to me perspired delicately for a while into her white shirtwaist, and then, as her newspaper dampened under her fingers, lapsed despairingly into deep heat with a desolate cry." (114)
The introduction to the setting and temperature at the beginning of the chapter foreshadows towards the climax of the novel, and the tensions bursting at the seems between Jay and Tom.
"The next day was broiling, almost the last, certainly the warmest of the summer... only the hot whistles of the National Biscuit Company broke the simmering hush at noon." (102)
The heat also causes confusion and misunderstanding in the fight between Jay and Tom. When Daisy is caught in between it, she is not able to think straight and utters, "It's so hot, and everything's so confused" (106)
"The relentless beating heat was begining to confuse me" -Nick (124)
The heat also symbolizes Daisy and Gatsby's relationship in the sense that their openness about their emotions and feeling out, and on the hottest day of the summer it reaches its climax.
In this chapter, heat and temperature is seen as a catalyst that drives the characters to the edge, and causes tempers to fly. The heat escalates emotions, which caused Gatsby and Tom to have the face of in the hot and stuffy hotel room over their affection of Daisy.
Early on in the chapter as tempers begin to flare on the train to East Egg, it foresdadows the upcoming events towards the end of the chapter.
"The straw seats of the car hovered on the edge of combustion; the woman next to me perspired delicately for a while into her white shirtwaist, and then, as her newspaper dampened under her fingers, lapsed despairingly into deep heat with a desolate cry." (114)
The introduction to the setting and temperature at the beginning of the chapter foreshadows towards the climax of the novel, and the tensions bursting at the seems between Jay and Tom.
"The next day was broiling, almost the last, certainly the warmest of the summer... only the hot whistles of the National Biscuit Company broke the simmering hush at noon." (102)
The heat also causes confusion and misunderstanding in the fight between Jay and Tom. When Daisy is caught in between it, she is not able to think straight and utters, "It's so hot, and everything's so confused" (106)
"The relentless beating heat was begining to confuse me" -Nick (124)
The heat also symbolizes Daisy and Gatsby's relationship in the sense that their openness about their emotions and feeling out, and on the hottest day of the summer it reaches its climax.
Setting: Valley of Ashes/ New York City
New York City
The Big Apple represents a place where the actions of the characters are executed without any consideration of consequences. Much like in previous chapters, when Tom brings Myrtle to the city as a safe place to continue their affair, it is a place where corruption and illegal activities are the norm. Bootlegging, illegal clubs, criminal activities are all central to the city, and is also where Gatsby comes to discuss any of his business with Meyer Wolfsheim.
Valley of Ashes
This desolate area of barren wasteland of those who are trying to work their way to achieve wealth, success, and the American dream, is ironically located between West Egg and New York, which are two areas where success is common.
The area is poetically compared to and symbolizes a no-man's land, referencing WWI, between the two locations. The inhabitants can then be seen as "dead bodies" which represent the victims of greed and corruption, and are stuck in poverty. (Brighthub Education)
"Fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens..." (23)
New York City
The Big Apple represents a place where the actions of the characters are executed without any consideration of consequences. Much like in previous chapters, when Tom brings Myrtle to the city as a safe place to continue their affair, it is a place where corruption and illegal activities are the norm. Bootlegging, illegal clubs, criminal activities are all central to the city, and is also where Gatsby comes to discuss any of his business with Meyer Wolfsheim.
Valley of Ashes
This desolate area of barren wasteland of those who are trying to work their way to achieve wealth, success, and the American dream, is ironically located between West Egg and New York, which are two areas where success is common.
The area is poetically compared to and symbolizes a no-man's land, referencing WWI, between the two locations. The inhabitants can then be seen as "dead bodies" which represent the victims of greed and corruption, and are stuck in poverty. (Brighthub Education)
"Fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens..." (23)
Automobiles
-In the turn of the industrial revolution, Henry Ford's "assembly line" tactic to building cars was just being implemented, so during the time of the novel, cars were not as easily obtainable.
-They were a symbol of wealth, fame and social status
-Two cars are central to the chapter seven story line: Gatsby's and Tom's
Gatsby's
“It was a rich cream color, bright and there in it’s monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of wind-shields that mirrored a dozen suns.” (33)
-Jay's car is is a marvellous Rolls-Royce, one that would catch anyone's eye (especially Daisy's), whom he tries to lure in with his wealth that is expressed through his car.
Tom's
-While Tom's "old blue coupe" is nothing as near as impressive as Gatsby's car, he tries to defend himself by calling Jay's as a clown car
"I'll take you in this circus wagon" (121)
The irony in the value of the cars is that Gatsby's Rolls, is far more superior to Tom's old coupe. Gatsby believes that the only reason that Daisy didn't marry him instead of Tom was because he was not rich, so now he compensates for his poor past with extravagant possessions like his car.
"She never loved you, do you hear? She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me!" (130)
Cars are also seen as a symbol of freedom, in the sense that they will effortlessly take you where ever you want to be. But ironically as Myrtle tried to make her escape from her imprisonment by her husband and run to start her new life away from the abuse, she was struck and killed by the thing that was supposed to get her far away and start her new life. (Brighthub Education)
"I've got my wife locked up in there", "she's going to stay there till the day after to-morrow, and then we're going to move away" (136)
Later on in the chapter, Gatsby's cream coloured car is referred to as the "Death Car" (137)
Nick foreshadows as he comments on the drive home after realizing that it is his 30th birthday when he says, "So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight" (136)
-In the turn of the industrial revolution, Henry Ford's "assembly line" tactic to building cars was just being implemented, so during the time of the novel, cars were not as easily obtainable.
-They were a symbol of wealth, fame and social status
-Two cars are central to the chapter seven story line: Gatsby's and Tom's
Gatsby's
“It was a rich cream color, bright and there in it’s monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of wind-shields that mirrored a dozen suns.” (33)
-Jay's car is is a marvellous Rolls-Royce, one that would catch anyone's eye (especially Daisy's), whom he tries to lure in with his wealth that is expressed through his car.
Tom's
-While Tom's "old blue coupe" is nothing as near as impressive as Gatsby's car, he tries to defend himself by calling Jay's as a clown car
"I'll take you in this circus wagon" (121)
The irony in the value of the cars is that Gatsby's Rolls, is far more superior to Tom's old coupe. Gatsby believes that the only reason that Daisy didn't marry him instead of Tom was because he was not rich, so now he compensates for his poor past with extravagant possessions like his car.
"She never loved you, do you hear? She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me!" (130)
Cars are also seen as a symbol of freedom, in the sense that they will effortlessly take you where ever you want to be. But ironically as Myrtle tried to make her escape from her imprisonment by her husband and run to start her new life away from the abuse, she was struck and killed by the thing that was supposed to get her far away and start her new life. (Brighthub Education)
"I've got my wife locked up in there", "she's going to stay there till the day after to-morrow, and then we're going to move away" (136)
Later on in the chapter, Gatsby's cream coloured car is referred to as the "Death Car" (137)
Nick foreshadows as he comments on the drive home after realizing that it is his 30th birthday when he says, "So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight" (136)
Colours
Green- Represents hope, the future, and growing (like what Gatsby literally reached for towards the light on Daisy's dock). He hopes their relationship can flourish again and grow. Although, it is also the colour of money, and represents the American Dream (Gatsby believes he needs money to woo Daisy)
"Her voice is full of money" (120)
"He felt the hot, green leather on the seat" (120)
Gold- Represents wealth (accessories on Gatsby's car)
Yellow- Represents corruption (fake/veneer gold) Gatsby's cream/yellow car is one of the largest signs of corruption. Paid for it with corrupt/bootlegging money (Also runs over Myrtle)
White- Represents innocence and purity "powdered white over their tan" (116) The two girls, Jordan & Daisy are often seen in white or cream dresses, and want to be seen as innocent young women.
"High in a white place the king's daughter, the golden girl" (120) This description of Daisy depicts her as an innocent little "princess"
Although the combination of a white outer shell, and a yellow (corrupt) inside contradicts itself, and is a perfect metaphor to describe Daisy's character. On the outside she seems so pure and innocent, yet on the inside is really a different person (caught up in an affair with Gatsby)
Gray- Represents greed, lifelessness, and hopelessness (like the Valley of Ashes)
Blue- Represents illusion and false hopes (Tom's coupe is blue, and Gatsby and Daisy drove in it into the city before their relationship took a turn for the worse)
Green- Represents hope, the future, and growing (like what Gatsby literally reached for towards the light on Daisy's dock). He hopes their relationship can flourish again and grow. Although, it is also the colour of money, and represents the American Dream (Gatsby believes he needs money to woo Daisy)
"Her voice is full of money" (120)
"He felt the hot, green leather on the seat" (120)
Gold- Represents wealth (accessories on Gatsby's car)
Yellow- Represents corruption (fake/veneer gold) Gatsby's cream/yellow car is one of the largest signs of corruption. Paid for it with corrupt/bootlegging money (Also runs over Myrtle)
White- Represents innocence and purity "powdered white over their tan" (116) The two girls, Jordan & Daisy are often seen in white or cream dresses, and want to be seen as innocent young women.
"High in a white place the king's daughter, the golden girl" (120) This description of Daisy depicts her as an innocent little "princess"
Although the combination of a white outer shell, and a yellow (corrupt) inside contradicts itself, and is a perfect metaphor to describe Daisy's character. On the outside she seems so pure and innocent, yet on the inside is really a different person (caught up in an affair with Gatsby)
Gray- Represents greed, lifelessness, and hopelessness (like the Valley of Ashes)
Blue- Represents illusion and false hopes (Tom's coupe is blue, and Gatsby and Daisy drove in it into the city before their relationship took a turn for the worse)
Bootlegging & Crime
"Who is Gatsby anyway?", "Some kind of bootlegger?"
" I didn't hear it. I imagined it. A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers you know." (107)
When Tom first encounters Gatsby's wealth at one of his parties, he refuses to believe that the money was earned fairly.
In the time of prohibition, alcohol smuggling was one of the largest and most profitable markets. Although it was not earning a living legally, it was one of the easiest ways of obtaining the "American Dream". It brought you wealth, friends in high places (like the police commissioner in Gatsby's club), and fame. All of which Gatsby had.
Much like the colour yellow, anything involving bootlegging represents and symbolizes corruption of the American Dream, questionable morals, and social decay (like the Valley of Ashes).
In the beginning of the chapter when Jay replaces all of his butlers with Wolfsheim's, the reasoning behind it was so gossip would not spread, and these new "employees" would keep their mouths shut. This means that loyalty and secrecy is able to be bought and questions morale.
"I wanted somebody who wouldn't gossip"- Gatsby (114)
Later on again, Tom actually accuses Gatsby of being a bootlegger straight to his face, and in front of people, in attempt to skew Daisy's view on Gatsby. Daisy's decision of going with Gatsby or staying with Tom is tainted by "what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams" (2) Staying with Tom gives Daisy safety, and security, where is she is not sure what would happen if she went with Gatsby (being swallowed up in his mysterious past).
"She's not leaving me!", "Certainly not for a common swindler who'd have to steal the ring put on her finger." (133)
"You're one of that bunch that hangs around with Meyer Wolfsheim", "I found out what your 'drug-stores'", "I picked him for a bootlegger when I saw him, and I wasn't far wrong" (133)
"Who is Gatsby anyway?", "Some kind of bootlegger?"
" I didn't hear it. I imagined it. A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers you know." (107)
When Tom first encounters Gatsby's wealth at one of his parties, he refuses to believe that the money was earned fairly.
In the time of prohibition, alcohol smuggling was one of the largest and most profitable markets. Although it was not earning a living legally, it was one of the easiest ways of obtaining the "American Dream". It brought you wealth, friends in high places (like the police commissioner in Gatsby's club), and fame. All of which Gatsby had.
Much like the colour yellow, anything involving bootlegging represents and symbolizes corruption of the American Dream, questionable morals, and social decay (like the Valley of Ashes).
In the beginning of the chapter when Jay replaces all of his butlers with Wolfsheim's, the reasoning behind it was so gossip would not spread, and these new "employees" would keep their mouths shut. This means that loyalty and secrecy is able to be bought and questions morale.
"I wanted somebody who wouldn't gossip"- Gatsby (114)
Later on again, Tom actually accuses Gatsby of being a bootlegger straight to his face, and in front of people, in attempt to skew Daisy's view on Gatsby. Daisy's decision of going with Gatsby or staying with Tom is tainted by "what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams" (2) Staying with Tom gives Daisy safety, and security, where is she is not sure what would happen if she went with Gatsby (being swallowed up in his mysterious past).
"She's not leaving me!", "Certainly not for a common swindler who'd have to steal the ring put on her finger." (133)
"You're one of that bunch that hangs around with Meyer Wolfsheim", "I found out what your 'drug-stores'", "I picked him for a bootlegger when I saw him, and I wasn't far wrong" (133)