Great Gatsby – Chapter 7

I’m taking a step backward and elaborating on my Chapter 5 blog. I was so certain the West and East Eggs symbolized different Americas. Those on the West Egg were quite emotional, like Nick and Gatsby. They were the “real” America that the majority of us know. Daisy and Tom on the East Egg seemed to be so focused on money that they didn’t have room for emotions. They were the “other” America; the rich America that had a different set of rules. However, there was a flaw in my theory, because Daisy had an emotional moment when she was with Gatsby in chapter 5. Therefore, East Egg inhabitants were not the cold people I was striving to prove they were. After Chapter 7, I have tuned my idea.

It’s obvious Tom and Daisy are wealthy and pretty focused on the material side of life. However, when they leave their comfortable life on the East Egg, those materials no longer hold as much value. Everything hits the fan in this chapter. Emotions run high and strong.

Nick, Jordan, Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby all decide to hang out one day. Big mistake, guys! Tom uncovers the truth about Daisy and Gatsby. After sitting on the truth, he declares his knowledge of the subject with rage and sadness. Daisy responds with just as much passion. Readers get to see them fight, love, and lose.

So, what does this have to do with the West and East Eggs? I’ve concluded once out of sheltered East Egg life, inhabitants return to their original selves. They have emotions and convictions, thoughts not based on money, but on feelings, and determination for more than their status. Family, friends, life and love all have new meanings. Once they cross the Long Island Sound to the West Egg, or even further, they are subject to real life. It’s not perfect. It’s ugly. But it’s real and what’s real cannot be helped:

“Self-control!” Repeated Tom incredulously. “I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife. Well, if that’s the idea you can count me out. . . . 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.”

Flushed with his impassioned gibberish, he saw himself standing alone on the last barrier of civilization. (Great Gatsby, p. 130)

This outburst from Tom greatly altered my perception of him. He was a real person outside his fidelity, abuse, and secrecy. He could fight for the wife he cheats on. He could grow tired of the facade. He could come out of his perfect world to challenge what’s wrong in place of what’s right. He could change. But only outside the East Egg.

The East Egg is a different life. In NYC, where the fight between Gatsby and Tom occurs, the rules East Egg dwellers play by no longer exist. Quiet fights become outright arguments. Doormat wives become tormented victims. Cheating husbands become heartbroken victims to Karma. The East Egg lifestyle doesn’t exist elsewhere.