The Great Gatsby, Chapter 8

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I had a slight foreboding of this chapter from the second I read this line, "I felt that I had something to tell him, something to warm him about, and morning would be too late" (Fitzgerald 147). When Nick and Gatsby settle down to spend their time together, the mood is one of great hopelessness, or at least Nick sees it. Gatsby, on the other-hand, most likely based on instinct or at least an attempt to hold on to what he has been seeking to rekindle for years still refuses to let go, "He was clutching at some last hope and I couldn't bear to shake him free" (Fitzgerald 148). I am finally starting to see a theme involving these main characters and their bitter-sweet nostalgic outlook of the past. It seems as though, for most of them, their times back home out west was filled with much more happiness, good memories, and love. Over and over throughout this book, Gatsby's made reference's to marrying Daisy back in Louisville, so it must hold some great sentimental value to him. In his recount of the past to Nick he mentions how that town, the one where he and Daisy shared their memories, "was pervaded with a melancholy beauty" (Fitzgerald 152). Its a common feeling when one feels a depressed nostalgia about cheerful times now reduced to memories. Yes, it is beautiful because these memories hold with them a certain great happiness that you so wish to revisit, but at the same time, it is surrounded by much melancholy due to the fact that the past is past. So during this entire visit between Nick and Gatsby, the whole situation practically screams impeding tragedy. The entire time, Nick is thinking about how he doesn't want to leave Gatsby and when he finally does, he gives him a finalizing, concluding compliment which he remarks he had never done before, "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together" (Fitzgerald 154). Do not forget to mention the final line before the space where Fitzgerald clearly adds in the "goodbye" from Nick. Realizing that simple exchanges such as this are not just added for no reason in these types of novels, I find that those words do carry a great weight. It appears to be Nick finally saying good-bye to the man and the lifestyle that has been the subject of his life for the past couple months.

I do not know that Nick is just overwhelmed by the past events and for the time being wants nothing to do with Jordan, but I do find it very sad when he very distastefully avoids meeting with her over the phone. When at first she calls, it is quite evident that she is still bitter about his attitude towards her the night before, however she still cares and gives him a another chance when she says, "However- I want to see you" (Fitzgerald 155). I firmly believe that Nick still does love Jordan and, if not for the current circumstances, would reconcile with her, but he is still shaken by the past events and tells her, "It's impossible this afternoon. Various-" (Fitzgerald 155). After reading about Nick's realization in the earlier chapters that he is thirty and has entered the downward spiral of his life, I was really hoping that this relationship between him and Jordan would last, for his sake of ever having a wife and children. I cannot say what the future holds for Nick now, but I do believe his words on the phone permanently sealed off the relationship he once had with Jordan.

I suppose my ramblings about the foreshadowing of an impeding doom do account for something because Mr. Wilson does find out that it was Gatsby's car who killed his wife and he does seek out and murder Gatsby. If it means anything, I might add that Wilson is found dead on the scene as well. I suspect suicide was what did him in.