Chapter Two Flashcards
What does Nick describe between West Egg and New York City?
A ‘waste land’ known as the ‘Valley of Ashes’ where the ashes from the city are dumped.
Whose eyes watch over the Valley of Ashes?
A billboard for an eye doctor’s no longer existing practice - Doctor T. J. Eckleburg.
Where does Tom lead Nick one day on the railway carriage?
Gets off at the Valley of Ashes to lead Nick to George Wilson’s auto-garage.
What does Nick learn?
That Tom’s mistress is Wilson’s wife - Myrtle.
What does George Wilson have in his hair?
Ashes.
What does Myrtle strike Nick as?
Vibrant and oddly sensuous.
What does Tom discuss with George and tell Myrtle to do whilst Tom is getting chairs?
Tom talks with Wilson about buying a car and whilst he is getting chairs, he tells Myrtle to meet them in a little while at the train station.
What different reactions do Myrtle and Wilson have to the world that left them behind?
Wilson is vague and defeated with weak dreams he cannot fulfil however, Myrtle wants desperately to be part of the world so she goes with Tom.
Where do Myrtle, Tom and Nick go to?
Tom’s apartment in New York to conduct his affair.
Who else shows up to the New York apartment?
Myrtle’s sister, Catherine as does another couple.
Everyone gets drunk - for Nick this is only his second time being drunk.
What does the drunkness reveal about the 1920’s?
That alcohol hides the desperation of the Roaring Twenties - being the only thing that makes parties seem fun or bearable.
When the conversation shifts to Gatsby, what is discussed?
Catherine says she is afraid of him as she heard he is related to Kaiser Wilhelm - everyone agrees that he is involved in some shifty business.
What gift does Tom give Myrtle?
A puppy.
Whose name does Myrtle tease Tom with?
Daisy’s - Tom says she has no right to use her name. Myrtle then proceeds to call out ‘Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!’.
How does Tom react to Myrtle using Daisy’s name?
He punches her in the face and the party ends.
