The Great Gatsby Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Page # 147-162

Chapter Summary
Tom is very worried about Gatsby and goes over to his house to tell him he should leave town for a while until Myrtle’s death blows over, but Gatsby refuses because he wants to hear Daisy’s response on who she will choose. Then Gatsby tells Nick about his true past about Daisy, the war, Oxford, and about how he lost his love. Then Nick goes to work even though he doesn’t want to and Gatsby decides to take a dip in a pool that he never uses. At work Nick is very distracted and only thinks about Gatsby and won’t even go on a date with a Jordan. Mr. Wilson gets really sick minded and he begins to look for the killer with the yellow car and he finally finds out Gatsby owns it, then in last part of the chapter Wilson kills Gatsby in the pool and then kills himself.

Character Analysis:
George Wilson

Quote:
“He was a blonde spiritless man, anemic, and faintly handsome. When he saw us damp a gleam of hope sprang into his light blue eyes.” (Nick 25)
“God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!…God sees everything.” (159-160 George Wilson)

Description:
He is Myrtle’s husband who owns an auto shop and in the last 2 chapters he begins to suspect that Myrtle is having an affair, which makes him both physically and mentally sick. For example George used to be a kind and good worker, but after his wife’s death his whole demeanor changed and, “George Wilson (became) sick in his own office-really sick, pale as his own pale hair and shaking all over.” (136) When Myrtle dies he becomes extremely mentally ill and is set on finding her killer. Before George became insane over his wife’s death he was a honest loving husband and a good, kind worker. Once he found out about his wife’s affair and later her death it changed the man completely giving him a “deranged grief” (164).


Character Role in Novel
George Wilson’s role in the novel is to show the contrast of innocent and sinful characters. We see the contrast between Tom and him, which helps us understand the characterization Fitzgerald is trying to convey. George also shows the effects other characters can have on others when they do wrong and that one lie and sin can lead to a big problem and sadness. Also George especially depends the plot in the story. We also see the transformation a person has, when something truly terrible happens to them. George Wilson is one of the main parts in climax of the novel because he kills Gatsby, one of the main characters, and then kills himself.


Meaningful Quote:
“God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!…God sees everything.” (159-160 George Wilson)

Significance:
This quote is significant because no matter what you do even if you can get away from getting in trouble, only you and God will know about what you did. If you want to live a life full of lies like Gatsby, Tom, or Myrtle than that is your decision, but it is important to think about if you are doing the right thing and who you can hurt in the process. Tom hurts Daisy, Myrtle makes George go insane after her death, and Gatsby becomes obsessed with Daisy, which partially leads to his death. It is important to know that usually a little white lie catches up with you and we see many times in the novel with Tom, Myrtle, and especially Gatsby. This quote is significant because it tells you that cheating and lying may be fun or an easy way out, but it is not the right thing to do and only you and God know it, which you will have to live with.