1. THE GREAT GATSBY CHAPTER 2

2. THE VALLEY OF ASHES Located half way between West Egg and New York Nick refers to this place as the Valley of Ashes because there seems to be ash always in the air and it creates a layer on everything. What does this show? This is a rather poor area. Many of the businesses are boarded up and most businesses don’t seem to be doing well. The train stops here if the drawbridge over the river is raised. This is where Tom’s mistress lives.

3. MEETING THE MISTRESS Tom was open about this affair; he “turned up in popular restaurants with her” (24). Nick didn’t want to meet the mistress, he felt like he was betraying Daisy. However, Tom insisted…”the supercilious assumption was that on Sunday afternoon I had nothing better to do” (24). They went to the garage of George B. Wilson, the mistress’s husband. Tom claims he’s going to sell George a car, which gives him an excuse to keep popping up. He has no idea that his wife is having an affair.

4. MYRTLE WILSON mid 30s (so older than Tom), a bit thick but she carries it well, plain clothes, has a “perceptible vitality” about her (25), a stronger character than her husband She sends her husband out of the room so she can talk to Tom and arrange a meeting. She will get on the train and meet Tom and Nick at the station in the city. Her husband thinks she goes to see her sister. Once in the city, she begins buying random items that Tom pays for. This is her chance to act like one of the elite.

5. THE LOVE NEST Tom and Myrtle have an apartment in the city. They are there quite often and are now getting a dog. Nick tries to leave when they get to the apartment, but Tom doesn’t let him. They are inviting Myrtle’s sister Catherine and a few other people over. She gets to act like the lady of a fine estate while in the apartment. It is full of fine furniture and decorations, but much more than is comfortable in the small space. What are some signs that Tom and Myrtle spend a great deal of time here?

6. IS NICK RELIABLE? “I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second time was that afternoon” (29); keep this in mind as we read. It goes to his credibility. If Nick is drunk, how accurate is his version of the afternoon’s events likely to be? Nick is very quick to give his opinion. Think of some examples of this “nonjudgmental” character making judgments and biased observations.

7. PARTY AT THE APARTMENT Catherine-about 30, white powdered face, red bob, plucked eyebrows, supposedly doesn’t drink The McKees-downstairs neighbors, he is a photographer, the wife is obnoxious and told Nick “with pride that her husband had photographed her a hundred and twenty-seven times” (30). Myrtle has put on a fancy dress and is acting haughty. Catherine brings up Gatsby and some rumors about him. She says that “[she’d] hate to have him get anything on [her]” (32). What does this lead you to conclude?

8. A NOT HAPPY COUPLE Catherine claims that neither Tom nor Myrtle can stand who they’re married to and she doesn’t understand why they won’t get divorced. Tom has claimed that Daisy is Catholic and that means they can’t divorce. Tom does this so he can have the best of both worlds. He has fun with Myrtle but Daisy is a proper society wife from the right family. Catherine shows her cluelessness when she talks about losing $1200 in 2 days in Monte Carlo. Myrtle was happy with George until she met Tom. Now she thinks he isn’t “fit to lick [her] shoe” (34).

9. GEORGE AND MYRTLE Myrtle used to love George, but now she’s seen that there are richer men out there. Tom knew exactly how to flatter her to keep her interested. George supposedly had to borrow a suit when they got married. George and Myrtle have been married for 11 years; Tom is her first affair. Is it his first? Tom and Myrtle met on the train. He saw her, showed some interest, asked her to come with him, she did, and they’ve been together ever since. As the night progresses, more drinking happens and Nick starts to lose some time.

10. TOM SHOWS HIS TRUE COLORS Tom and Myrtle get into a fight about “whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy’s name” (37). When Myrtle starts yelling Daisy’s name, Tom breaks her nose. Tom doesn’t really show any remorse. Nick used the pandemonium to escape the apartment at this point. He loses a chunk of time and somehow ends up in the Pennsylvania Station waiting on the 4 a.m. train.