The Great Gatsby: Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Key Quotes

Depictions of Setting:

“…nonetheless we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight.”: This ominous quote suggests the impending doom that is about to befall the characters, hinting at Myrtle’s accidental death and Gatsby’s eventual downfall.
“Their impersonal eyes in the absence of all desire.”: The climactic confrontation between Tom and Gatsby unfolds in a heat-infused hotel room where desire has ceased, reflecting the moral decay and the culmination of illusions.

Development of Characters:

“She had told him that she loved him, and Tom Buchanan saw.”: Daisy admitting her love for Gatsby directly to Tom demonstrates her daring shift in character, despite her ultimate inability to leave Tom.
“Self-control! … I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife.”: This quote reveals Tom’s contempt for Gatsby and his intent to assert dominance, displaying Tom’s alpha masculinity and his insecurities.

Emerging Themes:

“Can’t repeat the past?…Why of course you can!”: This quote underscores the theme of illusion versus reality, showing Gatsby’s strong belief in his ability to reconstruct the past, which ultimately leads to his demise.
“Her voice is full of money,” he said suddenly.: This highlights the theme of materialism, as Daisy’s voice isn’t filled with love, but with the allure of wealth, explaining Gatsby’s deep obsession for her.

Employment of Symbolism:

“But with every word she was drawing further and further into herself.”: This statement symbolises Daisy’s retreat from her brief rebellion into the social expectations of being Tom’s wife, underlining the powerless position of women in 1920s America.
“The relentless beating heat was beginning to confuse me…“: The intense heat symbolises the escalating tension that climaxes in this chapter. Heat often represents stress, pressure or agitation in literature, and used here, it amplifies the impending confrontation.