The Great Gatsby: Key Quotes Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Key Quotes

Portrayal of Setting:

“The day was broiling, almost the last, certainly the warmest, of the summer.”: This foreshadows the escalating tensions and heated confrontations that occur within this chapter. The sweltering heat adds an extra layer of discomfort and tension.
“We drove over to Fifth Avenue, so warm and soft, almost pastoral, on the summer Sunday afternoon.”: Contrasts with the artificiality and harshness of Gatsby’s world of wealth, the real world appears carefree, natural, and serene, hinting the unattainable peace for Gatsby and his friends.

Exploration of Characters:

“He’s dead”, Myrtle Wilson’s eyes, wide with jealous terror, stared blindly at us.”: Myrtle’s character is further explored through her tormented emotional state. Strangled by her own desires and illusions, her dreadful end symbolises the harsh reality lurking beneath the veneer of wealth.
“Daisy looked around unhappily. ‘You always look so cool.’ to Gatsby.”: This quote refers not only to Gatsby’s physical appearance, but also hints at Daisy’s yielding feelings for him. It also reflects her inability to cope with the increasingly tense situation, hence, her escapism.

Major Themes:

“Her voice is full of money”, he said suddenly.: This line encapsulates one of the major themes in the novel: wealth and materialism. Gatsby doesn’t just love Daisy, he loves what she represents – wealth, status, and the American Dream.
“Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily.”: Emotional turmoil enveloped in materialism. Daisy is overwhelmed more by the overt display of Gatsby’s wealth than by her feelings towards him.

Employment of Symbolism:

“It was when curiosity about Gatsby was at its highest that the lights in his house failed to go on one Saturday night…”: Light here symbolises Gatsby’s dream of being with Daisy. When Daisy yanks away from Gatsby’s life, his world decolorizes, thus making the symbolic light go out.
“Can’t repeat the past?…Why of course, you can!”: Gatsby’s firm faith in his ability to recreate the past emphasises his naivety and symbolises the tragic illusion of the American Dream. Despite the passage of time, Gatsby tragically clings onto a past that’s beyond recovery.