In the Comments section below, please post a response of at least one full paragraph (min. 5 sentences). Your assignment is twofold: 1) you are to demonstrate a clear understanding of the text by attempting to summarize the text's argument as precisely as possible, and 2) you are to use your comment to ask the text (or ask your peers) at least one thoughtful question.
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Chapter two is full of action. Nick meets tom's mistress Myrtle who is married to a man that she apparently has not had feelings for and who she thinks is below her socially. The three of them and a newly bought puppy go back to Myrtle's apartment in the city and have a get together with the neighbors and Myrtle's sister Catherine. Nick's mind starts to get blurry from the alcohol and he only vaguely remembers what happened. He did see Tom break Myrtle's nose when she talks about Daisy and he agreed to go to lunch with Mr. Mckee sometime. Tom and Myrtle's friends seemed to approve of the affair, was that normal in those days to have affairs? Why did Daisy lie about being Catholic so Tom would not be able to divorce her?
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 2 I think it's surprising that Tom takes Nick to meet his mistress in New York as if he was proud to be cheating on Daisy and young enough to have a mistress as well as a wife. Myrtle is like Tom in that she is unhappy in her marriage because she is married to a man that is socially below her and she find excitement with Tom and her secret apartment with her other friends. My question is why did Myrtle keep saying Daisy when she knew it bothered Tom so much? And why did Tom get so angry that he broke her nose simply because he heard his wife's name?
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 2, Fitzgerald seems to describe the high society as immoral and corrupted. Tom has no shame bringing his mistress Myrtle around, and he doesn’t feel guilty about breaking her nose when she taunted him either. When Nick Carraway was with Tom, Catherine, and Myrtle’s group, all they did was gossip about each other and about Gatsby. My question is, did Fitzgerald write this book about the decaying society?
ReplyDeleteTom obviously is not ashamed of his mistress because not only does he introduce Nick to her, but Daisy also knows about her. Mr. Wilson is the only one who doesnt know about this affair, even though its happening right under his nose. Either Daisy doesnt care if Tom has this affair, or she wants so deperately to be married that she wont divorce him. If Tom and Myrtle love each other so much, why wont they get married. Is it possible that the only reason they are so excited by this relationship is because it is an affair? If they got married, would they still feel the same way about each other?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Matt that Tom is openly bold about his relations with Myrtle and clearly unashamed of it. He even seems more ashamed of his marriage than his extra-marital affair with Myrtle, and seems to enjoy the thrill of this lustful relationship,as seen when he was so eager to show Nick his "woman." What i don't understand about Daisy is why she has not found a way of removing herself from this situation in her marriage, and why Tom is able to willingly show off his affair as if it were something to be proud of. To me Chapter two is filled with many metaphoric symbols that are either flying under the radar, or are deeper in the contrast between the main character of the book, Tom, and Jay Gatsby.
ReplyDeleteI really hope I’m not the only one that thinks Tom is a bit of a “jerk” for lack of a better word. I don’t understand how he can be so comfortable with what he is doing. He has no shame in the fact that he’s having an affair with a married woman. And then straight up breaking her nose like that, really? Why on earth would anyone ever think that’s an ok way to respond? This guy’s seriously messed up to be in the situation he’s in and have nothing on his conscience making him want to change. Nick wasn’t much of a help to the situation either. He just didn’t care enough.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rachel, Tom is a jerk. He treats his wife horribly because he doesn't seem to have any remorse for cheating on her and at the same time he breaks his mistress'nose. Tom also thinks that it is perfectly okay to have an affair with Myrtle even though she is married. He also completely badmouths Myrtle's husband to Nick without appearing to look remorseful or apologetic at all. My question is how can Nick just not confront Tom about the situation and why does Tom's wife's name irratate him so much?
ReplyDeleteI really like what Molly said about Fitzgerald describing high society as immoral and corrupted. Tom and the entire group thought they were above everyone else. They talked poorly of Gatsby and others and Myrtle even said that she didn't love her husband and that he was beneath her socially. Tom obviously thought he was above morals and thought he could do whatever he wanted seeing that he had a mistress and was not ashamed about it or who knew about it, that's including his wife! My question is why was Tom was so outraged by Myrtle saying Daisy's name when he seemed so happy and boastful about having Myrtle as a mistress. He almost seemed more happy about having Myrtle than his actual wife.
ReplyDeleteWhat if Tom isn't as secure as Fitzgerald claims he is. What if his pride and selfishness are just signs of insecurity. I think he is looking for the praise, acclaim, and adrenaline rush that he lived on his high school football days. I think that Tom is content with his affair, but not completely comfortable with leaving his wife. He loves the fact that Myrtle loves him. He knows that Daisy isn't satisfied with him and she doesnt love him as much as he thinks he deserves to be loved. Now that he finally found someone who loves him the way he wants to be loved, all she does is mention his wife's name. This would outrage anyone trying to escape anything. The fact that he breaks Myrtle's nose shows Fitzgeralds audience 1. how strong Tom is, and 2. how violent he can be. How will this strength and violence come back into play in the book?
ReplyDeleteAlso, as a side note, I want to know how Myrtle explained the broken nose to her husband!
I think that Tom's agressiveness will come back to haunt him later in the book. I cant even imagine what he would do to someone who he hates, after he broke the nose of the woman he loves. I think that we will see this agression later in the book, if tom finds out that Daisy and Gatsby have a thing for eachother. This type of agressive behavior from tom can be expected because of his teenage years as an agressive jock. Even though tom publicly shows this agression, does he realize the pain he causes others?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Matt in that I think Tom and Myrtle find the idea of having an affair exciting and thus continue on. I think that Tom won't divorce Daisy because of the whole idea wanting what you can't have. Tom is married and should not be with Myrtle. Technically he's not able to have her and thus I guess this excites him. I think Tom is just greedy. He is proud of having an affair. I think this comes down to the fact Tom has yet to grow up. I think of Tom like one of those guys you see on television who think they are so great because they are cheating on their wives and/or girlfriends. They are considered "the man" to some. I think Tom is stuck in the past. Why won't Daisy divorce Tom? Why the lie about Daisy being Catholic?
ReplyDeleteOne question I have is why does Nick just watch the situation go on? Nick meets Tom’s lover, Myrtle, but he doesn’t do anything about it. Daisy is his cousin and he lets her husband cheat on her. I know that the affair is wrong and that Tom isn’t showing love to Daisy, but Nick doesn’t show love because he lets Tom cheat on Daisy without telling her. Nick knows what Tom can do as well he sees that Tom gave Myrtle a broken nose. So why doesn’t he look out for Daisy, his own cousin. I wonder if later on in the story, Tom does something to hurt Daisy.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 2 everybody got together and talked. Tom was kinda mean when he did not try hard to daisy hide the fact that he has been having an affair with a mistress. I think tom is kind of full of himself and still sees himself as a football player, and therefore able to do anything he wants. This can also be seen by the fact that he wants to shownick thathe is and is almost porud of the fact. I think that this sad and i feel for daisy.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is shocking that Tom has no problem with introducing his wife to his mistress. He is not ashamed of himself at all and I think that shows a lot about his character. Also, the fact that he bunches Myrtle in the face shows he has no respect for women. My question is how desperate must these women be to stay with such a jerk?
ReplyDeleteThis chapter shows just how much society is screwed up. Tom acts like he's on Jersey Shore or something getting away with stuff he shouldn't be able to. He kinda reminds me of the Situation. And what I find appalling most is that Daisy stays with this jerk. He cares very little for her as a person and shows little respect to her as a woman. Maddy I agree why is Daisy so intent on putting up with this? And Caleb makes a good point about Nick. He seems to be like a shadow in the background than as a main character. What is Fitzgerald trying to tell us?
ReplyDeleteMaddy, to answer your question I think these women stay with Tom because of his money. In their society women depended on men and their money. I think if Myrtle and Daisy could go out and get a well paying job they would have nothing to do with Tom. Anna i also liked how Caleb called Nick a shadow. He really doesnt do much besides follow people around and try not to judge them.
ReplyDeleteI think Tom may love Daisy, despite his unfaithfulness, but he loves himself more. Clearly, Daisy is a sensitive topic, and it seems as though he was angered by the disrespect that Myrtle was showing towards his wife. Clearly, Daisy is a bit of a victim here, and Myrtle is the "other girl", so while Tom is acting out, it is likely that he is suffering from some guilt as well. I think that the whole thing is a psychological battle that he fights with himself: By having both a mistress and a wife, he is living the glory days that he so desperately clings to, when he was a sports god and women fell at his feet. Now that he is washed up, the affair empowers him and brings back that nostalgia of what he used to be. The real question is this: when will he come to terms with what his life has become and stop searching for something more that is already g
ReplyDelete*gone?
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 2, Tom takes Nick to see his mistress. I find it interesting that Fitzgerald talks a lot more about Myrtle than he does about Daisy. All we hear about Daisy is usually her voice. But with Tom and Myrtle both being unfaithful, you wonder why they don't just leave their spouse and marry each other. But since Daisy is Catholic, she doesn't believe in divorce. My question is, why are all of Myrtle's friends ok with her cheating? Why don't they say something to her or her husband?
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