Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-8-1-chapter-eight [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa.md) › [English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a.md) › Chapter Eight # Chapter Eight English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A, topic 3.8.1 ## Chapter Eight - Gatsby's Relationship with Daisy After a sleepless night, Nick goes to Gatsby’s house for breakfast. Gatsby says that he waited at Daisy’s house until 4am, but __'nothing happened'__ so he came home. Gatsby then recounts the story of his relationship with Daisy. ### Gatsby meets and __'takes'__ Daisy ![Gatsby meets and __'takes'__ Daisy](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/c0dae7ed-47ef-4561-b860-5a6de37e3294/wall-bed-bedroom-room-.jpg) - Originally, he found her __'excitingly desirable'__ because of her wealth and status. - Although Gatsby was, at the time, a __'penniless young man'__, he __'let her believe that he was a person from much the same strata as herself'__ and, __'one still October night'__, he __'took'__ her, meaning they slept together. ### Gatsby's beliefs about her marriage ![Gatsby's beliefs about her marriage](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/93ffd6e6-eaef-490c-836e-ca007daebf99/heart-wedding-marriage-.jpg) - Gatsby had to leave to fight in the war, and Daisy waited for a while before she encountered Tom Buchanan and married him. - Gatsby thinks she chose to marry because of an eagerness to begin her life, and she chose Tom because of her love of money and an __'unquestionable practicality'__. ### Analysis of the relationship ![Analysis of the relationship](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/5800435d-96dc-4452-b614-fe6e5aac97a8/Love-Heart-Relationship.jpg) - This background to Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship helps us to understand Gatsby’s actions. - Loving Daisy gave Gatsby an insight into a better life, and helped him develop his new identity as part of the __'new money'__ class. - It is noteworthy that Tom seems to have avoided becoming involved in WW1, presumably because of his wealth and status. - Meanwhile, __'penniless'__ Gatsby had no choice but to go and fight, so perhaps Fitzgerald is highlighting the unfairness of an unequal society. ## Chapter Eight - Summary After breakfast, Gatsby and Nick walk together in the garden. A gardener approaches Gatsby and informs him that he intends to drain the pool. Gatsby tells him to wait a while so that he can use it as he’s __'never used that pool all summer'__. ### Nick leaves for work ![Nick leaves for work](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/bb23fe27-9074-4f19-9c25-ef203e9f8132/tie-suit-job-work-.jpg) - Nick has to leave to go to work, and as he walks away from the house he shouts back to Gatsby that the others are a __'rotten crowd'__ and that Gatsby is __'worth the whole damn bunch put together'__. - This is the first time Nick has ever complimented Gatsby and, in response, Gatsby’s face __'broke into that radiant and understanding smile'__, just like in happier times. ### Nick and Jordan's argument ![Nick and Jordan's argument](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/c34f7639-27f0-4868-ba98-7d6c246f0dd1/couple-argue-divorce.jpg) - While Nick is at work later that day, he receives a phone call from Jordan. They end up having an unpleasant argument and one of them hangs up, although Nick can’t recall who. - Nick realises he no longer cares about his relationship with Jordan. - Jordan represents a link to the __'old money'__ world of Tom and Daisy, and Nick no longer wants to be a part of it. ### Wilson's reaction to Myrtle's death ![Wilson's reaction to Myrtle's death](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/7e163680-95fa-4bb2-b77c-06ea7edde26e/crying-man-suffering.jpg) - Nick then tells the story of how George Wilson reacted to the untimely death of his wife, Myrtle. - His neighbour, Michaelis, sits with him all night while George incoherently rambles on about how he believes the owner of the car that hit Myrtle was her secret lover. - He tells Michaelis how he had confronted her about the suspected infidelity. - Michaelis notices that, as Wilson is saying __'God sees everything'__, he is staring into the eyes of the Doctor T. J. Eckleburg advertisement. Wilson disappears later that morning. ### Gatsby's death ![Gatsby's death](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/a72973a8-2cbf-43df-a333-0f29235eae8c/gun-shoot.jpg) - Later in the afternoon, Gatsby goes swimming in his pool, which he specifically requested not to be drained that day, and tells his butler to let him know if anyone calls for him, which nobody does. - Later that afternoon, one of Wolfsheim’s men and Nick find Gatsby shot dead in his pool, and the gardener sees Wilson’s body __'a little way off in the grass'__, also dead. ## Chapter Eight - Analysis In Chapter Eight, Gatsby discusses his past with Daisy. The chapter ends with the discovery of Gatsby's death. ### Significance of Gatsby's pool ![Significance of Gatsby's pool](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/75b94dbb-b4b0-4eef-ab51-7bf8ac2a32f3/villa-island.jpg) - Gatsby instructs his gardener not to drain his pool. - The pool becomes an important part of the plot later in the chapter, and Gatsby’s decision not to have it drained that day could be said to have deadly consequences. ### Nick's new attitude towards Gatsby ![Nick's new attitude towards Gatsby](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/acc0d8c0-285f-479b-a5c7-238531939a25/shutterstock_541874698.jpg) - Nick tells Gatsby that the others are a __'rotten crowd'__ and that Gatsby is __'worth the whole damn bunch put together'__. - Nick had always __'disapproved'__ of Gatsby and the way he lived his life: vast displays of wealth, questionable business associates and illicit love affairs, but now Nick has developed a respect for Gatsby’s pure love of Daisy. He realises just how __'rotten'__ everyone who has used him really is. ### Analysis of Wilson's response ![Analysis of Wilson's response](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/63d5e3ab-baeb-44ec-a737-4457b1b41296/eye-all-seeing.jpg) - Myrtle’s death has left George Wilson a broken man: he had little before, and now he has nothing at all. - Michaelis notices that, as Wilson is saying __'God sees everything'__, he is staring into the eyes of the Doctor T. J. Eckleburg advertisement. The connection between the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg and God could be a sign that George is so grief-stricken that he has become confused. This is a clear sign that he is in a very poor mental state. ### Significance of the deaths ![Significance of the deaths](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/dba21160-f61c-4b6a-8481-cd589b9f1cfe/crime-scene-clue-murder-.png) - At the end of the chapter, one of Wolfsheim’s men and Nick find Gatsby shot dead in his pool, and the gardener sees Wilson’s body __'a little way off in the grass'__, also dead. - The reckless attitudes of the Roaring Twenties have brought about the destruction of almost every relationship: the Wilsons, Myrtle and Tom, Gatsby and Daisy, Nick and Jordan. The only union which remains is the one which is built on __'old money'__ values: Daisy and Tom. ## Test yourself on Chapter Eight - Why did Gatsby find Daisy __'excitingly desirable'__ when he first met her? - In Chapter Eight, Gatsby says that __'one still October night'__, he __'took'__ Daisy. What does this mean? - Which characters die in Chapter Eight? - Who does Nick have an argument with in Chapter Eight? - What compliments does Nick shout at Gatsby in Chapter Eight? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/374d9d81-edad-4590-9774-fca24dd46e2f/section/187efdfb-4f0d-4360-94de-c52dde9495ac/session) - Previous topic: [3.7.4 End of Topic Test - Chapter Seven](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-4-end-of-topic-test-chapter-seven.md) - Next topic: [3.8.2 Chapter Eight: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-8-2-chapter-eight-love-and-historical-context.md) ## English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A contents ### 1 Specification Overview - 1.1 Specification Overview - [1.1.1 Specification A](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/1-1-1-specification-a.md) ### 2 Context - 2.1 Context - [2.1.1 F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-1-1-f-scott-fitzgerald.md) - [2.1.2 1920s America](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-1-2-1920s-america.md) - [2.1.3 Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-1-3-tragedy.md) - 2.2 Criticism & Approaches - [2.2.1 Early & Modern Criticism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-2-1-early-and-modern-criticism.md) - [2.2.2 Psychoanalytic Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-2-2-psychoanalytic-approach.md) - [2.2.3 End of Topic Test - Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/2-2-3-end-of-topic-test-context.md) ### 3 Plot Summary - 3.1 Chapter One - [3.1.1 Chapter One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-1-chapter-one.md) - [3.1.2 Analysis of Chapter One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-2-analysis-of-chapter-one.md) - [3.1.3 Chapter One: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-3-chapter-one-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.1.4 End of Topic Test - Chapter One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-1-4-end-of-topic-test-chapter-one.md) - 3.2 Chapter Two - [3.2.1 Chapter Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-2-1-chapter-two.md) - [3.2.2 Chapter Two: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-2-2-chapter-two-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.2.3 End of Topic Test - Chapter Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-2-3-end-of-topic-test-chapter-two.md) - 3.3 Chapter Three - [3.3.1 Chapter Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-1-chapter-three.md) - [3.3.2 Analysis of Chapter Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-2-analysis-of-chapter-three.md) - [3.3.3 Chapter Three: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-3-chapter-three-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.3.4 End of Topic Test - Chapter Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-3-4-end-of-topic-test-chapter-three.md) - 3.4 Chapter Four - [3.4.1 Chapter Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-1-chapter-four.md) - [3.4.2 Chapter Four: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-2-chapter-four-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.4.3 End of Topic Test - Chapter Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-4-3-end-of-topic-test-chapter-four.md) - 3.5 Chapter Five - [3.5.1 Chapter Five](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-5-1-chapter-five.md) - [3.5.2 Chapter Five: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-5-2-chapter-five-love-and-historical-context.md) - 3.6 Chapter Six - [3.6.1 Chapter Six](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-6-1-chapter-six.md) - [3.6.2 Chapter Six: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-6-2-chapter-six-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.6.3 End of Topic Test - Chapters Five & Six](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-6-3-end-of-topic-test-chapters-five-and-six.md) - 3.7 Chapter Seven - [3.7.1 Chapter Seven](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-1-chapter-seven.md) - [3.7.2 Analysis of Chapter Seven](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-2-analysis-of-chapter-seven.md) - [3.7.3 Chapter Seven: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-3-chapter-seven-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.7.4 End of Topic Test - Chapter Seven](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-7-4-end-of-topic-test-chapter-seven.md) - 3.8 Chapter Eight - [3.8.1 Chapter Eight](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-8-1-chapter-eight.md) - [3.8.2 Chapter Eight: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-8-2-chapter-eight-love-and-historical-context.md) - 3.9 Chapter Nine - [3.9.1 Chapter Nine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-9-1-chapter-nine.md) - [3.9.2 Chapter Nine: Love & Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-9-2-chapter-nine-love-and-historical-context.md) - [3.9.3 End of Topic Test - Chapters Eight & Nine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/3-9-3-end-of-topic-test-chapters-eight-and-nine.md) ### 4 Character Profiles - 4.1 Nick Carraway - [4.1.1 Nick Carraway](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-1-1-nick-carraway.md) - [4.1.2 Nick Carraway 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-1-2-nick-carraway-2.md) - [4.1.3 End of Topic Test - Nick](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-1-3-end-of-topic-test-nick.md) - 4.2 Jay Gatsby - [4.2.1 Jay Gatsby](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-2-1-jay-gatsby.md) - [4.2.2 Jay Gatsby 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-2-2-jay-gatsby-2.md) - [4.2.3 End of Topic Test - Gatsby](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-2-3-end-of-topic-test-gatsby.md) - 4.3 Daisy Buchanan - [4.3.1 Daisy Buchanan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-3-1-daisy-buchanan.md) - [4.3.2 Daisy Buchanan 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-3-2-daisy-buchanan-2.md) - 4.4 Tom Buchanan - [4.4.1 Tom Buchanan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-4-1-tom-buchanan.md) - [4.4.2 Tom Buchanan 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-4-2-tom-buchanan-2.md) - [4.4.3 End of Topic Test - Daisy & Tom](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-4-3-end-of-topic-test-daisy-and-tom.md) - 4.5 Minor Characters - [4.5.1 Minor Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-5-1-minor-characters.md) - [4.5.2 End of Topic Test - Minor Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/4-5-2-end-of-topic-test-minor-characters.md) ### 5 Key Ideas - 5.1 Key Ideas - [5.1.1 Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-1-love.md) - [5.1.2 Class](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-2-class.md) - [5.1.3 Idealism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-3-idealism.md) - [5.1.4 Patriarchy & Presentation of Women](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-4-patriarchy-and-presentation-of-women.md) - [5.1.5 End of Topic Test - Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/5-1-5-end-of-topic-test-key-ideas.md) ### 6 Writing Techniques - 6.1 Structure, Genre & Narrative Voice - [6.1.1 Structure & Narrative Voice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-1-1-structure-and-narrative-voice.md) - [6.1.2 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-1-2-genre.md) - 6.2 Form & Language - [6.2.1 Form & Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-2-1-form-and-language.md) - [6.2.2 Symbolism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-2-2-symbolism.md) - [6.2.3 End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/6-2-3-end-of-topic-test-writing-techniques.md) ### 7 Love Through the Ages - Thematic Analysis - 7.1 Love Through the Ages - [7.1.1 The Examination](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/7-1-1-the-examination.md) - [7.1.2 Love Through the Ages Reading](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/the-great-gatsby-specification-a/7-1-2-love-through-the-ages-reading.md)