In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the car accident serves as a pivotal moment in the story and has significant consequences for the characters involved.
The accident occurs when Tom Buchanan, the wealthy and arrogant husband of Daisy Buchanan, strikes and kills Myrtle Wilson, the mistress of Tom's friend, Jay Gatsby. The incident takes place on a hot summer night, when Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby are driving through the valley of ashes, a desolate area of New York where Myrtle lives.
Myrtle, who has been having an affair with Tom, is standing in the middle of the road when the car hits her, killing her instantly. Tom, who was driving the car, tries to flee the scene, but Gatsby, who was also in the car, stops him and insists that they report the accident to the police.
The car accident has significant consequences for the characters involved. Tom's affair with Myrtle is exposed, leading to the breakdown of his marriage to Daisy. Gatsby, who has been in love with Daisy for years, sees the accident as an opportunity to win her back and tries to take the blame for the accident, hoping to protect Daisy from the scandal. However, his plan backfires and he is eventually killed by Myrtle's husband, George, who mistakenly believes that Gatsby was the one driving the car that killed his wife.
The car accident serves as a turning point in the story, exposing the characters' flaws and bringing their relationships to a tragic end. It also serves as a commentary on the decadence and recklessness of the wealthy elite, who are willing to sacrifice their morals and relationships for their own selfish desires.
Overall, the car accident in The Great Gatsby serves as a powerful symbol of the destructive consequences of greed, arrogance, and infidelity, highlighting the dangers of living a life driven by excess and superficiality.
What does the car accident symbolize in The Great Gatsby?
There are exactly 11 incidents that involve cars. To counteract Gatsby and his bright yellow car, Tom Buchanan owned a classy, blue coupe like the one in the image. Despite the fact that they only know each other as friends, he still has concerns. Tom, doubly enraged at the potential loss of his mistress and his wife, malevolently questions Gatsby after the group assembles at the Plaza Hotel. It is evident that the new coupe belongs to Gatsby because of the lavishness and grandeur that it displays. In this same chapter, Jordan Baker leaves a borrowed car, with its top down, out in the rain.
What Happened in the Car Accident in the Great Gatsby Chapter 3?
A caddy accused her of moving her ball from a bad lie during a tournament. Why did Tom and Gatsby switch cars? In fact, he is disgusted with whole crew—Gatsby, Jordan, Daisy, Tom, after the fiasco at the Plaza Hotel. Tom is from old money; Gatsby is from new money. However, considering all of the evidence, it seems more likely that she was not driving. Daisy tries and fails to quiet Tom. It happened, and that's all I know. Even though cars were new to 1920s America, they quickly became a status symbol for a person's wealth and success.
What is the significance of the car accident in Chapter 3?
Gatsby claims that he was in complete control during the drive, but now that Daisy has taken control, it is impossible to doubt his story. He takes the blame for his actions and is determined to protect her. Nick runs into Jordan Baker, whose friend, Lucille, speculates that Gatsby was a German spy during the war. The party is over for Gatsby when a drunken fool crashes his car, loses a wheel, and exposes himself as a weak fool. Nick is told that Daisy was driving the car that struck Myrtle, but that he, too, will take responsibility for the accident. Like his huge mansion, Gatsby's car demands attention.
The Great Gatsby: Summary & Analysis Chapter 7
The turbulence of Chapter 7 gives clear indications of what Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, and even Nick are about. Alternately, Gatsby may have been too drunk to drive and so Daisy took the wheel. Does Nick think Jordan is honest? Because neither he nor the other witnesses saw a woman driving or stopping, his story must be true to hold up. In the first chapter of The Great Gatsby, Nick finds himself immediately attracted to Jordan Baker. Cars in the 1920s Think about the last time you experienced stress. Nick is astonished and disgusted by the careless accident, which underscores the negative side of the Roaring Twenties. Using the setting and characters as a backdrop, the author creates a chilling and suspenseful atmosphere.
