Page 3: Continuation of the Extract and Analysis

This page continues the extract from The Great Gatsby's final chapter, delving deeper into Nick's encounter with Tom Buchanan and his reflections on the events that transpired.

Nick confronts Tom about what he said to Wilson on the afternoon of Gatsby's death. Tom defends his actions, claiming he told Wilson the truth about the car's ownership to protect himself from Wilson's potential violence. He justifies his behavior by portraying Gatsby as a "tough one" who "ran over Myrtle like you'd run over a dog."

The narrative reveals Tom's attempt to garner sympathy by describing his emotional reaction to seeing Myrtle's belongings in their former apartment. Despite this, Nick remains unable to forgive or like Tom.

The extract concludes with Nick's final assessment of Tom and Daisy as "careless people" who "smashed up things and creatures" without taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

Analysis: The conversation between Nick and Tom serves as a final confrontation, allowing the reader to see Tom's perspective and self-justification. It also reinforces Nick's role as a moral observer and judge of the other characters' actions.

Highlight: Tom's description of his emotional reaction to Myrtle's death reveals a complexity to his character, showing that he is capable of feeling grief despite his overall callousness.

Quote: "I couldn't forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified."

Interpretation: This line demonstrates Nick's ability to understand Tom's perspective while still maintaining his own moral stance, illustrating the complexity of human nature and morality in The Great Gatsby.

Page 4: Continuation of Extract and Further Analysis

This page continues the extract from The Great Gatsby's final chapter, focusing on Nick's reflections after his encounter with Tom Buchanan and his final thoughts on the events of the novel.

Nick observes that Tom's actions, while reprehensible to him, were entirely justified in Tom's own mind. This realization leads Nick to a broader conclusion about the nature of Tom and Daisy's behavior throughout the events of the novel.

The narrator describes their actions as "careless and confused," emphasizing the reckless and thoughtless nature of their behavior. Nick's final judgment of Tom and Daisy is encapsulated in the now-famous quote about their carelessness and the destruction they leave in their wake.

Quote: "It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made."

Analysis: This quote serves as a powerful indictment of the wealthy class represented by Tom and Daisy. It highlights their lack of responsibility and the way their actions negatively impact others, while they remain insulated by their wealth and privilege.

Highlight: The use of the word "creatures" alongside "things" in describing what Tom and Daisy smash up emphasizes the dehumanizing effect of their carelessness, treating people as disposable objects.

Interpretation: This final assessment of Tom and Daisy can be seen as a critique of the American Dream and the moral decay of the Jazz Age, themes central to The Great Gatsby's overall message.