Great Gatsby Questions Pt.

2
Femke Maassen-Veeters
1. Who was really driving when Myrtle was struck and killed? Can
Nick be sure? Can we? If Nick insists that a person shouldnt
criticize others, then why does it matter who killed her?
When Myrtle flung herself in front of the car Daisy was
driving. Daisy was the one who killed Myrtle.
Pg 143 Was Daisy driving? Yes, he said after a
moment, but of course Ill say I was.
Nick was not in the car with Daisy and Gatsby so he does
not know if what Gatsby is saying is true, but Gatsby does
not seem like he is lying so Nick assumes that Gatsby is
telling the truth. We also cannot be sure if Daisy was really
driving because Nick is narrating and he was not there
when Myrtle was killed.
It matters because Wilson kills Gatsby for revenge because
he is told that Gatsby was driving and murdered Myrtle.
Pg. 162 the gardener saw Wilsons body a little
way off in the grass, and the holocaust was
complete.
2. Take a look at Nicks opening lines. If we take this advice when
we read The Great Gatsby, do our views of the novel change?
Does refraining from criticism promote compassion, or amorality?
Is criticism actually necessary?
Nicks father tells him, Whenever you feel like criticizing
any one, just remember that all the people in this world
havent had the advantages that youve had (Fitzgerald
1). If we were to refer to this quote throughout the book
then our views would slightly change. Refraining from
criticism promotes amorality because criticism is
necessary. Without criticism we would not
3. How does the character of Nick (inside the story, not the voice
telling it) change over the course of the novel? What about the
narrative voice? Although the entire story is told in retrospect,
does the act of telling it create changes in his narrative style?
Nick becomes more experienced with love from Gatsby and
Daisy, but becomes a stronger writer and more
experienced through out the book.
4. According to the novel, what is it about the past that draws us
both forward and leaves us stuck where we are? How can we be
set free of the past?
Gatsby is stuck in the past, constantly obsessing over his
love for Daisy. Gatsby feels as if the only was he could be
set free of his past is to forget about Daisy or make her fall

in love with him and for her to leave Tom and live with
Gatsby.
5. Is Gatsby great? In what way? How might he not be great? Does
his greatness evolve over the course of the novel? What is the
difference, in this text, between perceived greatness and actual
greatness?
Many of the people who know of Gatsby think he is great.
They go to his extravagant mansion and party. They do not
know the real Gatsby they know the rumors that are
spread about him and they know that he is very wealthy
and throws great parties. But he does not live his life, he is
stuck in the past. Over the course of the book he does
become greater because he is making Daisy fall in love
with him so he is achieving everything in life.