Skip to main content

What does Tom's reaction to Myrtle's death say about how he felt about her?

Tom's immediate response, after learning what happened to Myrtle, speaking with her widower, and seeing her body, is to cry.  Nick says, as they are driving speedily away from the scene of the gruesome accident,


"In a little while I heard a low husky sob, and saw that the tears were overflowing down his face."  


This emotional response seems to indicate that Tom did, on some level, actually care for Myrtle.  However, he also...

Tom's immediate response, after learning what happened to Myrtle, speaking with her widower, and seeing her body, is to cry.  Nick says, as they are driving speedily away from the scene of the gruesome accident,



"In a little while I heard a low husky sob, and saw that the tears were overflowing down his face."  



This emotional response seems to indicate that Tom did, on some level, actually care for Myrtle.  However, he also blames Gatsby for the accident, believing that Gatsby was driving at the time it occurred, and so one might wonder if he's crying over what happened to Myrtle or if he's crying because he believes that this one man, Gatsby, has threatened to take away both his women in one afternoon: he might have succeeded in stealing Daisy away from Tom, and Tom believes that Gatsby has killed Myrtle.  Nick seems to believe, however, that Tom's tears really were for his mistress, as he tells Gatsby that "[Tom] won't touch [Daisy] [...].  He's not thinking about her."  He believes that Tom genuinely did care for Myrtle.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

Follow the relationship between Pi and Richard Parker. They endure over two hundred days of hardship together, but in the end Richard Parker leaves...

When Pi and Richard Parker are at the beginning of their journey, after Pi's family is killed in the shipwreck, Pi fears Richard Parker, but he is forced to find a way to co-exist with him in order to survive.  Over time the two develop a somewhat co-dependent relationship.  Richard Parker depends on Pi to feed him by catching fish, while Pi's will to live is bolstered by Richard Parker's presence.  Richard Parker recognizes that... When Pi and Richard Parker are at the beginning of their journey, after Pi's family is killed in the shipwreck, Pi fears Richard Parker, but he is forced to find a way to co-exist with him in order to survive.  Over time the two develop a somewhat co-dependent relationship.  Richard Parker depends on Pi to feed him by catching fish, while Pi's will to live is bolstered by Richard Parker's presence.  Richard Parker recognizes that he also needs Pi to survive.  At one point in the book, Pi's starvation and thirst reduce him to a st...
Post a Comment
Read more