Chapter by chapter countdown to Gatsby ... Chapter Seven

Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) doesn't look a happy man.

"We had luncheon in the dining-room, darkened too against the heat, and drank down nervous gayety with the cold ale.

"What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon?" cried Daisy, "and the day after that, and the next thirty years?"

"Don't be morbid," Jordan said. "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."

"But it's so hot," insisted Daisy, on the verge of tears, "and everything's so confused. Let's all go to town!"

Her voice struggled on through the heat, beating against it, molding its senselessness into forms.

"I've heard of making a garage out of a stable," Tom was saying to Gatsby, "but I'm the first man who ever made a stable out of a garage."

"Who wants to go to town?" demanded Daisy insistently. Gatsby's eyes floated toward her. "Ah," she cried, "you look so cool."

Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, alone in space. With an effort she glanced down at the table.

"You always look so cool," she repeated.

She had told him that she loved him, and Tom Buchanan saw. He was astounded. His mouth opened a little, and he looked at Gatsby, and then back at Daisy as if he had just recognized her as some one he knew a long time ago.

"You resemble the advertisement of the man," she went on innocently. "You know the advertisement of the man-"

"All right," broke in Tom quickly, "I'm perfectly willing to go to town. Come on-we're all going to town."

Chapter 7, page 4.

I've been posting a chapter by chapter countdown to The Great Gatsby movie May 10th. Trying not to let the mixed reviews dampen my spirit - just saw a headline "How Many Flappers does it take to Make A Flop?" Ouch!  One thing I noticed - and I've only scanned a few reviews - was a positive view of Elizabeth Debicki; the criticism being there wasn't enough of Jordan Baker the golfer in the film or not enough was made of her character. 

Elizabeth Debicki is sitting on the far right in the above image from the film.  

I'm not sure if this tableau is pre or post the outburst from Daisy but it's clear things are coming to a head. What a tremendous chapter in the book - from the luncheon with it's full serving of tension so thick you could cut it with a knife  to the critical car crash and Gatsby keeping watch in the night! It's the meat of the action and oh, Baz please I pray you haven't totally blown it and glossed over this pivotal part for the sake of reveling in Gatsby's glitzy lifestyle!

For more Gatsby posts check out my Gonzo for Gatsby page.

To read The Great Gatsby online go to publicbookshelf.com - it's free!