Ch 7 part 1: Some people just want to watch the world burn

The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald

and Nick is one of them

Gatsby is fully invested into recapturing Daisy, and Tom is on to him. Tom is trying to figure out Gatsby so he can find a flaw in him that would make him undesirable to the world and especially Daisy. As they all converse everyone seems to be upset about the heat. This is slowly making everyone irritable, which seems to resemble the mounting tension of the group. They all decide on going into town, Tom, Nick, and Jordan would drive Gatsby's car and Gatsby would take Daisy in Tom's car. This is one of the examples in this section which brings forth confusion and chaos (don't worry, it gets better). During the car ride Jordan tries to explain how normal and safe Gatsby is, but it only makes Tom angrier. They stop for gas at Wilson's garage, where Tom nearly sells Gatsby's car right on the spot! Wilson also explains that he's planning on moving West with his wife, who is also Tom's mistress. Anger once again fills Tom, and confusion floods back into the scene when Myrtle Wilson comes out and assumes Jordan is Tom's wife. Nick, the watchful observer, illustrates the scene saying "there is no confusion like the confusion of a simple mind...Tom was feeling the hot whips of panic" (Fitzgerald 125). A house of cards is being built and is waiting for a clumsy hand or mighty wind to come and knock it down. disaster is on the horizon.