The Great Gatsby: Chapter VIII (pages 152-162)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald begins to use a great deal of suspense throughout this section. The rising action begins when Wilson disappears and begins to head toward West Egg. Then the conditions turn just right when Gatsby orders his butler to stay inside while he goes swimming. I question whether the phone was even on the hook because Nick was never able to get any of his phone calls through. As Gatsby is going swimming the climax reaches is peak when the butler, "Heard the shots -- afterward he could only say that he hadn't thought anything much about them" (Fitzgerald, 161). The climax is finally over. Gatsby has been shot dead. The decision has been unwillingly made as to who Daisy will have to choose. Although it was all a misunderstanding, I think Gatsby would have sacrificed himself in order to keep Daisy alive. Fitzgerald was able to manipulate his writing in a way that kept the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what would happen next. Sadly, the worst possible outcome occur, leaving Gatsby no longer a character in the novel.