The Oppressive Heat of Tension

In Chapter 7, the tension between Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom reaches the highest point of the book so far, and this tension is shown through the oppressive heat that seems to pervade the entire chapter. Nick describes the temperature as “broiling” and the seats of the car “hovered on the edge of combustion,” just like the tempers of these three lovers. As Jordan and Nick watch awkwardly, the three try unsuccessfully to salvage their day and leave the subject of the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby. Throughout the chapter, many of the characters strain under the “oppressive” and “relentless” heat, as the tension between Tom, Daisy and Gatsby grows to a climax. As the three argue in their room, there is a wedding proceeding outside, in response to which Jordan says, “imagine marrying anyone in this heat.” This is interesting, because Tom and Daisy were also married, not in the literal heat of the summer, but in the heat of tension and worry. Daisy still loved Gatsby, and was uncertain about her future. In this chapter, we also begin to see a “chink in the armor” of Gatsby, as he seems to lose some of his idealism and romantic trust in Daisy. When he first saw Daisy and Tom’s daughter, Gatsby “kept looking at the child with surprise” as if he “had never believed in its existence before.” Here, Gatsby realizes that Daisy truly loves her husband and has her own family with Tom, which is completely separate from him. She cannot simply leave everything behind and come with him. Later, Gatsby seems to be stunned by Daisy’s reluctance to deny her love for Tom. After being asked to do so, Daisy said, “you want too much.” This shows that Daisy can never fully live up to Gatsby’s romantic image of an ideal woman. She is human, and has human flaws, even though Gatsby seems desperate to ignore them.