The Great Gatsby Group

Question:

troi103
troi103
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What is wrapped in tissue on Myrtle's bureau in The Great Gatsby?

Rate question:

Posted by troi103 on Saturday April 12, 2008 at 12:44 PM and tagged with chapter 2, chapter 8, characters, gatsby, george, leash, michaelis, myrtle, plot, the great gatsby, tissue, tom.

Answers:


  1. dymatsuoka

    eNotes Editor

    George is distraught over his wife's death.   In Chapter VIII, Michaelis finds "a small expensive dog leash made of leather and braided silver...apparently new" in a dresser drawer.  The Wilsons did not have a dog, but Myrtle did cajole Tom into getting her a one to be kept at the apartment they used for their illicit meetings back in Chapter II.  George says he found the leash the day before, "wrapped in tissue paper on Myrtle's bureau", and the discovery rightly confirmed his suspicions that Myrtle was having an affair.  He recalls that he spoke to her about it, telling her "God knows what you've been doing, everything you've been doing.  You may fool me but you can't fool God!" 

    George believes that Myrtle's unknown lover is the one who was riding in the car that killed her.  He concludes that if he can trace the car to its owner, he will be able to determine his rival's identity.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/great-gatsby/chapter-2-summary-anal...
    http://www.enotes.com/great-gatsby/chapter-8-summary-anal...

    Rate answer:

    Posted by dymatsuoka on Saturday April 12, 2008 at 2:02 PM