Chapter 2

     Halfway between West Egg and New York City is a desolate area, a gray valley where New York’s ashes are dumped. The men who live here work at shoveling up the ashes. Above this valley is an advertisement with two huge blue eyes that stare down from the large sign. These eyes are the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg that watch over the valley. There is a train the runs between West Egg and New York and it passes through the valley. Nick and Tom are riding into the city one day and Tom forces Nick to follow him out of the train at one of the stops in the valley. Tom brings Nick to George Wilson's garage that is on the edge of the valley. Wilson's wife is Tom's lover Myrtle. When they arrive Tom taunts Wilson and makes Myrtle follow him to the train. Tom takes both Nick and Myrtle to New York City. They go to the Morningside Heights apartment that Tom keeps for his affair. At the apartment they have a party for Myrtle's sister Catherine. Also at the party is a coupled named McKee. Catherine tells Nick the Jay Gatsby is the nephew or cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm, the ruler of Germany during World War I. The McKees live downstairs and Nick describes Mr. Mckee as pale and feminine and Mrs. McKee as shrill. The group begins to drink a lot and Nick says that it was only his second time being drunk. Nick tries to leave the party when the group begins repulsive conversations, but he is still fascinated by the group. The more Myrtle drinks the louder and more obnoxious she becomes. A little while after Tom gives her a puppy as a gift, Myrtle begins talking about Daisy. Tom warns her not to talk about his wife and Myrtle tells him that she will talk about whatever she pleases and she begins chanting Daisy's name. Tom breaks her nose out of anger, which stops the party. Nick leaves drunk with Mr Mckee and ends up taking a 4 a.m. train back home.