AO1 ~ George Flashcards
(16 cards)
What does George become fixated on in his grief-stricken state?
George becomes fixated on finding the owner of the car that killed Myrtle, leading to his tragic decision to seek vengeance.
“I know,” he said defiantly, “I’m one of these trusting fellas and I don’t think any harm to nobody, but when I get to know a thing I know it. It was the man in that car.” (Chapter 7)
How does George express his grief upon discovering Myrtle’s death?
George’s anguished cries convey his profound grief and the shattering of his already fragile world.
“O, my Ga-od! O, my Ga-od! Oh, Ga-od! Oh, my Ga-od!” (Chapter 7)
What does Tom’s interaction with George reveal?
Tom’s patronizing attitude toward George highlights the social and economic disparities between them.
“Hello, Wilson, old man,” said Tom, slapping him jovially on the shoulder. “How’s business?” “I can’t complain,” answered Wilson uncomfortably. (Chapter 2)
What does George’s quick backtracking in dialogue with Tom indicate?
George’s quick backtracking reveals his subservience and the power imbalance in their relationship, as he fears jeopardizing potential business opportunities.
“I don’t mean that,” explained Wilson quickly. “I just meant——” (Chapter 2)
What does the moment of hope in George’s eyes signify?
This fleeting moment of hope reflects George’s yearning for a better life and his reliance on potential business deals to achieve it.
“When he saw us, a damp gleam of hope sprang into his light blue eyes.” (Chapter 2)
What does George seek to purchase from Tom Buchanan?
In his desperation, George seeks to purchase Tom Buchanan’s car, unaware of Tom’s affair with Myrtle.
“I need money pretty bad, and I was wondering what you were going to do with your old car.” (Chapter 7)
How does George’s anguish manifest physically?
This simile conveys George’s profound anguish and sense of responsibility upon discovering Myrtle’s infidelity, manifesting physically as a debilitating sickness.
“Wilson was so sick that he looked guilty, unforgivably guilty—as if he had just got some poor girl with child.” (Chapter 7)
He had discovered that Myrtle had some sort of life apart from him in another world, and the shock had made him physically sick. I stared at him and then at Tom, who had made a parallel discovery less than an hour before—and it occurred to me that there was no difference between men, in intelligence or race, so profound as the difference between the sick and the well. Wilson was so sick that he looked guilty, unforgivably guilty—as if he had just got some poor girl with child.
“I’ll let you have that car,” said Tom. “I’ll send it over tomorrow afternoon.”
That locality was always vaguely disquieting, even in the broad glare of afternoon, and now I turned my head as though I had been warned of something behind. Over the ash-heaps the giant eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg kept their vigil, but I perceived, after a moment, that other eyes were regarding us with peculiar intensity from less than twenty feet away.
What does George’s reflection on his relationship with Myrtle suggest?
This reflection suggests that George’s lack of presence and vitality renders him incapable of fulfilling Myrtle’s desires, contributing to her pursuit of extramarital affairs.
“This was a forlorn hope—he was almost sure that Wilson had no friend: there was not enough of him for his wife.” (Chapter 7)
What does George’s observation of the world indicate about his life?
This observation highlights George’s passive resignation and the monotony of his life, as he watches the world go by without actively participating in it.
“Generally he was one of these worn-out men: when he wasn’t working he sat on a chair in the doorway and stared at the people and the cars that passed along the road.” (Chapter 7)
What does the detail about George as a mechanic emphasize?
This detail underscores George’s role as a diligent yet struggling mechanic, emphasizing his working-class status and the physical labor that defines his daily existence.
“When we met him, he was wiping his hands on a piece of waste.” (Chapter 2)
How does George project his need for moral reckoning?
In his grief and desperation, George projects his need for moral reckoning onto the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, mistaking the advertisement for a divine presence.
“I told her she might fool me but she couldn’t fool God. I took her to the window… and I said, ‘God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me but you can’t fool God!’” (Chapter 8)
What does Myrtle’s treatment of George illustrate?
This simile illustrates Myrtle’s disregard for George, treating him as inconsequential and highlighting the emotional distance and lack of respect in their marriage.
“Myrtle walked through her husband as if he were a ghost.” (Chapter 2)
What does the pervasive ash symbolize in George’s life?
The pervasive ash symbolizes the moral and social decay of the setting, and its covering of George signifies his entrapment in a lifeless and oppressive environment.
“A white ashen dust veiled his dark suit and his pale hair as it veiled everything in the vicinity.” (Chapter 2)
What does the metaphor about George blending into his surroundings suggest?
This metaphor emphasizes George’s insignificance and how he blends into his dull surroundings, suggesting a loss of identity and vitality.
“Mingling immediately with the cement color of the walls.” (Chapter 2)
How is George Wilson described in terms of his vitality?
This description introduces George Wilson as a lifeless and weary individual, highlighting his lack of vitality and the toll that his bleak environment and circumstances have taken on him.
“He was a blond, spiritless man, anaemic, and faintly handsome.” (Chapter 2)
