The Role Of Conscience In The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald and Nick, the narrator, both reference the role of judgment and conscience in human nature throughout the novel, especially in Chapter Seven. In this chapter, Tom finds out the true nature of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship. When Tom and Gatsby are arguing over Daisy, Tom reveals to Gatsby and Daisy that he has investigated Gatsby’s past and his mysterious business practices. Tom has had his suspicions about Gatsby and Daisy, but does not seem too worried about Daisy leaving him for Gatsby, sending the two of them off to drive back to Long Island. Tom is also very hypocritical. Tom is furious at the thought of his wife cheating on him, yet has no issue cheating on Daisy with Myrtle. Tom proclaims “I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time” (Fitzgerald). Tom only says he loves her when he realizes that Daisy is perfectly capable of leaving him for a richer man whom she has a romantic past with. Tom never thinks that he can be in the wrong; he thinks that he is superior to everyone.
Rather than stopping the car and remaining at the scene of the accident, Daisy speeds off. Although Daisy feels guilty for killing Myrtle, which is shown through her locking herself in her room, she sped off and did not look back. Daisy may feel horrible for what she did, but she did not show it through leaving Myrtle lying out in the street all alone. Gatsby is also willing to take the blame for the accident. Gatsby appears to be caring more about how Daisy is feeling rather than the victim of the car accident. Gatsby is willing to say that he was the person who was driving the car when it hit Myrtle, and does not care what happens to him as long as Daisy is