Emmanuelle's Great Gatsby's Questions

Opening question:
How has the importance/ role of automobiles/transportation changed from  the 1920s to present day?

Core:
1. What relation might the car accident (p.54) have with Daisy and Gatsby? Why would this particular accident be important?

As the story reaches Gatsby re-encountering Daisy, the narrator knows about their past relationship. Nick mentions Gatsby's "five year [...] [waiting] [...] [to]see her [...]"(p.78). At the car accident, "a dozen men"(p.55) tell the driver that the "wheel and car were no longer joined by any physical bond"(p.55). This is the same as Gatsby's and Daisy's relation: they have not seen each other for five years. The driver says to "put her [(the car)] in reverse"(p.55), however the audience tells him that the "the wheel's off"(p.55). Yet, he states that there is "no harm in trying"(p.55). This situation would be impossible because without one of the car's components (the wheel) the car can not go back. In Gatsby's situation, he tries to go in "reverse"(p.55) without Daisy being there. Fitzgerald italicizes the word "wheel"(p.55). This shows the importance of this one component of the car for it to work and go in reverse. Daisy is therefore the missing piece for Gatsby to go back in "reverse".

2. How is the portrayal of Mr.Mckee new to society during the 1920s?What does Fitzgerald reflect upon this portrayal?

"Mr.Mckee was a pale, feminine man [...]"(.p30) Fitzgerald describes this man as a woman, therefore the role/characteristics of Mr. and Mrs. Mckee are inverted. She is "shrill, languid, handsome and horrible"(p.30), whereas Mr.Mckee acts in a more lady like manner by being "[more] respectful"(p.30). The author shows the changing society of the time. When Mrs. Mckee suggests to Mr.Mckee to "do something with her [(Catherine)]"(p.33), he clearly demanstrates a dislike by "nodd[ing] in a bored way"(p.33). Furthermore, the description of one of his actions might be showing his preference for men: "[he] turned his attention to Tom"(p.33). As well, Tom insinuates this preference by asking Myrtle for a "letter of introduction to [her] husband, so [Mr.Mckee could] do some studies of him"(p.33).Mr.Mcke represents the changing preferences for love during the 1920s.

Closing question:
The driver of the car accident said: "there is no harm in tying"(p.55), although what he wanted to do was impossible. To what extent does present society follow this reasoning?