Climax and Conflicts

"What is the climax (turning point) of the novel? How do you know? How is the central conflict addressed in the climax? Use textual evidence to back up your claims."

In our reading for this week, all of the plots seem to collide and the conflicts come to a head. I think that the “turning point” of the novel is in chapter 7, where Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom all come together. Tom begins to get angrier at Gatsby and reveals lies that Gatsby had told. Tom speaks about Gatsby’s drug business and how he never went to Oxford. While Tom explained that he uncovered all these secrets, Gatsby encouraged Daisy to revoke her love for Tom. Gatsby wanted Daisy to tell Tom she didn’t love him, which she said multiple times. The love relationships between Gatsby/Tom/Daisy are the central conflict in the story. Daisy admits her love for Gatsby. The emotions are very strong and everyone is agitated. Daisy and Gatsby leave and this leads to the death of Myrtle. (Which then leads to Gatsby’s death). I might consider Gatsby’s death as a secondary climax, but this 'get together' prior to Gatsby’s death was really the “turning point”. Gatsby’s death brings the story to a closing.