Who is Responsible for Gatsby’s Death?
The death of Gatsby in the end of the novel shows different characters taking this
responsibility. However, Tom was the principal person who pointed out Gatsby to be killed
for these reasons: First of all, Tom told George Wilson who was the owner of the yellow
car. Secondly, he wanted to protect himself from the Wilson fury, taking revenge on
Gatsby, and then he tried to get himself and Daisy off Myrtle’s accident.
Gatsby’s death could have been avoided if Tom had a sense of morality for other people.
But, he used the opportunity to point Gatsby as being the killer. This fact is exposed when
George Wilson looked for Tom certain that the driver of the yellow car was Myrtle’s lover,
and Tom told him that Gatsby was the owner of the car that hit Myrtle. Moreover, Tom did
not have the decency to tell Wilson that he was the person who had an affair with Myrtle.
Besides this, Tom’s unfaithfulness with Myrtle was the main problem in Wilson’s marriage
which took her running toward the yellow car. She had seen Tom driving this car earlier,
and she thought he was in the car the time she was hit. Therefore, it is easy to affirm that
Tom was completely involved in taking the responsibility for Gatsby death due to his lack
of caring for other people, and immoral attitudes.
Another key point that makes Tom guilty for this murder was when he grabbed the
opportunity to protect himself and Daisy from the Wilson fury and also got a revenge on
