5. Find the following conversation between Nick and Daisy:
I told her how I had stopped off in Chicago for a day on my way east and how
a dozen people had sent their love through me.
"Do they miss me?" she cried ecstatically.
"The whole town is desolate. All the cars have the left rear wheel painted black
as a mourning wreath and there's a persistent wail all night along the North Shore."
"How gorgeous! Let's go back, Tom. Tomorrow!" Then she added irrelevantly,
"You ought to see the baby." (9)
Discuss the tones of the characters' speech in this passage.
What textual evidence implies these tones?
I
Discuss inferences you can make about Nick's and Daisy's characters from this passage.
To find the conversation between Nick and Daisy, we need to look at the provided passage. They are discussing a visit Nick made to Chicago and the reaction of the people to his departure. Daisy asks if they miss her, to which Nick replies that the whole town is desolate, with cars painted black and a persistent wail. Then Daisy suggests going back, and mentions seeing the baby.
For the tones of the characters' speech, we can infer the following:
1. Nick's tone: Nick's tone appears to be nostalgic and somewhat melancholic. He talks about stopping off in Chicago and describes the town as desolate, implying a sense of sadness or loss. However, it's important to note that the tone might become more positive when Daisy suggests going back.
2. Daisy's tone: Daisy's tone seems to be excited, ecstatic, and even romantic. She reacts with enthusiasm when Nick mentions that the town is desolate without her, and expresses her desire to go back to the town. Her use of words like "gorgeous" and "ecstatically" suggests her joyful and passionate demeanor.
Now let's look at the textual evidence that implies these tones:
- Nick's tone can be inferred from phrases like "stopped off in Chicago for a day" which implies a brief visit that he remembers fondly. He also uses words like "desolate" and "mourning wreath" to describe the atmosphere, conveying a mournful tone.
- Daisy's tone is evident in phrases like "cried ecstatically" and "How gorgeous! Let's go back". These expressions show her excitement and enthusiasm, indicating a positive and upbeat tone.
Moving on to the inferences about Nick and Daisy's characters:
From this passage, we can infer the following about Nick:
- Nick seems to appreciate moments of beauty and nostalgia, as he fondly recalls his visit to Chicago.
Regarding Daisy:
- Daisy appears to be impulsive and sentimental, as she quickly suggests returning to Chicago based on Nick's description of the town being desolate without her.
- Additionally, Daisy's mention of the baby implies that she is nurturing and possibly a parent.
It's important to note that these inferences are based on the textual evidence provided, and more details about the characters may be revealed in the larger context of the story.