Gatsby fails to convince Daisy Buchanan to leave her husband, Tom, because Tom reveals how Gatsby made his fortune. Daisy tells Tom that she is going to leave him, but then Tom says he found out Gatsby and his crony, Meyer Wolfsheim, purchased a bunch of drug-stores so that they could sell grain alcohol over the counter. This is illegal because the novel takes place during the era known as Prohibition, so it is a...
Gatsby fails to convince Daisy Buchanan to leave her husband, Tom, because Tom reveals how Gatsby made his fortune. Daisy tells Tom that she is going to leave him, but then Tom says he found out Gatsby and his crony, Meyer Wolfsheim, purchased a bunch of drug-stores so that they could sell grain alcohol over the counter. This is illegal because the novel takes place during the era known as Prohibition, so it is a criminal activity to distribute or sell alcohol.
Tom also reveals that Gatsby and Wolfsheim let Tom's friend take the fall on something and go to prison for a month; this friend could, apparently, reveal more secrets about them if Wolfsheim hadn't scared him out of it. Finally, Tom says that "That drug-store business was just small change. . . but [Gatsby's] got something on now that [Tom's friend is] afraid to tell [Tom] about." At this point, Daisy loses her nerve. Nick narrates, "her frightened eyes told that whatever intentions, whatever courage she had had, were definitely gone." She must realize Gatsby can never give her the kind of life to which she is accustomed; she would be a criminal's wife, which is clearly unpalatable to her.
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