Which phrase does Nick use to describe Gatsby's death?

Which phrase does Nick use to describe Gatsby's death?

• A. The tragedy was complete.
• B. The end of a dream.
• C. The holocaust was complete.
• D. The night closed in.

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is how Nick uses a stark, decisive image to mark Gatsby’s death as more than a single misfortune—it's a total, irreversible destruction of Gatsby’s world. Saying the holocaust was complete places Gatsby’s death in a category of absolutes, signaling that the life, dream, and illusion Gatsby built around Daisy and success have all been wiped out in one cataclysmic moment. The word holocaust carries a weight and finality that the other phrases don’t convey as strongly. It shifts the event from a mere tragedy or a simple end of a dream to a complete, devastating collapse of Gatsby’s entire pursuit and the illusions that fueled him. The other options feel more limited in scope—tragedy is introspective but lacks scale; the end of a dream emphasizes lost hope but not the total destruction; the night closed in is atmospheric and less about the event’s moral magnitude.

The key idea here is how Nick uses a stark, decisive image to mark Gatsby’s death as more than a single misfortune—it's a total, irreversible destruction of Gatsby’s world. Saying the holocaust was complete places Gatsby’s death in a category of absolutes, signaling that the life, dream, and illusion Gatsby built around Daisy and success have all been wiped out in one cataclysmic moment. The word holocaust carries a weight and finality that the other phrases don’t convey as strongly. It shifts the event from a mere tragedy or a simple end of a dream to a complete, devastating collapse of Gatsby’s entire pursuit and the illusions that fueled him. The other options feel more limited in scope—tragedy is introspective but lacks scale; the end of a dream emphasizes lost hope but not the total destruction; the night closed in is atmospheric and less about the event’s moral magnitude.