What is happening in chapter seven when Tom insists on driving Gatsby's car to Manhattan from East Egg is a ratcheting up of the tension that has simmered between the two men all afternoon. Tom recognizes that Daisy is interested in Gatsby, and because Tom is a competitor unaccustomed to losing, he aggressively tries to regain control of his wife by emasculating Gatsby in any way he can. Gatsby, also a competitor, recognizes what Tom is trying to do and objects when Tom directs him to "take my coupe and let me drive your car to town." However, Gatsby understands that he needs to act like a gentleman in front of Daisy, so he merely suggests "shall we all go in my car?" Gatsby is, after all, a guest at the Buchanan's home and cannot risk alienating Daisy at this point, even though he understands that Tom is commandeering his car to appear more powerful than Gatsby.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925.
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