Final Answer:
Mr. Wilson shoots Gatsby and then takes his own life due to a combination of intense emotional turmoil and a distorted sense of blame for his wife's death. The tragic events unfold as a culmination of Gatsby's romantic pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, the complex relationships between the characters, and the societal pressures of the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel "The Great Gatsby," Mr. Wilson's actions can be traced back to the web of relationships and societal expectations. His wife, Myrtle, has an affair with Tom Buchanan, which ultimately leads to her death in a hit-and-run accident involving Gatsby's car. The emotional toll on Mr. Wilson is substantial as he grapples with the loss of his spouse and the revelation of her infidelity. The interconnectedness of the characters intensifies the tragedy.
Furthermore, Mr. Wilson, in his distraught state, fixates on Gatsby as the embodiment of the moral decay and excesses of the wealthy elite. This fixation becomes the catalyst for the violent act. Gatsby's pursuit of the American Dream and his unrequited love for Daisy contribute to the complexity of the situation. The distorted sense of justice and the societal critique presented by F. Scott Fitzgerald underscores the tragedy.
In the climax, the culmination of these factors leads to Mr. Wilson's desperate act of shooting Gatsby before turning the gun on himself. Fitzgerald's narrative skillfully weaves together the threads of love, betrayal, and societal critique to create a poignant and tragic conclusion.