Chapter 6 Pg. 97-111

This chapter illustrates the characters of Dan Cody, a former millionaire, and James Gatz, a middle class teenager who believed he was destined for bigger and better things. As this duo traveled the continent in their yacht, Gatz slowly developed and reconstructed himself into who is now Jay Gatsby. After weeks delay, Nick arrives at Gatsby’s house and is surprised to find Tom, a rich man, and a woman riding horses and having drinks with Gatsby. In addition, the Buchanan’s also made an appearance at Gatsby’s party that weekend, where Gatsby tried to find alone time with Daisy while she was distracted and amazed by all the famous people she believed she saw. Though Tom found that night to be boring and awkward, Gatsby hoped for the past to become the present and that Daisy would come to recognize their love for each other.

Dan Cody:

* “…the pioneer debauchee, who during one phase of American life brought back to the Eastern seaboard the savage violence of the frontier brothel and saloon.” –Nick Carraway

* Cody made money off the metal business, giving him enough wealth to enjoy drinking, spending, and women. He took James of the coast to enjoy the leisurely life essentially creating the Jay Gatsby. When he died he gave Jay the money which would start him off to reach his fantasies and dreams.

* Dan Cody ultimately assisted in creating the persona of Jay Gatsby. Through providing him with wealth and incite to the personality of the rich, lonely and dull James Gatz would now be capable of building his new person which would embody who he has always dreamed to be. Through the huge picture mounted on Gatsby’s wall, one could see that Cody had become the inspiration and idol of Gatsby, and without Dan Cody, I don’t think Jay Gatsby would even be possible.

“Can’t repeat the past?...Why of course you can!” –Gatsby

This expresses the pure delusional state Gatsby has been living in for the past five years. He doesn’t just want to catch Daisy’s attention; he has an entire fantasy that he believes will become reality. He strives for him and Daisy to be just as they were five years ago. However, with Daisy married and influenced by the social standards, and Gatsby still developing his Jay Gatsby identity, both have become completely different people. The closer they get to each other, the more their fantasies will deteriorate to reveal a reality that neither of them want to see. I feel that the realization of the truth will be tragic for both the characters, leaving them with nowhere to be now or in the future.

Chapter 5 Pg. 81-96

Nick comes home late one night and runs into Gatsby who offers him a job that will be quick and make him extra money; however Nick is skeptical and chooses to decline. Nick then organizes the tea with Daisy, which Gatsby seems very nervous about. When she finally arrives, Gatsby reenters the house trying to seem cool and casual. Gatsby and Daisy seemed to warm up to each other after their extremely awkward reconnection, and eventually they both become very emotional. In addition, throughout the tea at his own house and the tour Gatsby gave of his house, Nick yearns to avoid being a third wheel on this awkward date, but both Gatsby and Daisy insist that he stays, so he does until he finally feels his presence is unnecessary.

Nick Carraway:

* “I tried to go then, but they wouldn’t hear of it; perhaps my presence made them feel more satisfactory alone.” –Nick Carraway

* Nick characterizes himself as different from the rest of those in his generation. He is honest and is capable of reserving his judgment on others. He proves to be loyal to those he likes, however he lacks the ability to stand up for himself, letting himself feel inferior to those around him. But he doesn’t complain and seems to be mild in temper and emotion.

*Nick is the narrator of the book and provides descriptions of people not just through imagery, but through a true depth of facial and gestures. I find it interesting the way he views people and often isn’t fooled by fake appearance. In this novel, I think it is up to Nick to find out who people really are and what their purpose and motives reveal about them. He is easily befriended, which lets him have a relationship with most of the characters in the book. Through these friendships, he might be able to uncover the truth that each is hiding.

“There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams- not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusions.”   –Nick Carraway

This quote shows the side of Gatsby that I think only Nick has been able to understand. Gatsby’s life had revolved around the illusion he had of Daisy through his own obsession. I feel that this tea was a moment he had been waiting for for 5 years, and most likely he had played it out in his mind millions of times. However this quote gives rise to the question of what Gatsby will do next. Finally meeting Daisy opens the doors to Gatsby becoming a nut job; either because he will pursue a married woman or because he will be upset about how this date turned out. These illusions Gatsby create can either crush or emphasize his dreams about Daisy. This event gives Gatsby a whole new depth of his true character, proving that he might, in fact, be a major fraud.

Chapter 4 Pg. 61-80

Gatsby picks Nick up from his home and drives him down to the city. Amused by the envious eyes on the road and enjoying the company of Gatsby, Nick discovers the truth about his Oxford education and time in the war, allowing Nick to trust him more. After eating and having conversation with the infamous Mr. Wolfheim, Nick runs into Tom, however loses Gatsby.  Before hand, however, Gatsby had arranged a date between Jordan Baker and Nick on his behalf. On the date Jordan shares the history Gatsby and Daisy had in the past, leading Nick to believe that the reason for Gatsby’s actions are all related to reconnecting with Daisy.

Jay Gatsby:

* “The officer looked at Daisy while she was speaking, in a way that every young girl wants to be looked at sometime, and because it seemed so romantic to me I have remembered the incident ever since. His name was Jay Gatsby…” –Jordan Baker

* Gatsby is genuine and has the ability to just look at others in a certain way that would make them feel special. He is wealthy and willing to provide a good time to people who don’t know, or even respect him, and he doesn’t mind. Gatsby proves to be a very honest person, though he chooses not to correct the rumors about him; and he is a romantic who is using all his resources to meet up with Daisy again.

* Gatsby has introduced the theme of romanticism in the novel. So far characters have been portrayed as greedy, fake and driven by the idea of money or power. Their concept of money usually emphasizes either how much they have or how much they wish they had. However, Gatsby is the first character who will give their money away and not ask for anything in return. In comparison to a character like Tom, who uses money to gain women and objects, Gatsby will simply buy a woman a new dress or cover the damages done to his house without even confronting the person. I feel that the closer he gets to Daisy, the more romantic he will become in order to catch her eye.

“Yeah, Gatsby’s very careful about women. He would never so much as look at a friend’s wife.” –Jordan Baker

I find this intriguing because the news of Gatsby and Daisy dating in the past has just been revealed, and the notion that he wants her back because he loves her is a definite possibility. This could be a big issue because we see the when Gatsby is introduced to Tom he gets anxious and runs away. Because of Gatsby sense of chivalry, finding a way to see Daisy goes against his morals of respecting men and women. I feel that this could be one of the biggest issues he must face in the book, possibly leading to the uncovering of new secrets and characteristics of all the characters.

Chapter 3 Pg. 39-59

Nick studies the weekly preparations Gatsby makes for his weekend parties, as well as admiring his wealth through his objects. When Nick finally receives an invitation to one of these events, he finds himself roaming around Gatsby’s mansion with Jordan Baker on his arm and surrounded by rich East Eggers. He ends up having a conversation with a man he recognizes from his time in the war, and eventually discovers it is Gatsby himself. As Nick was leaving, he and Gatsby make plans to test drive his hydroplane the next day. As Nick reminisces over the past few days, he finds a strong attraction to Jordan Baker, who he also recognizes as a very dishonest person.

Jordan Baker:

* “She was incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage and, given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool, insolent smile turned to the world and yet satisfy the demands of her hard, jaunty body.”

* She’s a proud athlete; however she is involved in some sort of sports related scandals. She enjoys spending time with Nick and exemplifies that she likes social events, while keeping up her professional image.

* I feel that Jordan is possibly Nick’s love interest in the book. I also think she portrays the only strong, independent woman so far in this novel. Its interesting how she could be compared to the dependant and weak women we have met so far. However, she has the potential to be a major source of drama in the story due to her dishonest background and interest in gossip.

“Girls were putting their heads on men’s shoulders in a puppyish, convivial way, girls were swooning backward playfully into men’s arms, even into groups, knowing that someone would arrest their falls.”

This quote is just one example of the major dependence women had on men throughout this chapter. I feel one of the main themes in this book expresses the rarity of female strength during this time, and their desire to get what they want despite the cost and unhappiness. So far almost every girl in the book has resembled something of a gold digger. The power of women has only been exemplified through Jordan who is an athlete without significant male figure in her life, and is guided by her profession. I feel that the view of women in this novel is meant to express inferiority and lack of moral guidance.

Chapter 2 Pg. 23-38

Nick goes out with Tom and finds himself in the valley of ashes, where structures seem to be made of dusk and the mysterious eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg seem to lurk over the scenery. Tom soon leads Nick to the George B. Wilson garage, were he unwillingly meets Tom’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Taken to “visit her sister”, Mertyl is treated to a small shopping spree in New York City, and then takes Nick to her apartment where she plans a party among her friends. During the party, Nick wishes to escape the rumors and drunken conversation. However it is not until Tom breaks his Myrtle’s nose in anger that Nick’s wish is finally granted.

Myrtle Wilson:

* “Her laughter, her gestures, her assertions became more violently affected moment by moment, and as she expanded the room grew smaller around her, until she seemed to be revolving on a noisy, creaking pivot through the smoky air.”

* I don’t find a lot of good qualityies in Mrs. Wilson mainly because she cheats on her husband and tries to justify it by stating he is unworthy of her, she uses Tom for his wealthy, and she boasts her valuables in others faces to make them seem lesser compared to herself.

* Myrtle is a character who I believe will cause a major issue among the spouses in this novel. She is involved with 3 different relationships so far and I feel that this will ultimately bite her in the butt sooner or later. However I do believe that her character will give rise to the profound discontent all the spouses have acquired because of their relationships, leading to the eruption of truth and powerful feelings. I also feel she provides good insight on the superficiality of the rich and allows the audience to see how shallow and conceited the rich really were during this era and this time period. I feel that this idea of the arrogant rich is already introduced as a main theme in this novel.

“And Tom’s the first sweetie I ever had.” –Myrtle Wilson

The irony in this quote is that right after this statement was made Myrtle is punched in the face by Tom while having a conversation about Daisy. This shows the true motives behind Myrtle and most rich people of this time; they are ignorant and shallow. Through the example of Myrtle, we consistently see her obsession with money and obtaining the image of being rich. Though Myrtle and her husband are not high in social status, she is willing to be a mistress to Tom in order to live within this whole alter ego. However both are willing to fool themselves into thinking their relationship has good intention, however Nick’s encounter with them proves that their relationship is not mutual love, but the desperation of two people to get whatever they want despite the cost. These characters are already illustrating their corrupt values through lying and deception.

Chapter 1 Pg. 1-21

In Nick Carraway’s introduction, he characterizes himself as someone who reserves their judgment on others. Though he describes this guideline as “a matter of infinite hope”, he also finds that this trait separates him from the rest of his generation. When visiting his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom, Nick finds himself in the glamorous East Egg, which he finds to be far different from his less- fashionable home in the West Egg. Throughout his visit, Nick is surprised by the ignorance of their guest, Miss Parker, the arrogance of Tom and his racist beliefs, and the tolerance Daisy has for her “hulking” and violent husband. Through the private murmurs and dynamic characteristics of his hosts, Nick begins to recognize the illusion of the rich and their “pleasant” lifestyle.  

Daisy Buchanan:

* “’All right,” I said, ‘I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.’” (page 17)

* Daisy has a voice that “men who had cared for her found difficult to forge.” Nick was drawn into listening to her ignorant statements solely because her voice was so compelling. She seems to be excited by plans, big events, and the idea of romance. She also liked to complement Nick and felt intrigued to tell him secrets.

* Though she was just introduced, I feel like Daisy will develop throughout the novel. Her intrigue and mystery seems to be a prominent characteristic of hers. However, I feel like her desire to speak to Nick about her true feelings will grow with their relationship. She may be the key in helping Nick realize the truth about the rich, and how happy they actually are with their lifestyle.

“Her gray sun-strained eyes looked back at me with polite reciprocal curiosity out of a wan, charming, discontented face.”

Through this chapter, I found the characters to be so mysterious mainly because of Nick’s description of their facial expressions. Each reaction they held had a sense of charm and radiance; however they also had showed sorrow and absence of hope, mostly in Daisy. To me she seemed to be crouched in the shadow of Tom and not willing to expose her true character to anyone but Nick. Furthermore, I feel like the chapter gives rise to the theme of “money can’t by happiness.” The rich will try to prove to others they are happy through the perfect family image. And through the reaction Daisy had when she heard the news about her baby, one could see that she has very little hope for her child as a person. I feel like the rich people introduced in this novel are fake and shallow and I hope that through the book this “perfection” can be destroyed to reveal their true characters.