Chapter 2:
- Nick seems to focus on the physical attributes of men in a positive manner while women seem to be seen in a less physical manner. Contrasting the norm of the time.
- Myrtle transforms when she is with Tom, their relationship seems to reflect one of prostitution: (Tom gets a physical relationship and Myrtle gets money, clothing, and other lavish items.)
- Mr. Mckee is described as a feminine man, he and Nick continue to interact and focus on each other throughout the night.
- Nick gently wipes remnants of shaving cream off of Mr. Mckee's face.... a symbol for something else?
- Nick and Mr. Mckee are in the elevator together and make plans to have lunch, then Nick blacks out and wakes up over a man only in his underwear (Mr. Mckee).
- At the party there are 2 couples and Catherine and Nick, though it would be expected that Nick and Catherine would 'get together' yet Nick continues to brush her off.
- Many sexual innuendos are used throughout this chapter.
Chapter 3:
At the beginning of chapter 3 Nick describes Gatsby, his parties and his home in a manner that suggests he is awed by his surroundings. He mentions that he was one of the few people that was actually invited, most of the party guests just showed up. Upon his arrival Nick describes the extravagance of the home and of the party as well as mentioning all of the well-dressed men. Women however are not discussed, a possible allusion to Nick's sexuality. Nick is fascinated with Gatsby and all things related to him, each interaction he has with Gatsby is described in great, seemingly romantic detail. Those who attend the party seem suspicious and unsure of Gatsby's true identity. Rumors swirl around the party that he has killed a man as well. Despite these outlandish rumors and the mystery regarding the host everyone has fun and parties late into the night. Is this a reference to the time period? despite the important and pressing issues in the real world, everyone escapes into a false world of happiness and ease with their partying.I am confused about why Gatsby remains in the shadows at his own party, it seems that at such an extravagant event he would want to participate and possibly be the center of attention. Is it possible that these parties are seen as business by him and having fun is not a priority?
Chapter 4:
This chapter begins with descriptions and explanations of those who attended Gatsby's parties throughout the time Nick knew him. As their friendship develops, Gatsby attempts to explain his past to Nick. He says that after gaining his wealth he essentially completely changed who he was. Nick seems to be pretty committed to Gatsby as a friend and possibly as more, at every opportunity he spends time with Gatsby and does nearly all that is requested of him. Mr. Wolfsheim was an interesting character, he seemed to be a symbol for the 'underground' business Gatsby participates in, he was much more uneducated and might have been a representation of what most of the American people of this time were like. Gatsby seems to trust him implicitly which is a direct contrast to the way Nick describes him in the book. It is possible this trust comes from working with Mr. Wolfsheim for so long, and the possibility of Gatsby owing some of his success to him. When Daisy discusses Gatsby's plan to meet up with her to Nick, his mood seems to change. He becomes much more interested in Jordan, someone who previously didn't garner much attention at all. Is this change in mood due to his feelings for Gatsby and his realization that Gatsby will never want him in the same way? What about Gatsby draws everyone in? Is it just his money and success or does he truly have a special kind of charisma as Nick seems to think? Now that Gatsby has money will Daisy go to him, for both love and financial security?
Chapter 5:
Gatsby's feelings for Daisy are revealed in this chapter. When Nick arrives at his house it is quite clear the Gatsby is anxious to see Daisy, he wants Nick to invite her over. While waiting for Daisy he becomes even more anxious, and begins to question whether they will actually be able to see each other. It seems that he almost built seeing her again up in his mind because when she finally does arrive the encounter is decidedly uncomfortable. As time passes and they keep talking they both become more relaxed and their chemistry seems apparent. Nick seems to be frustrated and possibly jealous, contrary to his past interactions with Gatsby in which he admires him endlessly in this chapter Nick seems to be frustrated with him. This might relate back to Nick's one-sided romantic feelings for Gatsby. Daisy and Gatsby's interaction goes very well, so he invites her over to his house for later that evening. Despite his extravagant home Gatsby's room is very simple. This seems to suggest that Gatsby is actually a very simple man and he puts up an act when he is around others. Him showing Daisy his room shows his vulnerability to her and is important to note. Gatsby seems blinded by his love for Daisy and his memories of her, and doesn't seem to see that she has changed since he last knew her. Is this significant? Is his blind love going to hurt him in the long run?
Chapter 6:
Gatsby's past is revealed in this chapter. It is verified that Gatsby is in fact "new money" and that he came from a relatively poor family. When he was given the chance to work for a rich man, Dan Cody, he jumps at the opportunity. When this happened he changed his name and essentially changed himself. His determination to make money seems to stem from his love of Daisy. He knew that she wouldn't marry him if he didn't have financial security, so he strove to become a man she could be with. This reveals a new side to Gatsby, while it was always apparent he cared deeply for Daisy this revelation shows that maybe his feelings come from a place of idolizing his perfect image of her for so long rather than who she actually is. His determination stretches into his desire to make Daisy his, to create the perfect life he has fought for for so long. Tensions between Tom and Gatsby also become apparent in this chapter. Following the theme of "old money" vs. "new money" their interactions are hostile. Gatsby doesn't seem to pick up on some of the hostility from Tom, this is most likely because he did not grow up in wealth and is not able to recognize the insults Tom shrouds in manners. Later Gatsby hosts another party that Daisy attends. he spends the night fretting over her happiness, yet she refuses to lose herself in the fun with him and even says that she isn't sure they will be able to fall back in love. When the party is over Gatsby fears that Daisy had an awful time and seems rather disappointed. This most likely stems from his desire to create a perfect life for his perfect girl, Daisy. Do Gatsby and Daisy actually care for eachother? or do they just like the idealized visions they remember?
Chapter 7:
This chapter was incredibly eventful and instrumental to the overall plot of the book. It opens with Gatsby firing many of his servants, it seems that he does this because his goal has been met, he got Daisy and no longer needs to throw extravagant parties or lead an excessive life. Everyone decides to go into town for the day. Tom drives Nick and Jordan in Gatsby's car while Daisy and Gatsby take Tom's car. While driving into town Tom stops at Mr. Wilson's for gas and finds out that he and Myrtle (Tom's mistress) are moving out West. Tom seems very upset, he feels as if he is losing both his mistress and his wife (he knows about Gatsby's affair). This prompts Tom to confront Gatsby about the affair with his wife. Tom and Gatsby argue over who Daisy truly loves and who it is that she wants to be with. Throughout this situation Daisy demonstrates that she is immature and indecisive. She seems hesitant to say anything that may suggest she prefers one man over the other. She finally admits that she did love Tom. With tensions high it is suggested that everyone should head back home. Due to Gatsby's need to always do what he sees as best for Daisy he offers to allow for her to drive back, in hopes that it will calm her down. While passing through town Daisy hits and kills myrtle with Tom's car. They drive away in hopes that no one will be able to identify who committed the crime. Tom, Nick and Jordan come through town a few minutes later and decide to stop because of the crowded roads. Tom sees his now dead mistress and his pain is evident. Mr. Wilson notices that Tom is there and accuses him of hitting Myrtle, he recognized the yellow car that Tom was driving earlier (Gatsby's car). Tom denies that he was driving the car and says it wasn't his car. When Nick arrives home he goes to Gatsby's house. There Gatsby admits that Daisy was the one driving the car but that he will take the blame to save her from jail or punishment.
Despite the obvious changes in their relationship and the lack of commitment from Daisy to Gatsby, he refuses to give up hope that they are meant for eachother. Is this foreshadowing that his devotion will ultimately lead to his demise? and that he will be okay with it because it is for his beloved? Does Daisy care about Gatsby, or will this terrible event drive a stake in their already precarious relationship? Was Nick just foreshadowing Myrtle's death when he said " So we drove onward toward death through the cooling twilight" or was he also foreshadowing the death of an era, of a friendship, and of the life those in the group know and love?
Despite the obvious changes in their relationship and the lack of commitment from Daisy to Gatsby, he refuses to give up hope that they are meant for eachother. Is this foreshadowing that his devotion will ultimately lead to his demise? and that he will be okay with it because it is for his beloved? Does Daisy care about Gatsby, or will this terrible event drive a stake in their already precarious relationship? Was Nick just foreshadowing Myrtle's death when he said " So we drove onward toward death through the cooling twilight" or was he also foreshadowing the death of an era, of a friendship, and of the life those in the group know and love?
Chapter 8:
When Nick is unable to sleep so he gets up and goes to talk to Gatsby. Gatsby opens up to Nick about his life and how he and Daisy fell in love. Gatsby kept up pretenses of being someone who he wasn't in order to be with her, seeming to suggest that the relationship he has built in his mind is as much of a lie as was caused it to happen was. Despite the sadness Gatsby is holding he is still hoping that Daisy will come to him and that they will be together. His dreams of her came crashing down in the previous chapter and it seems rather apparent that his biggest dream, being with Daisy, is also no longer attainable. Nick leaves and goes to work, he continues to worry over Gatsby and Daisy's situation. He talks on the phone with Jordan but the conversation ends abruptly and Nick doesn't seem to care. He then attempts to call Gatsby but gets no answer. We gain insight into what lead up to Myrtle's death during this time. Mr. Wilson found out that she was cheating on him with someone else. She ran outside and saw Gatsby's yellow car, the one she saw Tom driving in earlier, and ran to it. It can be inferred that she assumed Tom was the one driving the car, the car however was being driven by Daisy and she did not stop. Mr. Wilson somehow comes to the conclusion that the man his wife was cheating with was the owner of the yellow car, possibly because of Myrtle's final actions of running to the yellow car. For this reason Mr. Wilson decides to make things right and to attack the man who was cheating with his wife. While this is happening Gatsby decides to swim in his pool for the first time of the summer. When Nick arrives at Gatsby's house there is blood in the pool and it is suggested that it is from Gatsby's deceased body (he was shot). Mr. Wilson is found dead from a gunshot in the garden near the pool. We can infer that Mr. Wilson killed Gatsby and then himself.
Was this what Gatsby was alluding to when he said he would take the fall for Daisy? Through taking the blame for the affair (though he never admitted to it as far as we know) Gatsby protected Daisy from her world falling apart. Tom was not found to be responsible and therefore her privileged life was saved. In some ways his early death allowed Gatsby to die while still being in love and happy, he had not yet given up on his happily ever after with Daisy.
Was this what Gatsby was alluding to when he said he would take the fall for Daisy? Through taking the blame for the affair (though he never admitted to it as far as we know) Gatsby protected Daisy from her world falling apart. Tom was not found to be responsible and therefore her privileged life was saved. In some ways his early death allowed Gatsby to die while still being in love and happy, he had not yet given up on his happily ever after with Daisy.