The Great Gatsby Chapter 9

Chapter 9 pgs. 163- 180

Summary: After Gatsby’s death, journalists and reporters gossip and rumors are spread. Nick decides to plan a funeral for Gatsby and tries to contact Gatsby’s friends to attend the funeral. Daisy and Tom have disappeared and left town, and Meyer Wolfshiem and Klipspringer do not want to come. While planning the funeral, Nick meets Gatsby’s father, Henry Gatz from Minnesota. He says that Gatsby has always strived to be successful since he was young and he is proud of his son. The only people that attend Gatsby’s funeral are Nick, Henry Gatz, a few of his workers and Owl Eyes. Nick decides to move back to the Midwest because he is tired of the East. His relationship with Jordan is over, and he finds out that she is engaged another man. Nick sees Tom on the street one day and finds out that Tom is the one who told Wilson Gatsby owned the car that killed Myrtle. Nick says that Tom and Daisy and bad people and destroy the lives people they meet.

a. Henry C. Gatz

b. “It was Gatsby’s father, a solemn old man, very helpless and dismayed, bundled up in a long cheap ulster against the warm September day. His eyes leaked continuously with excitement and when I took the bag and umbrella from his hands he began to pull so increasingly at his sparse grey beard that I had difficulty getting off his coat” (167).

c. Henry Gatz is a good father and is really proud of his son. Since Gatsby was little, Henry Gatz wanted best for his son and wanted him to achieve his dream. Mr. Gatz is also surprised when he sees his son’s wealth because he hasn’t seen his son’s success before. He shows that he still loved his son because he always carried a picture of Gatsby with him. Henry says that Gatsby has been very generous about his wealth and gave his parents money to buy a house when he became wealthy.

d. Henry Gatz is important to the story because it gives us a chance to find out who Gatsby really was as a kid and as James Gatz. Henry tells us that Gatsby really worked hard as a kid to become successful and improve himself. He gives us a new positive perspective of who Gatsby was. He is so proud of his son, and makes Gatsby mot seem like such a bad person. When Henry says, “He had reached an age where death no longer has the quality of ghastly surprise, and when he looked around him now for the first time and saw the height and splendor of the hall and the great rooms opening out from it into other rooms, his grief began to be mixed with an awed pride. (168)” it illustrates that he was sad when his son died, but is still so proud of all that he has achieved.

Quote: “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther… And one fine morning-“ (180)

I think this quote is really important because Fitzgerald tells us that as Americans, we are not all that different from Gatsby. He is saying that Gatsby believed in the green light, and we will always too. We will run faster and stretch out our arms farther because we will always be like Gatsby, striving to achieve our perfect dreams. He says “that the future that year by year recedes before us and eluded us” because sometimes we get so caught up in our dream that we do not face reality. I think Fitzgerald is telling us that we have to face reality ever though as Americans, we will always strive for our own perfect American Dream.

The Great Gatsby Chapter 8

Chapter 8 147-162

Summary: After a night without sleep, Nick goes over to Gatsby’s house early in the morning. Gatsby says that he was at Daisy’s house until four in the morning and nothing happened. Nick tells Gatsby to just leave and forget about Daisy, but Gatsby can’t do it. He also tells Nick about his past with Daisy, their love for each other when they were younger, and how she married Tom after he had left. Later in the day, Nick talks to Jordan on the phone and Nick looses interest in Jordan and doesn’t want to see her that day. George Wilson is really depressed that Myrtle is dead and Michaelis tries to comfort him. George wants revenge and goes to Gatsby’s house to kill him. After he shoots Gatsby, he also kills himself. 

a. Michaelis

b. “Still later Michaelis had to ask the last stranger to wait there fifteen minutes longer, while he went back to his own place and made a pot of coffee. After that, he stayed there alone with Wilson until dawn” (156).

c. Michaelis is a young Greek man who runs the coffee shop next door and was a principal witness of the accident. We see that Michaelis is very caring because he stays with George after the accident and tries to comfort him. He is one of the more trustworthy characters in the story and cares about George and others around him.

d. I think Michaelis is important in this chapter because he tries to bring back hope in George who has become depressed when he found out Myrtle cheated on him and died. Michaelis asks him, “How long have you been married.” and tells him “you ought to have a church, George, for times like this” (157). He tries to bring back the gleam of hope that was in George’s eyes in the beginning of the book. This hope in George is now lost, and became dull like the valley of ashes. Michaelis tries to snap George out of it and bring back hope.

Quote: “They’re a rotten crowd,” I shouted across the lawn. “You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.” I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever game him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end” (154)

This quote stood out to me because I somewhat agree with Nick when he tells Gatsby this. As the story progressed, Gatsby seemed more of a suspicious character and one that I didn’t like when I found out he created a fake identity and cheated to be wealthy. However, I can understand why Nick says that he is better than all the others. Gatsby had a dream and something to live for unlike Daisy, Myrtle, Tom, and even Nick. They all wanted wealthy, but had no purpose for it. Even though Gatsby was too caught up in his dream, he had a purpose for living, and this was to get Daisy. Unlike Tom, who cheated on his wife, or Myrtle, who just cares about material things, Gatsby seems like a good man. This quote was also interesting because we also see that Nick judges people. In the beginning of the book, Nick tells us that he reserves judgment of people. However, we see here that he is very critical of the other characters in the story.

The Great Gatsby Chapter 7

Chapter 7 pgs 113-145

Summary: Nick tells us that Gatsby has stopped throwing his lavish parties every week and fired all his old staff members to hire new ones. The next day is very hot and Jordan, Gatsby, and Nick go over to the Buchanan’s house for lunch. When Tom leaves the room, Daisy tells Gatsby that she loves him and kisses him. They go to the city and stay at a hotel suite. Tensions rose as Tom accuses Gatsby of lying and not actually attend Oxford, and Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy never really loved him at all. Daisy at first, says that she never loved Tom, but then tells Gatsby that he is asking for too much and forcing her to say that. Daisy says that she did love Tom, but loves Gatsby now. On their way home, Nick, Tom, and Jordan stop at George Wilson’s garage and find out that Myrtle has been hit by a car and killed. George Wilson had just found out that Myrtle was cheating on him so they were going to move out of town the next day. Gatsby tells Nick that Daisy was driving and killed Myrtle on the way home, but Gatsby says that he will tell the police he did it. 

a. George Wilson

b. “Generally he was one of these worn out men: when he wasn’t working, he sat on a chair in the doorway and stared at the people and the cars that passed along the road. When any one spoke to him he invariably laughed in an agreeable, colorless way. He was his wife’s man and not his own” (136).

c. George Wilson is a nice man who has been described as a dull and grey. In chapter 2, he is described as “A blond, spiritless man, anemic, and faintly handsome” (25) and “.. dust veiled his dark suit and his pale hair as it veiled everything in the vicinity” (26). In this chapter he is described as a quiet and colorless man. However, this chapter also tells us that he was faithful to his wife and lived for Myrtle. It says that he was his wife’s man and not his own. This tells us that he really did care for her, but she didn’t show this back because she cheated on him with Tom. In a way, he is giving her a second chance by wanting to move away with her, instead of leaving by himself.

d. I think George Wilson’s role in the novel is representing the normal middle class in the world who work hard and try to become successful. George lives in the valley of ashes of “grey land and spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it” (23). However, there is sign of hope in George, unlike the other rich people in the novel such as Tom. This was illustrated when George saw Tom and Nick come in his garage in Chapter 2 and “a damp gleam of hope sprang into his light blue eyes” (25). This illustrates that there may be hope in these people who work hard to achieve their dreams and become wealthy.

Quote: “But with every word she was drawing further and further into herself, so he gave that up, and only the dead dream fought on as the afternoon slipped away, trying to touch what was no longer tangible, struggling unhappily, undespairingly, toward that lost voice across the room” (134).

This stood out because Nick acknowledges that Gatsby’s dream may be dead. Nick describes it as “no longer tangible, struggling unhappily and undespairingly.” This tells us that all Gatsby has planned and strived for may be falling apart and failing. Gatsby tries to defend himself against all of Tom’s accusations of being a fraud, but to no success. Tom reminds Daisy of their past, and she admits that she did love Tom. Gatsby’s dream is already not going the way he planned it to be because Daisy said that she loved Tom.

The Great Gatsby Chapter 6

Chapter 6 pgs 97-111

Summary: A reporter goes to Gatsby’s house hoping to interview him because so many rumors have been circulating around town. Nick then tells us about Gatsby’s real past and how his real name is James Gatz and was born on a North Dakota farm. James Gatz dropped out of college and worked fishing for salmon and digging for clams. James warned Dan Cody, a rich man who owned a yacht, about a storm. James introduced himself as Jay Gatsby and Dan Cody made him his personal assistant. Gatsby then falls in love with the wealth and dedicated his life to become wealthy when he was unable to get the money left to him from Dan Cody when he died. Tom and Mr. and Mrs. Sloane have a drink at Gatsby’s house and Tom gets suspicious when Gatsby says he knows Daisy. Tom and Daisy then go to one of Gatsby’s parties together. Gatsby is disappointed that Daisy does not have a good time, and he wants everything to be like it was in the past.

a. Dan Cody

b. “Cody was fifty years old then, a product of the Nevada silver fields… that made him many times a millionaire found him physically robust but on the verge of soft mindedness, and, suspecting this, an infinite number of women tried to separate him from his money” (99).

c. Dan Cody is a very wealthy and nice man because he helps Gatsby out and gives him 25,000 dollars when he dies. Gatsby also appreciates him because he has a large picture of him in his room. However, Nick describes the portrait in Gatsby’s bedroom as, “a grey, florid man with a hard, empty face” (100). Cody also had a drinking problem and Gatsby looked after him while he worked for Cody. Gatsby says that Cody was his best friend years ago.

d. Dan Cody’s role in the novel was to shape who Gatsby is today. He represented the wealth and life of luxury that Gatsby has been imagining his whole life. Meeting Cody made this possible and started James Gatz’s new life as Jay Gatsby. Cody also impacted Gatsby’s life in many other ways. He was a heavy drinker and while working for him, Gatsby took care of Cody when he was drunk. So Gatsby drinks so little from learning from all the bad from Cody. When Cody died, he left Gatsby 25,000 dollars that he never got because it went to Cody’s mistress. This made Gatsby more determined than ever to be really successful and wealthy.

Quote: “Can’t repeat the past?” he cried incredulously. “Why of course you can!” He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand” (110).

This quote is important because it illustrates how Gatsby wants everything to be like the past. He wants Daisy to feel how she did five years ago, and Gatsby has tried to impress her since then. He has gained all his wealth, bought a house in West Egg, thrown parties every weekend to get her attention. He does all this so everything can be like the past again. Nick tries to tell Gatsby that he can’t repeat the past, but he is still persistent on achieving it and having those same feelings he had five years ago.

The Great Gatsby Chapter 5

Chapter 5 pgs 81-96

Summary: Nick comes home and sees that Gatsby’s house is fully lit, and Gatsby comes out to greet Nick. Gatsby is worried that Nick will not go through with the plan to have Daisy over so he offers Nick to go out with him and offers him a job, but Nick declines all the offers. Nick agrees to the plan and invites Daisy and Gatsby over. Gatsby becomes really nervous and is worried that Daisy may not be impressed. As Daisy arrives at Nick’s house, Gatsby disappears and shows up minutes later knocking on the door. Nick gives them some time alone and they are happy with each other. Gatsby invites Nick and Daisy to his house and gives Daisy a tour of his house. Daisy is impressed and starts to cry. Nick leaves the two alone because they forget that he is even there.

a. Daisy Buchanan

b. Suddenly with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily. “They’re such beautiful shirts,” she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. “It makes me sad because I never seen such- such beautiful shirts before” (92).  

c. Daisy is beautiful and rich. She seems like a good person who hasn’t really found her place in life yet because he knows that her husband, Tom, is cheating on her. Daisy also puts a lot of emphasis on material things as in this chapter she is so overwhelmed by Gatsby’s wealth. Nick describes her in chapter 1 as, "Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget.” This illustrates how beautiful Daisy is, but she is sad. It also says that there was something about her that men who cared about her, like Gatsby, would never forget. This quote in chapter 1 foreshadowed how Gatsby would never forget Daisy, which he was reunited with this chapter.

d. Daisy is married to Tom, who is cheating on her. She is Nick’s cousin and Gatsby uses him to meet Daisy. Daisy represents women who are wealthy, but don’t really do anything to earn it. She is rich because she is married to Tom and is still with him even though he is cheating on her. Daisy is pretty and believes women should act like fools to get what they want in life. She is the opposite of her friend, Jordan Baker, who makes money on her own. Jordan makes a living for herself, but Daisy gets everything she wants because of her marriage with Tom and the money.

Quote: “My house looks well, doesn’t it?” he demanded. “See how the whole front of it catches the light” (89).

This quote illustrates how Gatsby cares about what others think of him. He wants Daisy to like him by showing off his wealth and tries to impress her. Throughout the novel it seemed like Gatsby didn’t care what others thought about him and that he didn’t care about all his wealth and large house. However, this quote illustrates how Gatsby is becoming just like the other characters in the story and uses his wealth to get what he wants and to impress Daisy.

The Great Gatsby Chapter 4

Chapter 4 pgs 61-80

Summary: Nick lists all the rich and wealthy people that attended Gatsby’s parties over the summer. Gatsby takes Nick to lunch and on the way there Gatsby tells Nick about his life such as accomplishments in war, going to college, and his wealthy family. Nick is skeptical about all this so Gatsby shows him a picture of him at Oxford and a medal he earned at war. During lunch, Nick meets Meyer Wolfshiem, a friend of Gatsby’s who was responsible for fixing the 1919 World Series. Jordan then tells Nick that Gatsby knew Daisy since they were young and he still loves her. She tells Nick that Gatsby’s plan is to have Nick invite Daisy over to have tea, and Gatsby just showing up too. We find out that Gatsby’s motives behind throwing these parties so often and living in West Egg is to be closer to Daisy.

a.  Meyer Wolfshiem

b. “He’s the man who fixed the World Series back in 1919... It never occurred to me that one man could start to play with the faith of fifty million people- with the single mindedness of a burglar blowing a safe” (73).

c. Meyer Wolfshiem is a fifty year old man and is a gambler. He doesn’t seem like a bad man at first, being described as, “A small flat nosed Jew raised his large head and regarded me with two fine growths of hair which luxuriated in either nostril.” He seems like a normal man and carries a conversation with Nick. However, we find out that he is a gambler and may have cheated his way to wealth by fixing the World Series in 1919.

d. Meyer Wolfshiem is Gatsby’s friend who Nick meets while he has dinner with Gatsby. I think Meyer represents and illustrates how much of a mystery Gatsby is. We have to wonder why Gatsby would have such a shady friend who has cheated so many people by fixing the World Series. It makes us question if Gatsby is really the honest man he seems like or if he is more like his friend Meyer. Since Meyer is a gambler and probably cheated his way into being rich, we do not know for sure how Gatsby got his money. Gatsby’s family may not have been rich at all and he could have got his money the same way Meyer did.

Quote: “There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired” (79).

This quote stood out to me because it describes all the different types of people in the world and in the novel. Each description is different and all the characters in this book are so different. Some characters are the people that others look up to who are the rich, others are trying to gain wealth and achieve their dream such as the McKees, while some are to busy trying to obtain material things such as Myrtle and Tom. Gatsby is wealthy and at the top, but also seems to be pursuing something more. This quote tells us that there are so many types of people in the book that act differently and want to achieve different things.

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The Great Gatsby Chapter 3

Chapter 3 pgs. 39-59

Summary: Gatsby throws another big elaborate party at his mansion and invites Nick. When Nick arrives at the party and starts talking to people, he hears rumors about Gatsby that he was a spy and killed a person. Jordan Baker is also at the party, and they both look for Gatsby. Nick talks to a man who looks familiar and served in the war with him. The man turnes out to be Gatsby. Gatsby and Jordan talk in private for an hour, and Jordan says that the secret talk was amazing. Nick then talks about his life and job in New York and his relationship with Jordan Baker even though he finds out how dishonest she really is.

a. Jay Gatsby

b. “…my eyes fell on Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes. … I could see nothing sinister about him. I wondered if the fact that he was not drinking helped to set him off from his guests, for it seemed to me that he grew more correct as the fraternal hilarity increased” (50).

c. Despite the mysteriousness and bad rumors we hear about Gatsby such as being spy and having killed a person, from Nick’s description of Gatsby, we see that he may not be such a bad person. He seems like a caring man, throwing elaborate parties for people to enjoy while he stands in the back because Nick sees him standing alone on the steps looking at his guests. We find out that he doesn’t drink at his party and takes calls while his guests are having a good time. Nick even goes further with his amazement of Gatsby and says, “I could see nothing sinister about him” (50). Even though Nick has just personally met him that day, Nick already knows that Gatsby is a good man.

d. In the novel, Gatsby is a wealthy man who lives in the mansion next door to Nick. From the past chapters, everyone seems to know Gatsby or know of his name, but he is a mysterious man. He throws elaborate parties. However, from the description from this chapter and Nick’s description of him in chapter 1, Gatsby appears to be different from the other rich people we have met in the story so far. He owns a big mansion, but seems to be modest with wealth. By the way he acts during his party by just standing there alone, not drinking, and taking phone calls, it seems like he doesn’t throw these parties to gain attention for himself or show off his wealth. Gatsby represents a contrast to the other rich people, like Tom, who aren’t humble. In chapter 1, Nick says that, “.. there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life” (2) about Gatsby. We see from the beginning that Gatsby is going to be a different and interesting person.

Quote: “It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey” (48).

This description that Nick used to describe Gatsby’s smile stood out because Nick said that Gatsby understood and believed in a person the way that they would look at themselves. Showing his smile showed a person that they were at their best and conveyed what they wanted to show themselves as. His smile showed people that he wanted to understand them and not just pretend to care. This description illustrates Gatsby as an authentic person and it stood out because it is the opposite of most of the others characters we have met so far.