The Great Gatsby Chapter 9

       Last night we read the final chapter of The Great Gatsby. I found myself feeling sad to flip the next page as I knew this rollercoaster of a story was coming to an end.
     At the beginning of this chapter, we are invited to look into the aftermath of Gatsby's death, the funerary arrangements, the handlings of the press, etc. Soon Nick comes to the realization that these responsibilities are left solely to him. As he calls around inviting Gatsby'd "friends" to the funeral Nick comes to grips with the fact that Gatsby didn't have any good friends. Once again we see how lonely and isolated Gatsby truly was, in life and in death. As Nick is trying to handle his newfound responsibilities he is also burdened with the "grotesque, circumstantial, eager, and untrue" press that is swarming Gatsby's home (Fitzgerald 163). The press is soon to print Gatsby's death making Gatsby into some kind of intangible celebrity. Later in the chapter we find out about another one of Gatsby's lies as Mr. Gatz is introduced, Gatsby's not-so-dead father. Towards the end of the chapter, it is evident that the party is now over, Jay Gatsby is dead and reality has overcome the originally fantastical East and West Egg.

The Great Gatsby Chapter 8

Chapter 8 in The Great Gatsby was very somber, to say the least. The chapter opened with Nick "half-sick between grotesque reality and savage, frightening dreams" (Fitzgerald 147). Nick heard Gatsby's taxi and immediately got dressed to meet him for his arrival. Gatsby informs Nick that nothing happened at Daisy's house and that at "about four o'clock she came to the window and stood there for a minute and then turned out the light" (147). Nick tries to warn Gatsby that officials will trace his yellow car in correlation to Myrtle's death; however, Gatsby says he'll never consider leaving Daisy behind. Gatsby changes the conversation to reflect on his past with Daisy in Louisville in 1917. Gatsby had lied to Daisy about his past. Nick narrates, "However glorious might be his future as Jay Gatsby, he was at present a penniless young man without a past, and at any moment the invisible cloak of his uniform might slip from his shoulders" (149). It can be inferred that Daisy fell in love with Gatsby based on the lies he told; Gatsby wanted Daisy to think "that he was fully able to take care of her" (149). After he was sent off to war, it was inevitable that Daisy would marry a man other than Gatsby. Nick hurries off to work but complements Gatsby before he leaves by saying "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together" (154). This was the first, and last, compliment Nick would give him. At the end of the chapter, the point of view is shifted towards a focus on George Wilson. It is believed that Wilson spent "time going from garage to garage thereabout, inquiring for a yellow car" (160). Eventually, Wilson finds Gatsby in his pool and shoots him; Gatsby dies instantly. Perhaps Gatsby should have listened to Nick about taking his yellow car out of town.

The Great Gatsby CH 5-6

It is during chapters five and six in The Great Gatsby that Daisy and Jay finally meet and start to spend time together after five years of zero interaction. The first encounter is super awkward, but after Nick forces them to be alone together, their relationship slowly begins to regrow. After their first private conversation, Nick returns to his living room and observes what is happening in his living room: “Daisy’s face was smeared with tears… But there was a change in Gatsby that was simply confounding. He literally glowed; without a word or a gesture of exultation a new well-being radiated from him and filled the little room” (Fitzgerald 89). Obviously, Daisy and Gatsby had rehashed some long underground emotions, and this marks the beginning of their newly kindled relationship. A major theme that came up in these two chapters was the contrast between reality and illusion. First, when Gatsby shows his house to Daisy, Nick sees that all the expensive trinkets and souvenirs in his home lose their matter when Daisy is around. Nick says, “Sometimes, too, he stared at his possessions in a dazed way, as though in her actual and astounding presence none of it was any longer real” (91). Daisy has this element to her which can make things around her become an illusion, which I think is very interesting. Gatsby can lie about his family and career, but he cannot deny his love for Daisy--she is one of the only real things he can hold onto from his adolescence. However, even though Daisy and his love for her are real, Gatsby’s elaborate plan to win her back is unrealistic. He claims that the past can be repeated, but he seems to have forgotten that people can change a lot over the course of five years and that the Daisy he used to know is not the same Daisy that lives across the bay. After the tea, Nick sees a bewilderment on Gatsby’s face and thinks, “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 illusion” (95). Although it is romantic how much Gatsby loves and is willing to sacrifice for Daisy, he has unfeasible expectations which I predict will backfire on him.

The Great Gatsby CH 3

This chapter opens up at one of Gatsby’s parties. The party is unbelievably luxurious, as it showcases his wealth with a Rolls-Royce and swimming pool, and has a huge feast in his garden with a live orchestra playing under the stars. With the ample amount of alcohol described, I think it is safe to say that his guests are having a good time. Nick and Jordan wander through the crowd of drunk party-goers in search of Gatsby. In vain, they go outside to watch the entertainment, and end up sitting at a table with a very nice man. The man introduces himself as none other than Jay Gatsby. Nick notices that he is sober and was staying a safe distance away from all the action. After the conversation ended and goodbyes were said Nick and Jordan leave to go home. In the first two chapters, we heard a lot of talk and rumors about Gatsby, but this is the first time we have actually met him in person.

The Great Gatsby CH 1&2

Chapter One open up with the voice of Nick Carraway, he establishes himself as our narrator of the story. We are introduced to his background and on the second page, we are “introduced” to Gatsby. Throughout chapters, one and two Gatsby is somewhat of a mystery. He is a wealthy, well-liked, West Egg resident that does not make a full appearance, but he is just mentioned. Not being introduced to the main character first hand adds suspense to the story, which is my favorite part of books. Another thing I liked from these first two chapters is the subtle imagery and feeling that is evoked by how Fitzgerald sets the scene for you. He not only describes the surroundings and the surface level feeling he also describes what is not being talked about. The descriptions of the people we meet including, Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan, and Jordan Baker are what you see as stereotypical socialites but they are described in a way that does not make you think they are shallow but makes you feel sorry for them. What I found interesting was the overall theme of contrast—West Egg and East Egg being the start contrast. t was interesting to me to see all the ways that people in this play are shallow but everyone has an interesting backstory that I cant wait to figure out more to as we read more chapters. I cant wait to see how we are introduced to Gatsby in the remaining chapters and I love the suspense so far.