Jay Gatsby (R)
"Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay." (Fitzgerald, 78)
"He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths - so that he could "come over" some afternoon to a stranger's garden." (78)
"...though he says he's read a Chicago paper for years just on the chance of catching a glimpse of Daisy's name." (79)
"He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths - so that he could "come over" some afternoon to a stranger's garden." (78)
"...though he says he's read a Chicago paper for years just on the chance of catching a glimpse of Daisy's name." (79)
Jay Gatsby has dedicated his live to re-gaining Daisy's love after he left for the war. Daisy's parents disapproved of Gatsby, seemingly because he did not have money, after this, she marries the rich Tom Buchanan.
Everything Gatsby does relates to Daisy in some way. In arranging to meet with Daisy, he pays attention to every detail. He has asked Jordan to ask Nick to ask Daisy to tea at Nick's house, because Gatsby wants Daisy to visit Nick's house because it is beside Gatsby's house so Daisy will see Gatsby's house. He also does not want to arrange a date in New York because it will seem as though he is going out of his way, and he wants to show off his wealth through his house.
Gatsby's obsession with Daisy is just that - obsessive.
Everything Gatsby does relates to Daisy in some way. In arranging to meet with Daisy, he pays attention to every detail. He has asked Jordan to ask Nick to ask Daisy to tea at Nick's house, because Gatsby wants Daisy to visit Nick's house because it is beside Gatsby's house so Daisy will see Gatsby's house. He also does not want to arrange a date in New York because it will seem as though he is going out of his way, and he wants to show off his wealth through his house.
Gatsby's obsession with Daisy is just that - obsessive.
Best Qualities (L)Determined
Gatsby works hard to earn Daisy back, and will not give up. He has done everything he can to meet with Daisy. He bought a house that is close to hers, he held many parties hoping she would wander in one day, checking the newspapers and even asking Jordan to have Nick arrange to have tea with Daisy so he can meet her. Resourceful Gatsby knows how to get what he wants. When he is describing his past to Nick he hands him the tag he wore which reads 'Major Jay Gatsby'. He also shows Nick a photograph of him playing cricket from when attended Oxford. Gatsby has "lived like a rajah in all the capitals of Europe - Paris, Venice, Rome..." (65). When Nicks asks why Wolfshiem isn't in jail. Gatsby responds with "They can't get him, old sport. He's a smart man." (73). This suggests that Gatsby has many connections. We even see that Gatsby has gotten Jordan to ask Nick to arrange tea with Daisy so Gatsby can see her. Role In Novel (R)Gatsby is the main character in the book, hence the title "The Great Gatsby." He represents one path that a person could take while following the American Dream. He shows an example of the life of wealth of one who has seemingly achieved the American Dream, and how far some people are willing to go to achieve success. Gatsby is young and wealthy, but there is one thing he wants and does not have - Daisy's love. In this chapter, we learn about Gatsby and Daisy's past, and the desperate steps he is willing to take to earn her love, including obtaining money in shady ways. This is hinted in this chapter where we meet Mr. Wolfshiem, the 'gambler', who seems to be a questionable character and was in close contact with Gatsby.
At this point in the book, we have learned more about Gatsby, but he is still a mystery to the reader, as we do not know if some of the things we are told are true or not. |
Worst Qualities (R)Show-Off
Gatsby comes from East Egg and new money, and is in the habit of showing this off. He brings his expensive, rich cream coloured with nickel and green leather seated car with him to take Nick to town. He also likes to talk about how he was educated at the prestigious Oxford university, then lived in the capitals of Europe, collecting jewels, hunting big game, and painting. Also, about his accomplishments in the army saying he "was promoted to be a major, and every Allied government gave [him] a decoration." (66) Dishonest "I'll tell you God's truth...I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West...I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford." (65) "After that I lived like a young rajah in the capitals of Europe - Paris, Venice, Rome - collecting jewels, chiefly rubies, hunting big game, painting a little." (65). Gatsby is from new money, it was not inherited from his parents, he was not wealthy when young at all. He also was not educated at Oxford, but rather only stayed there for a period of time. (These two facts are both revealed in chapter 6, but is relevant to this chapter.) The second quote about Gatsby living in the capitals of Europe and living a dreamful life of jewel collecting and hunting sound ridiculous to any person. Fake This trait of Gatsby relates to him being dishonest. During his parties where he is watched by people, he is a very polite gentleman. Nick has spent some time with Gatsby recently, "and found, to [his] disappointment, that he had little to say...And then came that disconcerting ride...Gatsby began leaving his elegant sentences unfinished and slapping himself indecisively on the knee of his caramel-colored suit." (64) Around other people, Gatsby is a gentleman, but when around the seemingly non-judgemental Nick, Gatsby is his own rowdy self. He starts saying a lot about himself and showing off. |