The Great Gatsby, Chapter 7, Pages 113 - 125

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald sets chapter seven on a hot summer day, and, boy, does it get heated! Just about every extremity of feeling could be found in this section: anger, passion, sorrow, jealousy, and any other dramatic emotion thinkable.  My favorite scene contributing to this rising action in Fitzgerald's plot involves Daisy, Gatsby, Jordan, and Nick lounging in a parlor at Daisy's house.  After Daisy commands her husband Tom to make some drinks for her guests, "she got up and went over to Gatsby and pulled his face down, kissing him on the mouth" (Fitzgerald 116).  Immediately, I thought of this clip from Will Ferrel's Anchorman.

With that act of passion, Daisy not only threw ALL contemporary social convention out the window, but she proved to Gatsby that she does not care about Tom, fear Tom, or, most importantly, love him at all.  Eventually Tom realizes the affair between Daisy and Gatsby and struggles to conceal incredible anger and jealousy.  However, Fitzgerald juxtaposes a seemingly victimized Tom with an equally betrayed George Wilson to ensure that his reader maintains a negative perspective on Tom.  George, who's recent learning of his wife's infidelity "had made him physically sick", loves his wife very much and thus suffers so strongly from her betrayal (Fitzgerald 124).  In contrast, Tom reacts with the petty emotions of envy and hatred instead of heartbreak and sorrow.  Accordingly, Tom's love for Daisy lacks the genuine purity that Mr. Wilson's love for Myrtle possesses.  Furthermore, when Tom stopped by Wilson's shop with Nick and Jordan to get gas, Myrtle mistook Jordan for Tom's wife!  With Daisy's utter devotion to Gatsby, Tom's escalating fury, and Myrtle's jealousy, the first half of chapter seven marks a turning point in The Great Gatsby.  Hopefully the action doesn't fall as quickly as it has risen, because I'm definitely enjoying the easy-to-follow style and romantic intrigue that Fitzgerald incorporates so well into Gatsby.     

The Great Gatsby, Chapter 6, Pages 97 - 111

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The first half of chapter six confused me.  Fitzgerald spent several pages introducing and developing reporter James Gatz, but then moved abruptly to discussin Gatsby's time with Dan Cody in his younger years.  Gatz must play a prominent role later in the novel; otherwise, Fitzgerald wasted a lot of time creating and penning a meaningless character.  Moving past my confusion with Gatz, I found Gatsby's story aboard the Tuolomee to be a clever characterization tool.  Fitzgerald employs Dan Cody captaining the Tuolomee to depict Gatsby as a sober guardian and friend to Cody.  As the novel progresses, Fitzgerald constantly adds to Gatsby's image as a virtuous, caring, lovestruck jack of all trades.  Furthermore, I found Fitzgerald's transition out of the Tuolomee anecdote quite clever as well.  He implied that a certain Ella Kaye may have been responsible for the death of Dan Cody when he wrote, "Ella Kaye came on board one night in Boston and a week later Dan Cody inhospitably died" (Fitzgerald 100).  This implication did not strike me as ingenious, but rather Ella's name.  In fabricating her name, Fitzgerald utilized pig latin and then distorted it subtly to mask his device.  Perhaps I'm wrong, but Ella Kaye seems to bear close resemblance to Iller Kaye, which in pig latin means killer.  Coincidence or not, I enjoyed Fitzgerald's wit in making a flat, static character a little more interesting.

   

The Great Gatsby, Chapter 5, Pages 81 - 96

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Chapter five brought some comic relief to the love fest that Gatsby has been so far.  First, Gatsby's initial interactions with Daisy at Nick's were absolutely text book moves for middle school relationships.  Put on a tough guy facade, act like she's uninteresting, throw up an apathetic posture, and the girl will love it! Wrong.  Luckily, Gatsby realized the boyish nature of his behavior toward Daisy and decided to exchange immaturity for a candid expression of emotion.  In response to Gatsby's catharsis, Daisy shed a multitude of joyous tears, conveying to Gatsby that she feels just as strongly toward him as he does toward her.  Afterwards, Gatsby " . . .literally glowed; without a word or a gesture of exultation a new well-being radiated from him . . . " (Fitzgerald 89).  Fortune favors the bold, Jay!  What Gatsby did next can only be described as hysterical.  He took Daisy and Nick on a comprehensive tour of his home which became quickly reminiscent of an episode of MTV's Cribs.  Gatsby showed off his lavish gardens, clothing, and bedroom (a necessity in the popular TV series).  Furthermore, Mr. Klipspringer just so happened to be wandering around Gatsby's estate during the tour just as most Cribs stars have an entourage enjoying their homes while a tour is conducted.  Maybe I just have a strangely distorted perspective of this chapter, but I found it quite hilarious. 

The Great Gatsby, Chapter 4, Pages 70 - 80

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Jay Gatsby, the resolutely loyal hopeless romantic , desires for nothing more than a glimpse at his true love, Daisy Fay!  Gatsby's GARGANTUAN request of Nick was merely for Mr. Carraway to facilitate a nostalgic reunion between the two former paramours.  Jordan Baker conveys the favor to Nick when she says, "He [Gatsby] wants to know . . . if you'll invite Daisy to your house some afternoon and then let him come over" (Fitzgerald 78).  Fitzgerald utilizes Baker through an anecdotal flashback to reveal the innermost emotions that fuel Gatsby's request.  I expect more flashbacks and exposition from Fitzgerald as, by introducing the novel in light of a retrospective Nick Carraway, he leaves The Great Gatsby inclined to the implementation of such literary devices.  Regardless, Jordan's reflections paint Gatsby as an incredibly caring, lovestruck young man that was torn from both his family and true love by tragedy and a cruel war.  She also reveals that, after receiving a letter on her wedding day, presumably from Gatsby, Daisy broke down into tears and refused to go on with the wedding until the next day.  Obviously, Daisy loves Gatsby as well.  The major external conflict, of course, lies in Daisy's being wed to Tom Buchanan which makes any relationship between Gatsby and Daisy scandalous, immoral, and against both Daisy's and Gatsby's values.  All the while, and quite sickeningly I might add, Tom mocks his wife's purity of heart and good-willed nature by philandering with Myrtle Wilson.  Tom's abhorrent behavior identifies him as the likely antagonist in the novel which Nick will inevitably have to square off with.  However, drawing inspiration from Jordan and a humbled Gatsby, Nick will be more than willing to face Tom.

This image, while taken after the incorrect World War,
embodies the affection between Jay Gatsby, the soldier,
and Daisy Fay, the girl back home.

The Great Gatsby, Chapter 4, Pages 61 - 69

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The beginning of chapter four provided much needed exposition on Gatsby's background and why he lives the way he does.  First, Gatsby corroborates a couple of the rumors surrounding him by sharing stories and memorabilia with Nick concerning his Oxford days and involvement in the war.  Secondly, Gatsby revealed to Nick that he has been plagued by a "sad thing that happened to me" in the past which resulted in the deaths of his family members but also in his inheriting a large fortune (Fitzgerald 67).  Gatsby took advantage of the wealth initially to travel the world, living lavishly as he went in an attempt to drown out any sorrow that the sad thing brought about.  However, Gatsby still was not content with his life and instead decided to spend his money on others.  After recounting his abridged life story, Gatsby tells Nick that, at lunch, "I'm going to make a big request of you to-day," and that he'll learn just exactly what constituted the sad thing.  All of this exposition, description of Gatsby's life, and requesting of Mr. Carraway comprises both rising action and a major turning point in the plot of The Great Gatsby.  The main conflict, external or internal, will likely revolve around Gatsby's request of Nick and include a character recently introduced by Gatsby, Mr. Wolfsheim.  As Rosedale, somewhat of a stock character in The House of Mirth, portrayed a stereotypically affluent Jewish businessman, so does Mr. Wolfsheim in The Great Gatsby.  What business venture has Gatsby planned for Wolfsheim and Carraway?

The Great Gatsby, Chapter 3, Pages 50 - 59

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Before Gatsby's party ends, he calls Jordan Baker for a private conversation and apparently informs her on something incredible as she shows an overflow of excitement toward Nick once the conversation ceases.  Fitzgerald closes the party with a slew of drunken blunders from Gatsby's guests which leaves his audience in the dark as to what Gatsby's exciting news could have been.  Certainly, it will be very important later in the novel.  The focal point, rather, of the second half of chapter three is Nick Carraway's desire for companionship and the consequent development of a romance between Jordan Baker and Nick.  After his anecdote on Gatsby's extravaganza, Nick laments, "At the enchanted metropolitan twilight I felt a haunting loneliness sometimes . . ." implying that he yearns to have someone by his side (Fitzgerald 56).  Jordan Baker seems the most prominent contender.  Curiously, however, Fitzgerald, through Nick, reveals to his audience that Jordan is "incurably dishonest", the complete opposite of a relentlessly honest Nick (Fitzgerald 58).  Thus, not only does Jordan become Nick's latest love interest, but his perfect foil character as well.  As such, Jordan's character flaw marred my perception of her relationship with Nick.  At first, I was excited for the possibility of love between the two.  Now, such a relationship appears as if it might cause Nick more detriment than anything else, especially because he would be breaking a current long-distance relationship to pursue Jordan.  Keep a close eye on Miss Baker, old sport, and be careful.

The Great Gatsby, Chapter 3, Pages 39 - 49

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

 The first nine or ten pages of chapter three detail an extravagant party that Mr. Gatsby is throwing and Nick attending. Everything one could desire can be found at Gatsby's event: dinners, dancing, music, spirits, laughter, opportunity, libraries, and romantic mystery stemming from Gatsby himself. For all intents and purposes, Gatsby, by throwing such an amazing party and catering to each of his guest's needs, proves himself the ultimate host. Therefore, Gatsby's first words to Nick after revealing his true identity, "I thought you knew, old sport. I'm afraid I'm not a very good host," can be taken many ways: as jest, sarcasm, or genuine disappointment (Fitzgerald 48). Regardless, this sentence reveals a lot about the thus far distant Gatsby. First, he addresses Nick colloquially as "old sport", suggesting a warmness uncharacteristic of most well-to-do men (Fitzgerald 47). This catches Nick off-guard, leaving him contemplative as Gatsby flashes an inspiring smile his way. Nick realizes that this man will be much different than the high-society folks he is familiar with. Further, Gatsby undermines his obvious superiority in hosting by openly decrying his abilities. While he could possibly have been sarcastic, Gatsby's warmness toward Nick suggest that his remarks were sincere, expressing a unique humble nature about him. Finally, Gatsby's introduction, backdropped by the extravagant party, worldly library, diverse party guests, and many other signs of affluence, depicts him as The Most Interesting Man in the World. If any modern-day character could be drawn parallel to Gatsby, it would be this comical commercial star. 

His mother has a tattoo that says "Son".