Chapter 1

What happens in this chapter:

Nick’s self-introduction, him moving to West Egg. Nick went to Tom and Daisy Buchanans’ house in East Egg for dinner, where he met Jordan Baker.
Telephone call from Myrtle, showing Tom’s affair with her. Nick’s talk with Daisy’s cynical self. In the end, Nick saw Gatsby reaching out towards the
green light, at the end of the dock, towards where Daisy lives.
Important Quote + Page Context (Who says this, what Why is this significant in the novel? TCM
number is this about, what event is
this describing/referring to?)
Sample: Nick’s father, giving him Nick’s consciousness of social class and Structure: start of the book, frames the
“Just remember that all the advice standing, and how it is built on the basis of novel
people in this world privilege and “advantages”
haven’t had the Basically reminding him that Tone: Paternal advice, moral guidance
advantages that you’ve before he criticises people, Sets the tone for him, as someone with a
had” (P 2) he needs to understand that substantial measure of class snobbery, to Ironic given that throughout the novel,
they might be this way wrestle between his “unaffected scorn” of Nick constantly does the opposite of what
because of underprivileged Gatsby and his admiration of the “romantic this advice implies, viewing the pretensions
circumstances readiness” that Gatsby represents of the nouveau rich with an air of
superiority and gentle mockery
“Reserving judgements is a Nick said this to give himself It shows that Nick is painting himself as a T: Irony
matter of infinite hope.” moral superiority. neutral party with extraordinary C: Nick’s narration throughout the novel is
(p2) perceptiveness, so that he would be fair to often judgemental, peppered with subtle
everyone, even though he is actually a mockery or amusement.
cynical idealist. M: As a cynical idealist, Nick is always
plagued by the conflict between his
cynical, judgmental attention to
imperfections, and his desire to retain
“infinite hope” in people and things. This
leads to moments of inconsistency and
irony in his narration, when his cynicism

3
 holds him back from living up to his desired
standards of idealism.
“Gatsby who represented Nick expressing what Gatsby This sentence represents Nick’s mixed T: Paradox
everything for which I have is to him feelings towards Gatsby throughout as his C: Nick is ambivalent towards Gatsby,
an unaffected scorn.” (p3) cynical side is scornful of Gatsby’s nouveau praising and yet scorning him at times. The
rich behaviour and life, but this comes into phrase “unaffected scorn” is a jarring
conflict with his idealistic admiration of contrast to his admiring statements about
Gatsby’s “romantic readiness”. So at times, Gatsby.
Nick feel doubtful of Gatsby’s actions and M: Gatsby plays a huge part in how Nick
yet some other times he is motivated by views the world as Gatsby appeals to the
Gatsby. idealistic side of Nick which will alter the
way he anticipate the future. However, the
cynical side of Nick still exists within, and
he is very much aware of Gatsby’s
unsavoury history. Hence the two
contrasting sides are in conflict over how
Nick actually feels about Gatsby.
“ It is what preyed on Nick describing and This shows Gatsby’s dreams as being so T: Contrast between the dirty “foul dust”
Gatsby, what foul dust foreshadowing the death of much higher than his current reality and his and the purity of Gatsby’s “dreams”
floated in the wake of his Gatsby . past. But despite that, he continues to chase C: The foul dust parallels the “Valley of
dreams” (p3) his dream wholeheartedly, which eventually Ashes” where people of the lower class
leads to his downfall. inhabit where the dreams of Gatsby is
Gatsby being completely idealistic and
hopes to reinvent himself to be an upper-
class from his lower class background and
to get Daisy by changing the past. This
idealism of Gatsby is so unrealistic and so
grand that it shows how pure his dreams
are.
M: However since the “foul dust floated in
the wake of his dreams” this shows how
despite Gatsby’s attempts to throw away
his poor beginnings as James Gatz to

4
 accomplish his dreams, at the end of the
day, the fact that he indeed was part of a
lower class will never change and will
always be with him.
“ I was a guide, a A passer-by had asked Nick It shows Nick’s insecurities as a person who T: Nick’s tone is over-confident and a bit
pathfinder, an original for directions in his new has just come out of the war and wants to exaggerated.
settler.” (p4) place in West Egg. This was start afresh in West Egg. It also shows that C: Nick is disproportionately overjoyed by
Nick’s feelings at that point. Nick is being accepted into West Egg where the fact that someone asked him for
others regard him as a local. directions. This suggests that this incident
is very important to him and he feels very
proud of himself for fitting in.
M: These shows Nick’s longing to be
accepted as a part of his new home and
community as he seems to be happy over a
simple incident of asking for directions. In a
way, it shows his desire to start afresh.

(Also: Compare with the end of the novel,

when he concedes that they “were all
Westerners, and perhaps we possessed
some deficiency in common which made us
subtly unadaptable to Eastern life”.
“Tom Buchanan in riding Nick’s description of Tom as Shows Tom’s character→ as a brutal man T: significance of body language + clothing
clothes was standing with he visits the Buchanans at with a lot of authority C: “standing with legs apart “ is a very
his legs apart on the front their house. commanding and masculine look.
porch.” (p7) “Front porch” → owning the house
“Riding clothes” → active and strong
man
M: Tom is seen as a man with immense
strength who is so masculine as he guards
his house.There is an overwhelming aura
around Tom as he is seen holding all the

5
 power and taking control of his house with
his brute strength.
“ They were both in white Nick’s description of Daisy Shows the behaviour and characteristics of T: symbolism, significance of clothing
and their dresses were and Jordan as he visits the the upper-class women in The Great Gatsby. C: White-symbolises purity and gives off a
rippling and fluttering as if Buchanans. high-class look.
they had just been blown On top of that, there is an understated
back in after a short flight elegance in the simplicity of the colour of
around the house.(pg 9) their dresses.
M: Daisy and Jordan- the upper-class
women have an understated classy
appearance to them.They have
sophisticated looks which seem natural as
compared to lower class women who seem
crass, over the top, or vulgar when they
excessively accessorise themselves.
“ That’s what I get for Daisy is describing Tom’s We can see Daisy’s perception of Tom here, T: Piling on of similar adjectives describing
marrying a brute of a man, physicality when she accuses somewhat disapproving regarding his brute his strength and size: describing Tom as a
a great big hulking physical Tom for hurting Daisy’s little strength. “brute” and a “great big hulking physical
specimen of a... ” (p12) finger. specimen of a--”
C: The word “hulking” suggests a vast
degree of physical strength and bulk, but it
is not entirely flattering as it also points to
some sort of clumsiness or carelessness in
movement.
“Brute” suggests a non-human creature of
a crude, animalistic nature. “Specimen”
suggests a sample, one of multiple, and is
an impersonal way of referring to Tom
M: By describing Tom as all these, it shows
Daisy’s disapproval towards Tom’s
physicality as it is very intimidating and it
can easily cause hurt to the people around
him. In this case, Daisy’s finger got hurt

6
 (accusingly) by Tom. This is particularly
interesting as Tom is largely defined by his
athleticism and physicality, by the strength
of his “cruel body”.

On a sidenote, for extra information : Tom

did not admit his mistake nor apologise for
the mistake. This shows the lack of
contrition with which careless cruelty is
carried out and victims are quickly
forgotten (in this case it is between people
of similar, if not equal social status.)
“ the glow faded, each light Description of the setting The light is slowly leaving Daisy’s face, which T: Simile
deserting her with lingering sun rays on Daisy’s face, also means metaphorically, since Daisy C: “ like Children leaving a pleasant street
regret like children leaving after she told Nick about the became less positive and bright, as she is at dusk”
a pleasant street at dusk.” butler’s nose acutely aware of the reality that Tom does suggests a disappointed mood and forlorn
(p14) not care for her. feeling when children left to go back home
in separate ways after having fun together.
M: As the light left Daisy’s face, Daisy was
not seen as cheerful or positive anymore,
but seemed more upset. This is because
Daisy is very aware that Tom does not care
for her and she knows that this is the
painful reality.
“ You remind me of a--of a Daisy says this to Nick when It is significant as we see how Daisy is T: The use of hyphens
rose, an absolute rose. the Tom’s mistress calls and diverting Nick’s attention from Tom’s affair. C: the hyphens show that Daisy is exerting
Doesn’t he?” (p15) Tom’s affair is apparent to herself to find something say, and that she
Nick. It also shows how Daisy,is in fact,aware doesn’t know what to say at that point of
about these problems in her marriage. time
M: this shows that Daisy is struggling to
conceal her husband’s affair with her social
performances of blithe ignorant
cheerfulness .

7
 T: nonsensical metaphor
C: The use of “an absolute rose” to Nick
shows that she is trying to call Nick a rose,
which already, as Nick points out, does not
make much sense → but it is even stranger
how she includes an unnecessary word
“absolute” in her statement which doesn’t
make much sense again.
M: this shows her desperate attempt to
keep the genial hospitable mood going and
to hide the affair, even though it fails and
makes no sense to anyone- especially Nick.
“I doubt if even Miss Baker Nick commenting on the The first introduction of Myrtle as the T: Personification of the intrusion of the
who seemed to have impact of the interruption of mistress, seen as an audacious intruder in call by the mistress, Myrtle as the
mastered a certain hardy Tom’s mistress have on the Tom and Daisy’s relationship. However, later unwanted “fifth guest”.
skepticism was able utterly dinner they’re having on we see another side of Myrtle - someone C: When the call is said to be the “fifth
to put this fifth guest’s together. vulnerable and pitiful. guest”, this likens her to an actual presence
shrill metallic urgency out at the dinner itself, and shows how the
of mind.” (p16) presence of Myrtle is so prominently
known even if she was not physically there.
M: The call represents the affair which
cannot be ignored due to its noticeable
presence at the dinner, hence casting a
shadow over Tom and Daisy’s marriage.
“little girl” (p16) Nick asking Daisy about her Evidence to prove that Tom and Daisy were T: The “little girl” is a symbol of Tom and
daughter. happy at one point. Daisy’s marriage
C: the little girl shows that Tom and Daisy
are married → shows the stability in their
marriage as they were able to have a child
together
M: Tom and Daisy have been married for 5
years and this child is a symbol and

8
 concrete evidence of their marital union
which cannot be erased.
“ that’s the best thing a girl Daisy telling Nick how she This shows the true side of Daisy and how T: Odd, almost contradictory description:
can be in this world, a felt when she saw that she she deals with the world, which is through “beautiful little fool”
beautiful little fool.” (p17) had given birth to a girl. escapism. Daisy is actually socially aware of C: “Beautiful” is something positive, but a
the gender inequality of that time, so she is “fool” is an insulting term. Taken further,
very much aware of the need to keep up beauty is something superficial, and a
with the facade of ignorance. beautiful and foolish person is hence
someone of no real substance or
understanding - more of an ornament than
anything else. This odd wish that Daisy has
for her daughter suggests her bleak world-
view as to the limited ways in which
women can survive in her position.
M: Daisy is well aware of the unhappiness
of her marriage with Tom and the hurtful
realities like his infidelity. As a member of
the old rich, she is not accustomed to
trying to solve her own problems herself,
so she deals with the problems through
escapism, and puts up a facade of a
“beautiful little fool” to pretend ignorance
and protect herself. A “ beautiful little fool”
would play this role as someone clueless to
unpleasant or hurtful things in the world
and live her life freely

9
“ Something was making Nick describing Tom yielding This is significant as this reveals Tom’s T: Metaphor of eating with words like
him nibble at the edge of to the scientific books that uncertainty/insecurity abouthimself even “nibble” and “nourished”
stale ideas as if his sturdy he constantly refers to. though he acts so brusquely and does not C: Tom “nibble at the edge of stale ideas”
physical egotism no longer hesitate to show his dominance. so this implies that Tom is starting to rely
nourished his peremptory on books with scientific reasonings which
heart.”(p20) are not necessarily concrete truth. His
desire for something in life to satisfy him or
give him meaning is likened to actual
physical hunger, to show its intensity and
hold over him. However, to liken
something intangible like intellect to
something tangible/physical like hunger
suggests that Tom’s venture into
intellectualism will be neither successful
nor satisfying for him.
M: Tom is known for his “cruel body”
which “no longer nourished his peremptory
heart”, meaning he used to be satisfied
with just his physical appearance but now
feels that he needs more than just that.
This shows Tom’s insecurity, where he
needs to satisfy himself with more than
just outer appearance and instead turns to
(ironically flawed) sciences and facts to
make him seem more knowledgeable
“ he stretched out his arms This is when NIck just came This introduces Gatsby, the one who is the T: Motif of the green light
toward the dark water in a back home from dinner at reason for this book The Great Gatsby, but C: The “green light” represents the dreams
curious way, and far as I Tom’s house, and for the he is not properly introduced and is merely a of Gatsby where he wants to reinvent
was from him I could have first time sees Gatsby. side character in this chapter. himself as a rich person of an upper-class
sworn he was trembling...a to be able to catch up to Daisy’s status and
single green light, minute to officially win her back. Gatsby
and far away, that might “trembling” as he reaches out to the green

10
have been the end of a light shows his vulnerability as he pursues
dock” (p20) his dreams.
M: Gatsby can reach for his dreams but
never attain it, similarly to how Gatsby can
“stretch out” towards the green light but
the green light is too “far away”, he will
never be able to hold onto this dream of
his. Gatsby’s dreams are too high and
grander than his reality hence he will never
be able to accomplish his ideal dream.

11
Chapter 2
What happens in this chapter:
Nick’s narration on the corruption, shallowness of the American Dream that every character was vying for in the Roaring Twenties. Nick describes the land
between West Egg and New York as the valley of ashes. Above the valley lies the eyes of Doctor T.J Eckleburg. Nick travels to the city with Tom, and stops at
Wilson’s to meet Myrtle. Myrtle travels with them from the valley of ashes to the colourful brilliance of her wealthy double-life with Tom. After Myrtle bought
the dog, they went into the apartment. Catherine and the McKees joined the party. Nick drank only for the second time in his life. People here are trying to put
a performance of elegance that they cannot keep up. Nick is well aware of this and his attention to minute flaws shows his inability to accept any imperfections
that contradict his visions and ideals. Myrtle showed her obsession with rising above her social class when she condemns Wilson who is not able to fit into her
social status. Tom breaks Myrtle’s nose in an argument. Nick was so drunk that he forgot how he went to bed.

Important Quote + Context (Who says this, what is Why is this significant in the novel? TCM
Page number this about, what event is this
describing/referring to?)
“This is a valley of A description of a place that The valley of ashes is a symbol of the failure of the T: enumeration of features of the valley of ashes,
ashes -- a fantastic cuts in between East and American Dream, as everything here is decaying but depicted in a fantastical, almost-abstract way
farm where ashes West Egg. and barren. C: exaggerating the extent of ugliness of the valley
grow like wheat of ashes.
into ridges and hill
and grotesque T: alliteration/juxtaposition
gardens where C: comparing of how something ‘fantastic’ with a
ashes take the ‘farm’ which is known to be dirty, and ‘gardens’
forms of houses which are known for its flowery beauty are being
and chimneys and described as ‘grotesque’, something ugly and
rising smoke and unpleasant
finally, with a M: the ugliness of the valley of ashes is so great that
transcendent it distorts/taints anything of beauty
effort, of men who
move dimly and
already crumbling
through the

13
powdery air. (Pg
21)
But his eyes, A description to a signboard The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg was a “persistent T: the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg as a motif
dimmed a little by in the valley of ashes stare” over the valley of ashes C: always watching throughout the events - almost
many paintless like the omniscient eyes of God - an association that
days under sun and Wilson makes towards the end of the novel.
rain, brood on over However, this presence is not godlike in any sense of
the solemn the word, as it is merely a billboard/ advertisement
dumping ground. M: Points to the desolation, immorality, and
(Pg 21) deprivation that actually plagued the Roaring
Twenties - a society clinging to materialism as its
unfaithful god

Also ironic that an advertisement, a sign of

capitalism, commercialism, and money-making,
should be guarding over a scene of poverty and
desolation. This suggests the impossibility of the
poor rising out of their poverty, no matter what they
try to do to acquire wealth.
“Her face, above a When Tom brings Nick to A description of Myrtle’s character in the novel, T: hyperbole: “as if the nerves of her body were
spotted dress of Wilson’s garage and Myrtle being seductive when meeting Tom + trying to continually smouldering”
dark blue crepe- walks down the stairs keep up a facade of a woman of high social class C: Extreme intensity of her physical self, as though
de-chine, even her nerves are constantly on fire - her physical
contained no facet vitality reflects her go-getter personality, social
or gleam of beauty character and physical sexuality
but there was an M: the rawness and intensity of Myrtle’s desire for
immediately Tom + her desire to rise socially and gain financial
perceptible vitality wealth in general
about her as if the
nerves of her body
were continually
smouldering.”
(Pg 23)

14
“‘It's a bitch," said When Myrtle shows A depiction of Tom’s character where he feels Tone: reflects Tom’s character as a symbol of power,
Tom decisively. eagerness to buy a dog dominant and possesses a lot of power, using brandishes his money in a patronizing way towards
"Here's your money as a way to solve his problems Myrtle’s wants.
money. Go and buy
ten more dogs with
it.’”
(Pg 24)
“but he wasn't fit When the topic of marriage This gives us more insights Myrtle’s obsession with Tone: harsh, condemns Wilson as he does not fit
to lick my shoe.” was broached and Myrtle’s class: she only wanted men who could fit into her into her image of being an upper class lady +
(Pg 30) marriage was being brought image of upper class. distances him from her in terms of status (though
into the conversation she, ironically, actually isn’t of a much better social
background than him) showing that Myrtle was
materialistic and obsessed with class.
“The only building A depiction of Wilson’s This amplified the difference in wealth between Contrast: The valley of ashes and the worn-out
in sight was a small building in the Valley of the rich and the poor, and portrayed as a stark buildings in it shows a jarring contrast to “white
block of yellow Ashes counterpoint to the wealth and luxury enjoyed by palaces of fashionable East Egg”
brick sitting on the many of the major characters. C: Behind this appearance of hedonistic pleasure
edge of the waste and wealth there are struggles and suffering
land,” M: Shows that the aspirational belief that everyone
(Pg 22) can make it in life in the 1920s, is a false one - the
poor remain deprived and the glitz and glamour of
the rich is only accessible to a select few

Also: Significance of the colour “yellow” - like gold,

but not really, just a pale imitation of it. This
symbolises how the aspirations of the poor remain
unfulfilled.
“the only car A depiction of a car when Cars represents the excess pleasures of the rich Personification: likens the wrecked car to a human
visible was the Tom visits Wilson’s garage but is often recklessly used crouching
dust-covered C:connotes that the car is miserable, worn out due
wreck of a Ford to decadence of the rich
which crouched in
the dim corner”

15
(Pg 23) M: careless, reckless behaviour of the rich of using
their material wealth as a source of pure hedonistic
pleasure
“and if you feel Tom said this to Wilson after This brandishes the superiority of the old rich Tone: threatening, saying that Tom has more
that way about it, Wilson complained about against the poor options than Wilson + sudden shift from genial tone
maybe I’d better the rate at which the car right before
sell it somewhere mechanic is working on C: Tom has power over Wilson because Wilson
else after all.” needs money badly - he knows it and is not afraid to
(Pg 23) show it when he wants Wilson to be cowed/to yield
to him
M: difference in social status that cannot be bridged
“a collar for the When Myrtle shares with Myrtle is flaunting her wealth, but the fact that she Symbol: The dog 's collar is representative of Tom’s
dog” Mrs. McKee the list of things is dependent on Tom for this wealth suggests that control over Myrtle
(Pg 33) she planned to buy she does not have as much power or status as she C: To her, owning a dog and a collar is a sign of her
pretends. increasing wealth and status, but we know that
collar is a symbol of ownership
M: it is actually a symbol of how Myrtle is in Tom’s
power

The dog is diminished to a mere commodity as only

the collar is mentioned, and the dog has lost its
importance. Shows the careless, irresponsible
nature of these characters.
“Making a short When Myrtle mentions Tom uses his physical strength to put Myrtle in her Break in conversation, physical action: Tom falls
deft movement Daisy by the name and Tom place. back on his raw physicality and he attacks Myrtle.
Tom Buchanan doesn't like it The extent of his brute strength is shown through
broke her nose Shockingly, this physical violence that Tom how easily he can hurt and subdue Myrtle - with no
with his open unleashes on Myrtle becomes a benchmark of more than a “short deft movement”
hand” what a good relationship is to Myrtle later in the C:Connotes how straightforward Tom’s relationship
(Pg 34) book. with Myrtle is - the power dynamic in this
relationship is one-sided and cannot be reversed
M: Tom’s relationship with Myrtle is one that grants
him the freedom to exercise his raw physicality and

16
is a union of sexual forwardness and loud,
unreserved desire. Also, while Myrtle thinks this
relationship will elevate her materially and socially,
Tom’s ability to hurt her when she offends him
shows how she remains of a different league
socially.

17
Chapter 3
What happens in this chapter:

Gatsby throws elaborate parties every weekend at his mansion, which many guests attend despite the lack of an invitation. One day, Gatsby’s chauffeur brings
Nick an invitation to one of these parties. At the appointed time, Nick makes the short walk to Gatsby’s house and joins the festivities, feeling somewhat out of
place amid the throng of jubilant strangers. Guests mill around exchanging rumors about their host, as no one seems to know the truth about Gatsby’s wealth
or personal history. Nick runs into Jordan Baker, whose friend, Lucille, speculates that Gatsby was a German spy during the war. Nick also hears that Gatsby is a
graduate of Oxford and that he once killed a man in cold blood. Nick meets Gatsby at the party, and was awed by his mere presence and the elaborate and
formal introduction of himself, and becomes increasingly fascinated with him.

Important Quote Context (Who says this, what is this Why is this significant in the novel? TCM
+ Page number about, what event is this
describing/referring to?) [Link to issues / themes / characterization]

“There was a Gatsby’s party at the Comparison of the working class with the rich, T: Repetition of “two hundred” (two hundred
machine in the beginning of the chapter, in whereby the working class is relegated to menial oranges, and pressing two hundred times) links the
kitchen which which Nick describes the tasks that would shape the revelry that the rich butler to the extraction work of the machine.
could extract the process in which Gatsby’s displays.
juice of two parties are set up by the C: Almost dehumanising portrayal of the work of the
hundred oranges working class (his butlers) butler, giving him the rigidity of a machine, his
in half an hour if actions punctuated with precision and regularity.
a little button this dehumanising portrayal is exacerbated by the
was pressed two way only his “thumb”, the body part carrying out the
hundred times by work, is referenced.

19
a butler’s M: The working class seems to have no personality
thumb.” of its own, and is portrayed via the repetition of
their tasks that is likened to a machine. Unable to
escape the fact that their role is defined by what the
‘old rich’ wants them to do.

“sea-change of Gatsby’s party, where the Refers to the lack of rootedness of the rich; able to T: allusion
faces and voices party seems to reach a new transform into the persona they create for
and color under height of excitement themselves as they please (Daisy & Tom’s constant C: the term is a Shakespearean one, that refers to a
the constantly moving). This contrasts the working class, which great change wrought by the sea. There is hence a
changing light” remains stagnant in their social class and attempts parallel between the ebb and flow of a water body
to break away from it (i.e. Myrtle, Gatsby) are met to the dynamics of the party.
with failure.

On top of that, the term usually means a great

transformation - but this is interesting as at the
party, the rich are not actually undergoing any
fundamental changes or growth, just drifting in and
out of the revelry as they please. There is an
emptiness to this kind of change.

M: Party-goers do not stagnate at a single area,

preferring to socialise randomly but without staying
for long. Displays the mindless indulgence of the
rich, who are only at the party to bask in the revelry
and excess.

20
“with a simplicity Gatsby’s party, as Nick realises Comparison to the rich throughout the novel, T: ironic:
of heart that was he’s the only party-goer who where characters such as Daisy aspire to be “a
its own ticket of has been invited beautiful little fool” in order to escape from the C: people are easily contented and pure; however,
admission” crassness of the rich. sentence refers to wild partying and careless
disregard of the host

M: Nick’s contempt towards partygoers’

mindlessness; trying to paint a rosy picture of party
while still aware of cracks in facade; Nick hints that
only way to enjoy this scenario is to possess a certain
degree of mindlessness/insipidity

“uniform of Nick describes the moment Depiction of the nouveau rich’s attempts to be like T: significant description: colour
robin’s-egg blue” Gatsby’s chauffeur delivers his the old rich C: description of uniform’s colour - somewhat over-
party invitation the-top, almost gaudy
Parallel to Gatsby’s pink suit which causes Tom to M: the new rich’s representation of their wealth
accuse him for not being “an Oxford man,” with an seems to be a larger-than-life version of how the old
identity of class and status rich do it - all details are slightly grand/outlandish.
This tendency to overstate shows a hyper-awareness
of their wealth that separates them from the old
rich. Having known and seen wealth all their lives,
the old rich instead consider an understated
complacency to be the strongest display of class and
breeding.

“agonisingly Nick’s description of the Nick’s perception of bondsmen: these are persons T: alliteration
aware” partygoers who appear to be who desire to become rich and elevate themselves
bondsmen or promoters from their current status, and Nick thinks they C: links their awareness of the potential to make
seem to be ‘looking a little hungry.’ money here, to the idea of it being excruciating;

21
 showing the extent of their desire

Parallel to Gatsby, who is himself a bondsman with M: To Nick, these transactional conversations might
illegal connections to triads in Chicago seem vulgar/crass due to their unabashedly
mercenary nature + embarrassingly pathetic due to
the Englishmen’s fixation on striking a deal. Consider
how this shapes his impressions of the party

“roaring drunk Nick searching for the owner Nick drinks every time he cannot ignore the T: motif of alcohol/drunkenness
from sheer of the house/host of the party ugliness of the upper class in order to be blinded
embarrassment” and continue to be idealistic in his pursuit of riches C: alcohol is referred to a coping mechanism to
escape from the ugliness of the party

M: Ironically, Nick’s attempts to blur the edges of

fallen social world is assisted by the revelry in which
the social world is defined; hedonistic revelry is used
to cope with revelry around him

“When I was here Speculation over identity of Mindlessness/shallow perception of the T: enumeration
last I tore my host partygoers, which only focuses on the value of gifts
gown on a chair, rather than show gratitude to the person who C: Listing out of various extravagant details of the
and he asked me brings it dress - the colour, the decorations, the price. This
my name and gift by Gatsby is quantified by its price, rather than
address… It was appreciation for his kindness
gas blue with
lavender beads. M: in environment peppered with anonymity and
impersonal conversations, Gatsby’s personalised

22
Two hundred and favour comes across as gesture of casual hospitality
sixty-five dollars.” from mysterious host, and there is greater interest in
the finery of dress rather than Gatsby

“he was a Speculation over identity of Gatsby’s character remains mysterious and in T: Compare to later on in the text, when Gatsby tries
German spy host doubt, even at his own party. to deliver a very different, far nobler narrative of his
during the war” life.
“I’ll bet he killed
a man” It is important to remember that the fascinating C: Here, Gatsby is likened to a German spy and a
mystery that he is shrouded in at the start is not killer with murderous impulse, even though he has,
always positive speculation - some of the rumours in all ways, tried to cultivate an entirely different
actually paint him in a sinister light. persona

M: Despite Gatsby’s attempts to create an image of

the rich by holding parties at his mansion, he is still
seen as someone inferior to the rich in status - and
the attention that he draws through his flashy
spending actually reinforces that.

“It fooled me.

This fella's a
regular Belasco.
It's a triumph.
What
thoroughness!
What realism!”

23
“transported Nick and Jordan’s exploration Parallel to Gatsby’s attempt to be someone apart T: metaphor
complete from of Gatsby’s house from “Jay Gatz,” assuming the identity of a person
some ruin that has no relation to his origins C: reductive transplantation of artifacts by new
overseas” money and nouveau rich

M: Gatsby’s current status is defined by riches

brought from someplace else and not from his own
background

“‘I’m Gatsby,’ he Nick’s first encounter with Anti-climactic revelation of Gatsby’s identity T: anticlimax
said suddenly.” Gatsby at the party despite the novel being built on him being a
“great” person of considerable status
C: matter-of-fact statement that reveals fully
Gatsby’s identity, after an extensive build-up and
sense of mystery

M: Suddenness of revelation of Gatsby’s identity

throws his significance in the story into further
question

“It was one of Nick’s first encounter with Gatsby’s identity is significant to Nick in appealing T: motif of his smile
those rare smiles Gatsby at the party to his idealism, in that Gatsby provides the
with a quality of gateway to Nick’s speculation and dreams C: charm, likeability, perfection and understanding -
eternal but while Nick initially falls under the charm of it, the
reassurance” smile does not tell us much about Gatsby himself. It
may not be that genuine; it may be part of his
deliberately-crafted persona as well

M: Gatsby’s manipulation through an empty smile

24
 that reveals nothing about himself, but provides
special favour to Nick

“Chicago was Butler calls Gatsby to the Despite the image that Gatsby tries to uphold, he is T: motif of phone calls
calling him on the phone each time he flashes his still haunted by his gonnegtions and illegitimate C: reference to Chicago and Philadelphia, regions in
wire” “smile of eternal reassurance” beginnings which illegal businesses are based in
“Philadelphia M: indication of Gatsby’s unsavoury “gonnegtions”
wants you on the as the reason for his wealth
phone”

“He’s just a man Nick questions Jordan on Gatsby is perceived as someone mortal and merely T: tone
named Gatsby” Gatsby’s identity an average being, although he is seen as someone C: nonchalance and bluntness of description of
who represents possibility to Nick and is labelled Gatsby - behind the rumours and wealth, he is
“great” in the novel. indeed just a man like any other.
M: Gatsby is, despite his designed identity, mortal
and vulnerable

“At small parties Jordan’s description of Parallel to the rich’s ability to shape who they want T: irony
there isn’t any Gatsby’s parties to be, although it can only be accomplished when C: small parties usually provide more privacy for few
privacy” others are distracted by mindlessness and engage partygoers, but is seen as a violation of privacy
in superficial interactions instead
M: the rich cannot hide the imperfections/
Further displayed when Nick is invited to small conflicts/unhappiness that they experience or see in
gatherings (i.e. with Tom, and later when Tom small social settings
visits Gatsby’s house)

Compare the small gatherings seen in the book

(Myrtle’s apartment, lunch at Tom’s house, etc) with

25
 the “romantic possibilities” that Nick sees in
Gatsby’s party

“but no one Nick’s focus on Gatsby as the Despite the grotesque speculation of Gatsby’s T: repetition of sentence clauses starting with “no”
swooned party progresses identity and unassuming nature of the revelation C: untainted detachment from party, female
backward on of his identity, Nick continues to see him as company and party
Gatsby, and no someone untouchable and unaccomplishable M: Gatsby sets himself apart from the hedonistic
French bob revelry of the rich upper class, which is odd given
touched Gatsby’s that he was the one who organised this revelry.
shoulder, and no Foreshadowing that Gatsby wants more than just
singing quartet this partying; he wants something greater through
was formed with the mechanism of the party
Gatsby’s head for
one link”

26
Chapter 4
What happens in this chapter:

This chapter opens with Nick attending another one of Gatsby’s parties and different takes on who Gatsby is. Many people who have attended Gatsby’s parties
or have enjoyed his hospitality alike are introduced and one in particular, Klipspringer is known as “the boarder”. In the next scene, NIck gets picked up by
Gatsby in his car and they go off for lunch. Gatsby is obviously self-conscious of Nick’s perception of him and starts unloading information of his past, and only
the desirable aspects. He claims that he was educated at Oxford, and after that he toured Europe, served in the military during WWI, where he was promoted
quickly to a major. He claims to have dealt in jewels and to have had many adventures. Nick considers it almost laughable how far-fetched Gatsby's story is, but
Gatsby produces a medal he was awarded for valor and picture of himself at Oxford, which, momentarily quells Nick's doubts.

Meyer Wolfshiem who wears real human molars as cufflinks, is rumoured to have “fixed” the 1919 World Series (which means he paid players on one team to
lose the game). He is also linked to organised crime, giving Nick an idea of where Gatsby acquired his wealth from. Thus, Wolfshiem is introduced as a corrupt
and undesirable character. Nick is also informed that Gatsby has a favour of Nick which Jordan will ask for.

Later, Jordan tells Nick the story of Gatsby and Daisy. The two met when Gatsby, who was not wealthy then, was stationed near Daisy's home in Louisville, KY.
They were very much in love, but Gatsby was called to New York to sail to Europe for the war. He vowed he would return when he was a wealthy man.
However, in the next autumn she had married Tom Buchanan in a grand wedding. But on the day of the wedding, she received a letter from Gatsby and got
herself drunk, trying to refuse the string of pearls and destroying the letter. She still ended up marrying Tom and it seemed like she was in love with him. Jordan
also reveals that Gatsby had bought a mansion just because he had hoped that Daisy would wander into a party one night.

29
The request is finally revealed to be for Nick to invite her to his house for tea, so that Gatsby and Daisy can meet again. Nick is astonished by the “modesty of
the demand”, gains more respect for Gatsby and continues to be fascinated by him.

Important Context (Who says this, what is this Why is this significant in the novel? TCM
Quote + Page about, what event is this
describing/referring to?)
number

“As we crossed
Blackwell's
Island a
limousine
passed us,
driven by a
white
chauffeur, in
which sat three
modish
Negroes, two
bucks and a girl.
I laughed aloud
as the yolks of
their eyeballs
rolled toward
us in haughty
rivalry”
“He went to This shows attempts by various characters Repetition of “Oggsford”.
Oggsford (Wolfshiem and Gatsby) to build up a narrative of
College in

30
England. You Mr. Wolfshiem talking to Nick Gatsby that would earn Nick’s trust (and Nick The fact that he wants to emphasise that Gatsby was
know Oggsford about Gatsby after Gatsby left trying to decide if he believes it or not) from the university shows his desire to help Gatsby
College?” to telephone. build up a good reputation of an educated man.

At the same time, though, Wolfshiem seems to not

know very much about Oxford at all, bungling its
pronunciation and asking if Nick knows of it, in a way
that suggests that he does not realise how familiar
the upper-class is with names of major colleges. His
association with Gatsby hence ironically undercuts
his attempts to affirm Gatsby’s reputation

“The officer Jordan’s narration of her first Gives readers a peek into Daisy and Gatsby’s Jordan’s telling of the story is almost fairytale-like in
looked at Daisy time seeing Gatsby and Daisy interaction before Daisy got married. tone, with the interjection of “a way that every
while she was together. young girl wants to be looked at sometime” to
speaking, in a reinforce the desirability of Gatsby’s wholehearted
way that every We find out that Gatsby has been in love with devotion.
young girl Daisy ever since they met years ago.
wants to be
looked at It suggests that Daisy and Gatsby’s romance was
sometime” ideal, and just like how any young girl would dream
for it to be like. However, this is ironic as the ending
to TGG is nowhere near happy. Gatsby dies, and his
dreams, ambitions and romance are all crushed.

31
“...found her Jordan recounting what she saw Reveals Daisy’s unpredictable fluctuations in Contrast between the two similes: between “as
lying on her bed half an hour before Daisy’s emotional displays. She seeks escape when lovely as the June night” and “as drunk as a
as lovely as the bridal dinner. distressed. Daisy’s being drunk in this scene shows monkey”.
June night in readers her desperate attempt/desire to escape
her flowered from the wedding.
dress--and as While she is, on the one hand, still appearing as the
drunk as a lovely bride-to-be, the ugliness of her drunkenness
monkey” mars the scene.

This emphasises her unpredictable fluctuations in

emotional displays and shows Daisy’s anguish.
Definite crack in her facade as blithe socialite and
cheerful bride.

“Take ‘em Daisy and her drunken Moment of honesty for Daisy, who abandons her Pronoun use: Daisy speaks as if she’s a third person.
downstairs and statements right before her usual sociable, frivolous front when under the She distances herself from reality and her problems.
give em’ back bridal dinner. influence of liquor, and states her reluctance to be
to whoever married.
they belong to. “Whoever they belong to”: Refusal to say Tom’s
Tell ‘em all name: Daisy diminishes Tom’s importance in her life.
Daisy’s change’
her mine.”

Her rare attempt as self-assertion is hence

paradoxical, as she can only diminish Tom’s
presence in her life when she also distances herself
from taking ownership over herself and her life. This

32
 suggests Daisy’s inability to actually carve out a new
independent existence for herself.

“They moved
with a fast
crowd, all of
them young
and rich and
wild, but she
came out with
an absolutely
perfect
reputation.
Perhaps
because she
doesn't drink.
It's a great
advantage not
to drink among
hard-drinking
people.”

“Gatsby bought Jordan telling Nick that it was all Reveals that Gatsby planned everything, as if Motif of Gatsby’s house
that house so not a coincidence that Gatsby expecting everything about his romance with Daisy
that Daisy lived across the bay from Daisy. to fall in place.
would be just The house becomes a significant feature of Gatsby’s
across the bay” attempts to pursue his dreams; he purchases it

33
 simply so that he would be precisely opposite from
Daisy.

Through material possession, Gatsby hence hopes to

possess Daisy’s love and through that complete his
reinvention of himself .

This is however, somewhat poignant -since the two

houses are positioned on West and East Egg
respectively, opposite from each other, it seems as
though Gatsby is enacting a mirror image of Daisy’s
privileged living conditions. But like a mirror-image,
he can only watch from the other side of the bay;
and not access her fully. He cannot buy her love or
reverse all that has happened.

Other Significant Quotes for Chapter 4...

34
Chapter 5
What happens in this chapter:

Nick invites Daisy to his house for tea, and so that Gatsby can finally reunite after 5 years and her bring Daisy to his home. During their meeting, there is a
constant mention of rain. When Gatsby brings Daisy to his house, she becomes aware of Gatsby’s newly acquired wealth and status.

Important Context (Who says this, what is this Why is this significant in the novel? TCM
Quote + Page about, what event is this
describing/referring to?)
number

“Now it was Gatsby is finally reunited with The symbol of the green light is poignant in the The symbol of the green light is more significant to
again a green Daisy, and Gatsby has realised novel and it represents Gatsby’s intense desire for Gatsby than Daisy herself. He is more in love with
light on a dock. that the immense symbol of the Daisy and also that when he obtains her, that his the idea of chasing Daisy, so when he finally gets
His count of green light, which was Daisy reinvention of himself would be complete. her, the experience is underwhelming and it isn’t all
enchanted and the idea of chasing Daisy, that it was meant to be. Gatsby has built up so much
objects had has lost its significance now that meaning and ideals for her that Daisy can never
diminished by he has obtained Daisy. reach his expectations.
one.”

“I’d like to just Daisy is in Gatsby’s house and is Daisy, who is known to be an escapist throughout The alliteration of ‘p’ in ‘pink clouds’ ‘put you in it’
get one of talking about Gatsby, the novel, is behaving whimsically, throwing out and ‘push you around’ creates a gently-tripping,
those pink ideas that are impossible. This just emphasises her cheerful ‘p’ sound. This emphasises Daisy’s absurd
clouds and put view of the situation, that it is just a form of escape foolish sweetness, and how she chooses to be
you in it and from reality. ignorant to the cruel reality she knows– that Tom is
cheating on her. This shows that Daisy views her

35
push you relationship with Gatsby as something dreamy,
around.” something that is unlike reality, an escape.

“His bedroom Description of Gatsby’s The description of “dull gold” is important because The description of Gatsby’s toilet seat being “dull
was the bedroom, when Daisy visits his it shows us the cracks in Gatsby’s facade, and just gold” signifies how Gatsby is still trying to fit into the
simplest room house for the first time. how much effort he has put into reinventing upper class, to seem like he is of the old rich.
of all-- except himself. However, the gold is “dull”, representing how his
where the efforts come off as unfitting/inadequate and it is
dresser was blatant that he is of new money.
garnished with
This shows that that despite the efforts of Gatsby to
a toilet seat of
appear of high class and fine breeding, the cracks in
pure dull gold”
his facade are still prominent throughout the novel

(but when Daisy brushes her hair with it, it shows

her momentary acceptance of the persona he has
built up)

“An hour later Technique: Clothing/Dress

the front door
Description of Gatsby’s outward Throughout the novel, we see Gatsby’s conscious
opened
appearance: what he had efforts to craft the image of himself, as part of his
nervously, and When Gatsby meets Daisy for the first time, he
chosen to wear to the first reinvention. Likewise, he has carefully picked a
Gatsby in a chooses to be dressed in clothes with gold and
white flannel meeting he has with Daisy in “silver shirt and gold-coloured tie”, colours that are
five years. commonly associated with wealth. silver- colours that signify material wealth.This is yet
suit, silver shirt another aspect of his ‘reinvention’ into an upper-
and gold- class man. This shows that to Gatsby, the attainment
coloured tie of Daisy is a symbolic representation of his
hurried in.”

36
 attainment of status as one of the ‘upperclass men’,
she is a symbol of wealth to him.

“A damp streak Scene where Daisy first arrives Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship, to Daisy, is a form Technique: Setting, Symbol of Rain, Foreshadowing
of hair lay like a at Nick’s house. She enters the of escapism in the novel. In this scene, Daisy
dash of blue shelter of Nick’s house from the escapes from the rain into the shelter of Nick’s
paint across her unpleasant, rainy weather house where she later rekindles her love with The mention that it was raining when Daisy arrives
cheek and her outside. Gatsby. at Nick’s house is a foreshadowing of what Daisy
hand was wet views her relationship with Gatsby as - an escape
with glistening from her unhappy marriage with Tom. Parallel to
drops as I took how she comes in from the rain into the shelter of
it to help her the house, she seeks refuge in the new relationship
from her car.” as the complete opposite of her marriage tarnished
by Tom’s infidelity.

“ His head After Gatsby has met Daisy, but Ultimately, Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship never Technique: Metaphor for time
leaned back so a conversation has not started returned to how it used to be five years ago. The
far that it between them. The scene is defunct clock shows how the long time Gatsby and
rested against silent and a little uneasy. Daisy spent apart had changed this relationship The defunct clock foreshadows the fact that Gatsby
the face of a irrevocably. and Daisy’s relationship would never go back to the
defunct way it was 5 years ago. Just as how the clock has
mantelpiece stopped working and is frozen in time, the
clock and from reconcilement of the couple is also a moment where
the this position it seems as though time had stopped - they could
his distraught recover their past love and ignore all that had
eyes stared transpired since then.
down at Daisy
who was sitting
frightened but

37
graceful on the However, the clock has stopped precisely because it
edge of a stiff is spoilt. This suggests that the couple’s fairytale
chair.” relationship has actually stopped 5 years ago and
will never revert back to the way it used to be. There
is no denying all that has occurred and changed
since then.

“It makes me Daisy is in Gatsby’s house and This is the moment where Gatsby’s efforts to T: motif of shirts > symbolising his extensive wealth
sad because Gatsby is throwing shirts at her. become rich to attain Daisy finally pays off.
There is a colossal significance of this scene because
I’ve never seen The shirts were ordered from
Gatsby has finally become a man worthy of being
such--- such England and they are shipped to
with Daisy. Daisy, too, realises this in this scene.
beautiful shirts Gatsby at the beginning of
before.” every season When she cries, it is because she realises that she
prefers Gatsby over Tom, and she is emotionally
overwrought because of this. This is also the only
other time that Daisy cries, the other being before
her wedding when she receives the letter from
Gatsby.

“Sometimes, Gatsby is bringing Daisy around This shows how important Daisy is to Gatsby and The alliteration of ‘actual’ and ‘astounding’
too, he stares his house. how all his material wealth is only to attain Daisy emphasises the significance of Daisy to Gatsby, that
around at his and to get her to acknowledge him as someone her presence means so much to him, so much so
possessions in a worthy of being with. that he would revalue everything in his house for
dazed way as her. It also shows just how much Gatsby has longed
though in her for and dreamt of getting Daisy, that when he finally
actual does get her, it is as though it isn’t real, and he is
astounding ‘dazed’ and astounded by her presence.
presence none

38
of it was any
longer real.”

39
Chapter 6
What happens in this chapter:

Gatsby and Tom meet formally at Gatsby’s house with a few of the old rich. Tom goes to Gatsby’s party later with Daisy, where Nick finally sees the vulgar side
of Gatsby’s party that he has been suppressing for so long. Daisy doesn’t enjoy the party, which gets Gatsby determined to “repeat the past”. This results in Nick
stating to see the gap between Gatsby’s ideals and reality.

Important Context (Who says this, what is this Why is this significant in the novel? TCM
Quote + Page about, what event is this
number describing/referring to?) [Link to issues / themes / characterization]

“... a promise Nick is talking about Gatsby’s We see how Gatsby’s dream is not achievable, and T: Contrast
that the rock of past and his dreams.. how the dream itself holds much more significance
C: A rock is heavy, yet it is able to be secured on a
the world was than Gatsby actually attaining Daisy in chapter 5.
flimsy fairy’s wing. The term “fairy” refers to Daisy
founded
securely on a (“Fay”).
fairy’s wing” (P M: It shows how Gatsby’s dreams have found a focal
82) point in the symbolic significance that Daisy holds
for him,, with the fairy referring to Daisy.

This in turn shows how expansive his dream is - to

balance the rock of the world “securely” on no more

41
 than a fairy’s wing is a precarious, impossible-
sounding image, and in painting Gatsby’s dream in
this way, Nick gives testimony to Gatsby’s immense
idealism.

“There were At the start of Gatsby’s party Nick felt that the party was different than it was T: Enumeration + Alliteration
the same with Tom’s presence. before, due to Tom reminding him of the ways of
C: Listing of details Gatsby’s party shows how
people, or at the old rich, which do not blend well with Gatsby’s
least the same vulgar parties. everything seems to be the same, yet it feels vaguely
different than before.
sort of people,
the same M: Shows that the vulgarity in Gatsby’s party all the
profusion of time had gone unnoticed all this while, but that Tom
champagne, and Daisy’s presence has rendered Nick hyper-aware
the same of all the deficiencies in the usual festivities, because
many-coloured, he knows that it would be regarded as nouveau rich
many keyed crassness in Tom and Daisy’s eyes.
commotion,
but I felt an
unpleasantness
in the air… that
hadn’t been
there before.”

“But what had Nick’s perception of the party Further elaboration of Nick viewing Gatsby’s party T: Contrast between “amused” and “septic”
amused me after further experiencing it through the lens of the upper class.
C: Earlier, Nick felt that the people at Gatsby’s party
then turned with Tom around.
septic…” were interesting and fun to be around, but now
seem to be ‘infected’ or toxic - corrupted to an
extent that it not longer felt normal.

42
 M: Emphasises the differences between the old rich
and new rich, being incompatible with each other.
This shows the hopelessness of Daisy and Gatsby’s
r/s since they are of different statuses and social
class.

“...desolate Aftermath of Gatsby’s party Shows how the portrayal of Gatsby’s party being T: Symbolism
path of fruit with Tom and Daisy. grand and luxurious is turned to something more
rinds and disgusting and ugly. C: The items in the party are seen to be bleak and
dismal, nothing but trash.
discarded
favors and M: Drawing parallels to the objects of extravagance
crushed and revelry in Chapter 3, the way the grand items in
flowers.” the party have become little more than rubbish
shows that it was a failure in Gatsby’s eyes as it
failed to please Daisy. It suggests how material
wealth to Gatsby is nothing compared to the value
that Daisy holds in his eyes.

“It is invariably Nick describing the way he sees Amplifies the divide between the new rich and the T: Motif of eyes and seeing
saddening to the party in the presence of old rich, showing how Gatsby’s party is crass in the
C: The party is described as one that appears flawed
look through Daisy. eyes of the old rich.
new eyes at through the eyes of the old rich.
things upon M: This means that Nick is disillusioned by the reality
which you have Nick’s original view of the party as a member of of Gatsby’s parties as while they appear to be
expanded your West Egg is readjusted when he is with members of extravagant and grand on the outside, their
own powers of the more fashionable East Egg and hence adopts flashiness and apparent excess will not match up to
adjustment” their perspective/outlook towards the world the standards of the old rich, and that inadequacy is
now far too apparent to him

43
“... and Refers to the interactions Describes a budding relationship at the party, T: Comparison between director+star and
watching the between two celebrity figures which naturally invites comparison with the other Gatsby+Daisy
moving picture in the novel. relationship that the party is supposed to foster
director and his (i.e. Gatsby and Daisy) C: The moving picture director finally manages to
kiss his celebrity companion at the party. This
Star.”
parallels Gatsby’s attempt to connect with Daisy
using the impressive nature of his party.
Unfortunately, while the crude revelry of the party is
sufficient to ignite romance between these
celebrities, Daisy’s old-rich disdain of such parties
means that Gatsby does not manage to reach her in
the same way at this event.

M: This reflects the gap between the old rich and the
new rich, a social distance that keeps Gatsby from
ever fully connecting with Daisy.

“Can’t repeat Nick and Gatsby were talking Shows how deeply intent Gatsby is about achieving T: Dialogue - direct refutation of Nick’s statement /
the past? he about Daisy and the party. his dreams and reliving the past. motif of the past
cried
C: Gatsby appears to be so blinded by his dream that
incredulously.
he genuinely believes that he can reinvent the past
Why of course
to how he wished it had gone between Daisy and
you can”
him five years ago.

M:This means that Gatsby has built his reality on his

idealistic, naive belief that he can win over Daisy and
change things back to the way they were before.

44
--“he could Nick retelling how Gatsby’s Shares Nick’s perception of Gatsby’s dreams - how T: Repetition of “climb”, but the clarifying descriptor
climb to it, if he dream had begun . his initial ambitions have been transformed by the “alone” is added the second time
climbed alone,” appearance of Daisy as a focal point - in gaining
Daisy as the ultimate ideal, he loses all possibility of C: This shows the possibility of Gatsby achieving his
dreams of social status and wealth, but then
ever securing his ideals
qualifies it by saying that it can only be done alone.
This suggests that once he pins his desires on Daisy,
he will not be able to achieve his original ambitions.

M: By falling in love with Daisy, Gatsby’s dreams

have extended far beyond the more manageable
material ones of gaining wealth and status. Now he
has committed himself to the legitimate attainment
of Daisy, something that is simply not possible given
all that has changed in the past five years + his lowly
social background.

“..forever wed Highlights how Gatsby’s relationship Daisy has T: Contrast

his unutterable become inextricably intertwined with how he sees
Nick retelling how Gatsby’s C: The idea of “unutterable visions”, something
visions to her his dreams/evaluates his success in achieving them
dream had begun transcendent and ethereal, is at odds with their idea
perishable
of “perishable breath”, an embodiment of Daisy’s
breath,”
mortal vulnerability and imperfection. Gatsby
appears to place all his ideals on an imperfect
person, Daisy

M: This means that Gatsby has set his dreams up for

failure: he has given Daisy such great symbolic
significance that Daisy as a person could never live

45
 up to them, and his dream has become the
impossible one of ensuring that his past would go
how he wanted it to.

“At his lips’ Gatsby telling Nick his It shows the start of Gatsby’s romantic dream of Technique: Metaphor: “incarnation”: Daisy is likened
touch she background with Daisy, and being with Daisy, and Daisy’s significance to him to someone who embodies a goddess/deity
blossomed for how he met her 5 years ago,
him like a where he would have the Connotation: As an incarnation, Daisy has become
an embodiment of something greater than herself -
flower and the dream of chasing her.
the patron/tutelary goddess of his immense ideals.
incarnation was
complete.” (P Meaning: Here we see that Gatsby desires more
99) than Daisy in herself; he has attached huge symbolic
significance to her (all his dreams can only be truly
fulfilled if he attains her)

Also:

Technique: Simile: “like a flower”

Connotation: Daisy is likened to a flower. On the

surface this shows her sweetness and beauty to
Gatsby - that she “(blossoms) for him” suggest how
she allows him to glimpses the beauty of her love
and charm. However, a flower is also something

46
fragile and fleeting, which suggests that pinning his
hopes on her actually limits his dreams.

Meaning: In seeking grand ideals and beauty in a

mortal figure, Gatsby has set himself up for a dream
that can never be brought to the complete
fulfillment that he desires.

47
Chapter 7
What happens in this chapter:

- the climax and defeat of Gatsby’s dream as reality becomes more evident (e.g. hot weather, Pammy, his own past being revealed)
- Tom realizes he is slowly losing power over the 2 women in his life - Daisy and Myrtle, and becomes increasingly antagonistic towards Gatsby, so he
exposes the truth about his past
- the “battle” for Daisy’s love at Plaza Hotel ensues and Daisy just wants to run away from the tense conflict
- Nick begins to lose hope as Gatsby’s dream dies out and becomes decreasingly tangible
- Myrtle dies in a gruesome way after she had a fight with Wilson (Daisy ran her over but everyone thinks Gatsby did it, except Nick.)
- Wilson is distraught, Tom comforts him.
- Nick is evidently tired of all the pretence and cruelty
- Gatsby still tries to cling onto Daisy but is essentially ‘watching over nothing’.

Important Context (Who says this, what is this Why is this significant in the novel? TCM
Quote + Page about, what event is this
describing/referring to?) [Link to issues / themes / characterization]
number

“The next day This is Nick’s narration, This is a crucial setting for The Great Gatsby as this Structure: the setting establishes the pinnacle
was broiling, describing how that day had the description of the most extreme form of weather moment of the text
almost the last, highest temperature so far in showcases how the book is about to reach its peak
certainly the the course of the novel. as well. The weather, which contributes to the
warmest, of the setting, is able to complement the intensity of the (T) Fitzgerald keeps on emphasising the hot weather
summer.” (P. major event that will take place later at Plaza so as to contribute to the setting for the series of
101) Hotel. events that are about to unfold.

(C) The extreme heat is commonly associated with

lower tolerance and a rise in aggressiveness, which

49
 aligns with the rising tension amongst the characters
such as Tom and Gatsby.

(M) This hints to the readers that there will be a

heated argument occurring.

*sidenote: one can also note the superlative

“warmest” used to show that the upcoming event
will have the highest amount of conflict, hence
allowing the readers to anticipate it

+ (C) The heat is a source of raw physical discomfort

that nobody, not even the rich, can truly escape
from. The heat hence represents the intrusive
discomforting presence of reality and the conflicts it
entails, and how there is no running away from it.

(M): The heat is hence a set-up for the impending

conflict and resultant crumbling of romantic
dreams/disillusionment later on in the chapter.

“he kept Gatsby is introduced to Daisy The role of Pammy functions as a constant and (T) Fitzgerald uses Pammy as a symbol of Tom and
looking at the (and Tom’s) daughter, Pammy, concrete reminder of Tom and Daisy’s relationship, Daisy’s marriage as well as how they used to love
child with and according to Nick, Gatsby that they were indeed in love with each other at each other.
surprise. I don’t seemed shocked at the thought one point in time during those 5 years Gatsby was
(C) By using a child as a symbol, it is a very real and
think he had absent from Daisy’s life. It reminds Gatsby that
physical proof that cannot be denied by anyone.
ever really what has been done in the past will forever

50
believed in its that they would have a child remain, thus debunking his belief that he can Similar to their marriage, it is a reality and a legal
existence together. change what has already happened. binding contract that is glaringly existent for Gatsby.
before.” (P. (M) This demonstrates how Gatsby is not able to
103) cope with and fully accept the reality of Daisy’s past
- how he was not her only lover. His surprised
reaction towards the pre-existing reality highlights
his extremely idealistic views to not only re-invent
himself, but erase the unchangeable past of others
as well.

But it’s so hot,

insisted daisy
on the verge of
tears, and
everything’s so
confused. Let’s
all go to town!

Her voice
struggled on
through the
heat, beating
against it,
moulding its
senselessness
into forms
(p105)

51
“Her voice is Gatsby says this to describe his Daisy’s voice is often used as a motif to represent (T) Fitzgerald makes use of Daisy’s voice as a motif to
full of money.” interpretation of Daisy’s voice how she portrays herself to other people and what understand what she means to Gatsby and what she
(P. 107) at Tom’s house. other people like Nick or Gatsby, think of her. Her represents to him.
voice is an essential part of her character that
(C) Her voice is something natural and innate, it has
Fitzgerald has created.
been with her since birth. It is likened to being “full
In this case, Gatsby sees the wealthy background of money” because she was born with a silver spoon
she has had since birth and thus, her identity is his in her mouth.Her affluent lifestyle is all she has
reflection of what he wishes to re-invent himself experienced in her life and it has shaped who she is
into. as a person - like how she behaves.

(M) To Gatsby, Daisy’s mannerisms and flairs

represent the assurance of wealth that he wishes to
emulate, which is why the allure of her voice is
linked to the allure of money in his eyes.

“But it’s so Gatsby and Nick go to Tom and The motif of heat is mentioned again, and this is (T) The motif of heat is used here as well as the
hot”, and “you Daisy’s house, and Daisy says significant because is a real practical discomfort contrast between the heat and Gatsby who looks “so
look so cool” this to Gatsby. and the characters cannot run away from this most cool”.
tangible of physical realities.
(C) Heat is a real practical discomfort that even
Daisy, with all her wealth, cannot run away from.
Hence, when she describes Gatsby as “cool”, Daisy is
essentially seeing Gatsby as an escape from her
discomfort

(M) Daisy’s desire for escape defines her love for

Gatsby - he is the coolness she escapes to amidst the
unpleasant heat of her reality, stuck in an unfaithful
marriage.

52
“I never loved At the suite in the Plaza Hotel. Daisy has finally come to a crossroads in her (T) There is a contrast between her speech and her
him,” she said Daisy said this, referring to Tom. relationship with Tom and Gatsby as they confront body language.
with each other about Daisy. Daisy is no longer able to
perceptible leave her unfaithful relationship with Tom and (C) This shows that while she says what Gatsby
wants, her body language on the other hand is
reluctance. escape with Gatsby. Now she must make a choice
unable to provide the confidence to give her
between Tom and Gatsby and commit to only one
statement its absolute effect
of them. She either goes back to Tom or Gatsby
becomes her new reality. (M) This suggests that Daisy is still not willing to
choose sides absolutely, showing her hesitance to
commit completely and choose Gatsby over Tom.

“The words At the suite in the Plaza Hotel. The way Fitzgerald describes Tom’s words as “bite” (T) Personification is used to describe how Tom’s
seem to bite Nick describes this after Tom and “physically” is significant even the constant words affected Gatsby.
physically into says “there’re things between comparison between tangible things like the heat
(C) Compared to Gatsby’s intangible dreams, what
Gatsby” Daisy and me that you’ll never vs intangible things like Gatsby’s dreams. Here we
Tom says is concrete and tangible, hence it affects
know, things that neither of us see that what is intangible is simply unable to fight
Gatsby in a tangible form.
can forget.” back against what is tangible and real.
(M) What Tom says is something Gatsby cannot
deny no matter how much he wants to. Gatsby’s
intangible dreams are not strong enough to hold out
against the tangible meaning of Tom’s words, hence
Gatsby loses out in this battle of words and Gatsby is
affected profoundly by what Tom said, as if he was
hurt physically by the sharp bite of Tom’s words.

“[Myrtle’s] This gory and vivid description is Myrtle’s death is linked to the death of her ideals. Technique: Myrtle’s physical self/vitality is a
mouth was used for Myrtle’s dead body metaphor for her dreams and desires. (recurring
wide open and metaphor in the novel)
ripped at the

53
corners as after it had been run over by Connotation: Previously, Myrtle’s physical energy
though she had Gatsby’s car. and sensuality are used to convey her attempts to
choked a little achieve her desire of social mobility. Nick observes
in giving up the that “there was an immediately perceptible vitality
tremendous about her as if the nerves of her body were
vitality she had continually smouldering”, drawing the link between
stored so long.” her physicality and her drive to succeed. In death,
(p. 123) we hence see the tragic loss of her dreams through
how her body has been distorted into a scene of
grotesque destruction. Her mouth, previously open
to convey speech and ideas, is now not just open but
“ripped at the corner”. Her tremendous vitality, in
leaving her, now hurts her, in fact seeming to have
“choked” her in the process.

Meaning: Hence, the grotesque destruction of

Myrtle’s physical self is seen to be representative of
Myrtle’s ultimate defeat and demise, thus
accentuating the tragedy of her sudden death.

Other Significant Quotes for Chapter 7...

54
Chapter 8
What happens in this chapter:

- In this chapter, there is the revelation of Gatsby’s past relationship with Daisy -- this comes at a time where all that is left of Gatsby and Daisy’s
relationship is a memory of the past; it is the only tangible evidence of the romance he had with Daisy that has not been destroyed.
- Gatsby reveals his past with Daisy to Nick
- Nick and Gatsby have their final conversation
- A disillusioned Nick ends his relationship with Jordan
- Wilson’s descent into madness
- Holocaust

Important Quote + Context (Who says this, what is Why is this significant in the novel? TCM
Page number this about, what event is this
describing/referring to?)

“at any moment The flashback regarding This actually shows how careful he must be to keep T: metaphor of invisible cloak
the invisible cloak Gatsby’s past with Daisy up with the social performance to hide his true
of his uniform social status/identity as at any point of time his
might slip from his facade can be discovered. C: Idea of disguise: He may appear as an officer of a
shoulders.” Talking about him being in high rank but he is in poverty. The risk of this cloak
Daisy’s accident by a colossal slipping from his shoulders would mean the truth of
pg 133
accident Gatsby’s social status could be revealed.

M: Again, Gatsby’s attempt to ignite a relationship

with Daisy is an act of overreaching. He has to be

55
 careful not to reveal his true self as his true identity
could be destructive towards his relationship to
Daisy. This shows the flimsy nature of Gatsby’s
attempted self-reinvention: at this point “Jay
Gatsby” is held up by little more than an “invisible
cloak”, and the original poor-boy persona of James
Gatz is still difficult to erase.

(Compare with his use of clothes elsewhere to

indicate his wealth - but is that enough to grant him
legitimacy amidst the old rich?)

“eventually he Nick’s narration of how This is important because it highlights the disparity T: The repetition of “took”
took Daisy one still Gatsby initiated his romance between the social statuses of Gatsby and Daisy. It
October night, with Daisy. also shows that Daisy’s desirability to him stems
took her because from the fact that he is not of a social class that C: The word took implies a sort of physical sort of
he had no real would be deemed worthy of her. possession that is not usually associated with love.
right to touch her
hand” (P133) Also, the contrast between “took her” and “no real
right to touch her hand” is a jarring one that shows
the social unacceptability of his having been with
her.

M: The idea of “taking” suggests that his relationship

with Daisy is one of possession - possession of status
and wealth. Furthermore, the fact that he “took” her

56
 because he should not have shows the difference in
status between Gatsby and Daisy, because the only
way Gatsby could ever attain a person of the old
rich, Daisy, is via unscrupulous means, which
parallels the “gonnegtions” through which he gained
his wealth to (again) attain Daisy.

“he had committed Nick says this about Gatsby. It is the beginning of Gatsby’s commitment to T: Metaphor: Gatsby’s dream of attaining Daisy is
himself to the Daisy. This is where it all began!! likened to the following of a grail
Gatsby initially did not want
following of a
to fall so deeply in love with C: A grail is an object of an extended or difficult
grail” (P133)
Daisy <3, however as Gatsby quest, and this is like representative of the lengths
soon realises, he got more Gatsby has to go to to acquire Daisy
than he bargained for
Also, a grail is something holy, and Gatsby will soon
sacrifice chasing his other-worldly visions of himself
in order to chase Daisy instead.

M: (According to Nick??) Gatsby is aware of the

struggles he has to go through in order to attain
Daisy. The grail that Gatsby seeks is representative
of his final piece to complete his self-reinvention.
Hence, Daisy has become the ultimate

goal for Gatsby’s reinvention of himself.

57
 “In various Gatsby’s past, how he first This exacerbates the difference in social status T: Metaphor of “indiscernible barbed wire”
unrevealed meets Daisy, terming her as between Gatsby and people of higher class like
capacities he had first “nice” girl Daisy. This is a difference which Gatsby cannot
come in contact overcome no matter what he does, which C:Barbed wire is used in attempt to ward off
with such people ultimately leads to the death of him and his unwanted people or those who try to intrude and
but always with incorruptible dream. indiscernible means that it is something
indiscernible imperceptible.
barbed wire
between” (P133)

The idea of “barbed wire” shows the inexorable

nature of such a barrier between him and the old
rich. At the same time, that is it “indiscernible”
makes it even harder for Gatsby to overcome - he
cannot see it (and indeed, he has done all he can
materially to qualify as part of the old rich) -
similarly, class and breeding is that something that
he just cannot overcome no matter how hard he
works and how much money he has.

M: By saying that, it depicts that what separates

Gatsby and Daisy is the vast distinction in social
status that prevented Gatsby from reaching Daisy’s
level of social status and also complete access into
Daisy’s world of the old rich. Be it Daisy or someone
else of similar social status, he finds that he can
never reach their status. Even now when he is really
materially rich, he can never get rid of the status of

58
 new rich, as perceived by the old rich like Tom as
low class.

“and of Daisy, (Nick’s narration) When Link between Daisy’s charm and the allure of the T: Simile
gleaming like Gatsby was describing the wealth she represents
C: Daisy is compared to silver, a sign of wealth.
silver, safe and romance between Daisy and
proud above the himself, and of the way M: Daisy, being born of the old rich, is being likened
hot struggles of wealth imprisons and to the material associated with the old rich. This
the poor” P(134) preserves youth, mystery shows that to Gatsby, Daisy is a symbol of old money
and Daisy. and status.

Furthermore, to Gatsby, she is “safe and proud

above the hot struggles of the poor”. This is alluring
to Gatsby because attaining her would mean he
himself would be on the same level, free from his
poor background and the physical heat associated
with it.

(Parallel with the idea of “heat” earlier on in the

chapter - while Daisy thinks that Gatsby looks “cool”,
like an escape from the stifling heat of her restrictive
life, Daisy too represents an escape to Gatsby, from
the “hot struggles” of poverty and from his original
social background).

59
“summing up the Nick describing Daisy’s life of Shows Daisy’s own sorrow and inner struggles in T: Alliteration of the letter “s”
sadness and listlessness and reckless the past - a discontent with her reality not unlike
C: The alliteration of the letter s creates an
suggestiveness of behavior while waiting for what many other characters have experienced
life in new tunes” Gatsby to return from the impression of soft, subtle sadness in the first half of
the sentence. It links the ideas of wealth (silver) and
war.
“while a hundred the possibilities of life (suggestiveness and sadness).
pairs of golden and In Daisy’s case, the suggestiveness of life is the force
silver slippers she waits for to shape her life, and she undergoes
shuffled the sadness waiting for it.
shining dust.”
The alliteration further links the recklessness and
P(135) lavish parties of the wealthy (“silver slippers shuffled
the shining dust”) with the earliest wistful wish that
there could be something more to life.

M: Hence this shows that Daisy, even while she is

indulging in a life of reckless dating and lavish
parties, is acutely aware of a need for something
more. Given Daisy’s escapist nature, this “something
more” to her must come as an external force to
shape her life.

“You know, old When the gardener wanted This shows that the pool, a symbol of wealth, is T: Symbol of the pool
sport, I’ve never to drain the pool, Gatsby used by Gatsby only when the wealth becomes
used that pool all decided to use it at last. purposeless to him as his purpose of
summer?” P(137) reconstructing himself and becoming rich is gone

60
 C: It is a symbol of G’s material wealth, which
previously had meaning only so that it could qualify
him to be with Daisy.

M: The fact that Gatsby says that suggests that he

never lived for the wealth itself. He is finally using it
when the end goal of fulfilling his romance is gone.
This signifies Gatsby’s descent to using material
wealth as an end in itself.

This also shows how his wholehearted fixation with

the symbolic nature of his dream is falling apart, as
he is indulging in his wealth only after it has lost his
purpose. This is also showing how his incorruptible
dream, all the effort dedicated to make this dream
work, has become futile as all the wealth he worked
for to appeal to Daisy, the attempts to reach her
status and the expectations he crafted of Daisy
which is impossible to meet, have failed miserably.

“he (Wilson) was Dawn of the morning after Wilson discovers his own arbitrary symbol: he T: Symbol of the billboard of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg
looking at the eyes Myrtle’s death and Wilson is deems God to be the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg.
Contrast of the eyes emerging against the dissolving
of Doctor T.J. grieving.
This happens at the time when Gatsby has lost/is night
Eckleburg which
losing sight of his own arbitrary symbol and his
had just emerged
pale and enormous dream (the green light, Daisy).

61
from the dissolving C: Wilson describes the eyes of T.J Eckleburg as a
night. “ God sees symbol of God which seems to be his last source of
everything,” hope after he has lost everything.
repeated Wilson.
P(142)
M: Wilson finds his own arbitrary symbol, becoming
a believer of his own perception of God, making
reference to T.J.Eckleburg’s eyes as something
omnipotent and also an entity for whom justice will
prevail. Those eyes described as emerging “from the
dissolving night” possibly serves as a constant
reminder to Wilson that justice will prevail through
the contrast of the night, with the night disappearing
and the eyes being the centre of attention to Wilson.
This mad illusion that a commercial advertisement
brings to Wilson shows his depression and
desperation to seek revenge for Myrtle who died in
a grotesque and unjust way, completely deluded
into thinking that those eyes are the eyes of God.

“By six o'clock……” The entire process of These 2 paragraphs are parallel narratives of each T: Use of structure: Parallel narratives.
Gatsby’s and Wilson’s death, other due to their similar start and chronological
“at two o’clock…..”
how Wilson travelled to flow.
(P143) Gatsby’s house and also C:There is some form of foreshadowing of the
what Gatsby is doing similarity of the event that they are going to face
which is their deaths

62
 M: The parallel narratives converge in both their
destructions. These parallel narratives hence build
up both anticipation and tension up till the
convergence of the aftershock of Tom and Daisy’s
careless destruction to Gatsby and Wilson. This can
be linked to the theme of careless cruelty where
Tom and Daisy of the higher class can do whatever
they want without caring about the consequences
even if it includes death of a person, exacerbating
the stark difference in social class and status. In this
case, Gatsby and Wilson are the victims of the
careless cruelty that Daisy and Tom exhibits, with
Daisy escaping the blame of Myrtle’s death which
leads to Wilson’s frenzy to kill Gatsby

Also, this shows the demise of dreams and idealism

in the novel - Gatsby’s “incorruptible dream” is first
replaced by WIlson’s maddened imagings, and then
both conceptions come to an end with their deaths.

“A new world, Nick describing how he Gatsby’s final thoughts as interpreted by Nick. T: Irony
material without thinks Gatsby must have
Reveals the extent to which Gatsby was absorbed C: It is ironic because one would expect that the
being real” P(144) interpreted the real world
in his dream (i.e. completely lol) most realistic of all forms is the material, yet here it

63
after he loses sight of his is described in the unexpected manner, that
dream materiality is not real.

M:

The irony is apparent when the real world is

described as “material without being real”. It is
ironic because one would expect that the most
realistic of all forms is the material, yet here it is
described in an unexpected manner: that materiality
is not real. This means Gatsby has had a distorted
view of the genuine world and its material, because
to him they have never been as real as the
immaterial dreams of his.

What’s more, the irony highlights the fact that

Gatsby’s distorted worldview runs so deep that, to
Gatsby, the only true reality is the one that he makes
for himself. And now, upon losing that dream he
made for himself, he is unable to accept the harsh
reality of the world outside his dream.

One more tragic nuance: for Gatsby, the only way to

achieve the “unreality of reality”, the perceived
comparative reality of his dream, was to gain
enough material wealth so that he can legitimately
marry Daisy. It is tragic that with the loss of Daisy, he

64
 is now left with only his material wealth, which
means nothing to him when not sanctified by the
power of his dream.

“like that ashen, Nick’s description of Wilson Convergence of G and W’s parallel narratives, T: Alliteration: “fantastic figure”
fantastic figure just as he was about to kill ending in death and destruction. Gatsby and
C: The softness of the “f” sound adds a dreamlike
gliding toward him Gatsby. Wilson die, unfulfilled, due to the carelessness of
quality to the depiction of Wilson, as though he is
through the the old rich.
amorphous trees.” not quite real.
(P144) M: Wilson is described as an “ashen, fantastic
figure” just before he was going to kill Gatsby. Nick,
in using this word to describe Wilson, is giving him a
certain elevated, dreamlike quality, akin to the way
he regularly describes Gatsby when he is elevated by
his absorption in his incorruptible dream. However,
this is not so much a role reversal but a distortion.
Wilson is now absorbed, not in dreams, but in his
grief, and his conception of what has happened and
his attempts to make sense of his world eventually
lead him to madness and destruction.

T: Recurring diction: “fantastic”

C: This use of the word fantastic had been used

several times in the novel, and is used by Nick to
describe things that are outlandish and unreal (This

65
 is a valley of ashes -- a fantastic farm where ashes
grow like wheat into ridges and hills P21)

Nick also often uses this word, to describe things

related to Gatsby, like his “grotesque and fantastic
conceits”.

It is interesting to note that the use of word

“fantastic” is never entirely positive - the surreal,
dreamlike quality of the “fantastic” things being
portrayed is always accompanied with a sense of
ugliness.

M: In a sense, the use of the word “fantastic” earlier

in the novel, and in this final dramatic scene of
death, all point to the way dreams have been
tarnished and destroyed in the novel.

“and the holocaust Upon finding Wilson’s body It is the representation of the final destruction of T: Metaphor: “holocaust”
was complete” after Gatsby has been shot. both Gatsby and Wilson, brought upon by the
C: Holocaust is a sacrificial offering to appease the
P(144) carelessness of Tom and Daisy.
gods, burnt entirely by fire
It is also Gatsby’s ultimate sacrifice to his dream.
M: This marks the final destruction of Gatsby and his
dreams, therefore all that he stands for to Nick has
been lost (because to Nick, Gatsby is the ultimate

66
 dreamer, his symbol of idealism, and Nick buys into
Gatsby’s dreaming wholeheartedly).

Furthermore, Gatsby’s death represents his ultimate

sacrifice for his dreams: he died chasing his
reinvention of himself and the final piece - Daisy -
and he died taking the blame of killing Myrtle,
freeing Daisy to escape once more.

Wilson, too, has made the ultimate sacrifice of his

and Gatsby’s lives to satisfy what turns out
unfortunately to be a false god, fulfilling a sense of
purpose derived from a false perception of truth.

In a sense, both their sacrifices seem somewhat

hollow - it is possible to argue that their sacrifices
were also made to enable the careless cruelty of
those around them.

“There was a faint, Gatsby’s death scene Look at how his death is described compared to T: Contrast between death of Jay Gatsby and Myrtle
barely perceptible Myrtle’s death. His death is somewhat elegant and
movement of the minimalistic whereas Myrtle’s death is very
water as the fresh grotesque and full of details C: Myrtle’s death is very gruesome and tragic
flow from one end whereas Gatsby’s death is portrayed with minimal
urged its way details about the body and more attention to the
toward the drain environment.
at the other……”
P(145)

67
M: Nick wants to salvage Gatsby’s dignity and to
highlight a sense of purity and greatness, hiding the
ugly scenes of his death and portraying it in a
euphemistic manner, just like he did with Gatsby’s
corruption of doing underhanded business which he
only reveals the contents after his death. He wants
to preserve this pure image of Gatsby, filtering out
anything unpleasant.

Furthermore, Myrtle is represented throughout the

novel by her coarse physical vitality. Her primal and
physical ways she interacts with her world reflects
how her desires are rooted firmly in the attainment
of material and tangible wealth. Her raw and blunt
desire for wealth cannot be a symbol for any larger
or grander ideal, and hence her desires are viewed
by Nick as crass and superficial. In much the same
way, her death is described by Nick in gruesome
detail, because he is unable to unsee and re-frame
the intense physicality of both her life and death in a
more respectable way (and to be honest, he may not
want to either, the way he does for Gatsby due to
his admiration for G’s “romantic readiness”).

68
Chapter 9

What happens in this chapter:

Nick tries to find potential visitors for Gatsby’s funeral. Owl Eyes and G’s Father turn up. Meyer Wolfshiem declines. Tom and Daisy have already left from their
homes. G’s Father muses how much G has grown, is proud of his son (without knowing the shady business he dealt in to get this successful). Nick breaks up with
Jordan. Tom tells Nick he told Wilson about Gatsby, and claims G deserved to die. Nick can no longer see the East as a place of hope and dreams, as it is
distorted and grotesque to him. On the last night, Nick compares how G saw West Egg like how Dutch Sailors saw America, a land of hope and possibilities. Nick
realises people everywhere are motivated by desires to move forward to a future in which their dreams are realized, but the dreams are not always attained.
The novel hence ends on a cynical, defeatist note.

Important Context (Who says this, what is Why is this significant in the novel? TCM
Quote + Page this about, what event is this
[Link to issues / themes / characterization]
number describing/referring to?)

“Let us learn to Wolfsheim telling Nick how he The only other friend Gatsby has apart from Nick; T: Trite platitude used here
show friendship feels about Gatsby the shady business partner he has worked with
for a man when C: Wolfshiem excuses his refusal to get involved with
the funeral in the guise of a moral lesson, on
he’s alive and
showing friendship only when the other party is
not after he is Reasoning on why he isn’t Revealing of the past and how Gatsby gained his alive. However, this does not excuse the fact that he
dead” (Pg 153) attending Gatsby’s funeral wealth does want to wash his hands of any connection with
Gatsby - that the loyalty behind Gatsby’s

70
 “gonnegtions” can be undercut by pragmatic
purposes.

M: Adds to the loneliness surrounding Gatsby’s

death - the people who knew him as Jay
Gatsby/watched his transformation into a man of
wealth and status do not care to honour him in
death.

“I could only Nick commenting on Daisy’s Daisy’s escapism => seems like a pure girl, “The T: Matter-of-fact tone
remember, lack of guilt/respect for Gatsby golden girl” but in the end she is portrayed as void
C: Nick notes Daisy’s absence from the funeral of the
without of conscience, leaving others to take the hit in the
man who had loved her and taken blame for her in
resentment, final moments of the novel.
that Daisy an almost-detached way - it is mentioned as a
perfunctory/side detail only.
hadn’t sent a
message or a M: Can be read as a sign of Nick’s growing
flower” (Pg disillusionment and cynicism: As opposed to his
155) original desperation to get guests for the funeral, it
now no longer surprises him or bothers him that the
person Gatsby most desired would not remember
him even in the smallest of ways.

“Tom and Nick reflects on his time in the East v.s West Structure: Reframing of the story: the story begins
Gatsby, Daisy East and concludes that he is as a narrative of Nick’s journey to the East, a
and Jordan and not suited to it. depiction of his attempts to ease his restlessness
I, were all East: and achieve his dreams of making something more
Westerners, out of his life.
and perhaps we

71
possessed some East Egg: “Quality of distortion”
deficiency in
West Egg: “Night scene by El Greco” “Conventional Now, Nick inverts the story to become a narrative of
common which
made us subtly and Grotesque” “glittered cold with diamonds” him going home to the West. this is in line with his
growing sense of defeatism - we cannot help but be
unadaptable to Poor Wilson’s arbitrary symbol, distorted meaning “borne back ceaselessly” into our past”, and
Eastern Life” on his world by TJ Eckleburg “God’s Eyes” => similarly, Nick cannot help but be cast back to his
(Pg 156) Causes madness and destruction. childhood home in the West - the East cannot hold
any real promise or ideals for him after all.

Note: Gatsby’s dreams do not fit into the world of

the East:

Gatsby’s all-consuming ideals and dreams, “The

son of God”, pure affection for Daisy, devotes
everything he can to reinvent himself to someone
worthy of Daisy’s affection - uses props of wealth
in the East to get there, but fails terribly

“Nevertheless Final phone exchange between Nick and Jordan’s relationship is over, aftermath of Technique: Parallel with when Gatsby says that “I
you did throw Jordan and Nick the phonecall even hoped for a while that Daisy'd throw me over,
me over” (Pg but she didn't, because she was in love with me
157), see Pg too.”
134 Jordan reveals she is engaged
after breaking up with Nick
Connotation: When Gatsby first was with Daisy, he
talks about how because she did not “throw (him)
over”, he abandons his initial plans and devotes
himself wholeheartedly to the pursuit of her. This

72
wholehearted, idealistic romance is what Nick
admires and wants in his life, and it is the reason
why he began dating Jordan as an inadequate
substitute for that kind of romance.

That he did “throw (Jordan) over”, as opposed to the

Gatsby-Daisy relationship, shows how their romance
cannot take on the same idealistic romantic arc that
Gatsby and Daisy’s romance seemed to have.

Meaning: A few possible meanings: Nick is not

capable of fulfilling the romantic ideals he admires
so much after all.

Also, Nick has been hurtful to Jordan - something

that Jordan honestly and openly points out. In that
sense, Jordan has been more akin to Gatsby in this
relationship, loving and committed to Nick, while
Nick has been more similar to Daisy, seeing his lover
as an escape from reality and callously abandoning
Jordan when reality becomes too much for him to
grapple with.

73
“East was Impact of Death of Gatsby on It shows how the events leading to Gatsby’s death Technique: Motif of Eyes and Seeing
haunted for me Nick have taken a toll on his views of the world
=> offers us insight into the character’s perspectives/
like that,
distorted => He later concludes that dreams cannot be outlook
attained as we are always “borne back ceaselessly”
beyond my Change in Nick’s perceptions of Nick can no longer see the East the way he did when
into the past that cannot be changed
eyes’ power of the East + Nick’s original ideals he first arrived; he is plagued by Gatsby’s death, the
correction” (Pg for which he went East death of his model of idealism => loses hope of
156) attaining the American Dream, a vast decline from
No longer the idealistic place of hope he was the start of novel when he decided to “go east and
looking into for escape from the mid-west learn the bond business”

“Im thirty. Im Nick’s view on the age thirty To Nick, his youth represents vitality and the ability Arbitrary marker of 30 years old:
five years too to chase dreams. His mentality about entering
● He hits 30 the day Gatsby confronts Tom
old to lie to thirty show his reluctance to let go of his dreams,
and G’s dream is shattered
myself and call yet he can't escape from the reality of turning
● The “Five years” is also possibly Nick’s
it honour.” (Pg thirty. Thus, it represents Nick’s declining vitality reference to Gatsby’s wait for Daisy, and
158) and passion for chasing his dreams. All the objects how Gatsby ‘lied’ to himself, believing he
and people who fuelled his dreams have become could change the past 5 years that have
nothing more that distorted symbols of what they already elapsed
once were.
However, to link it to 30 being, in general, too old to
“lie to myself and call it honour”, is an arbitrary
However, thirty and five years are somewhat association of two different concepts. Ironically,
arbitrary markers to which he has attributed even in his disillusionment, Nick is taking arbitrary
symbolic meanings. signs and attaching his own meanings to them, so as
to justify his cynicism - not unlike how Gatsby (and
later Wilson) have attached false meanings to

74
 arbitrary signs (e.g. green light. T. J. Eckleberg) to
justify their dreams and beliefs!

“Angry, and They both come out of the Love doesn’t always win. Ambivalence: Odd mix of emotions - anger and yet
half in love with relationship unscathed unlike also regret + still some desire/love
=>Better to end the relation early “half-in-love” if
her, and G&D, or T&M.
it’s not working out, unlike G’s one-sided love Rather than just being “angry” at Jordan for
tremendously
=>Nick feels responsible for commenting on his false “honesty”, Nick shows
sorry” (Pg 158) At least both Nick and Jordan came out alive
previously using Jordan as understanding that he is at fault for why the
means to curb his fear of 30, relationship took a bitter turn, as well as possibly
satisfy his , now that he’s past realising he was not the “cardinal virtue of honesty”
30 Nick seems to regret his decision (“sorry”) of after all, and thus, also angry with himself.
lumping Jordan together with Tom and Daisy as the
rotten bunch, given how much time Jordan has
spent with him, and her innocence on the whole
matter

“They were Nick’s view on Tom and Daisy What hold Tom’s and Daisy’s marriage together Re-emphasises the tragedy behind Gatsby’s death
careless people, after realising Tom does not despite T’s infidelities (and Daisy’s as well, later
Tom and Daisy” blame himself, but rather “that on): the complacency that comes with Money and
“smashed up fellow had it coming to him” Social Class T: The motif of carelessness in the novel
things and
creatures and
then retreated Theme: Careless Cruelty C:The old rich are careless because they are not
back into their
concerned with the struggles of the other and are
money or their
only fixated on fulfilling their own desires.Through
vast
Careless: They are indifferent/ ignorant to the fact this, they end up harming others and leaving a trail
carelessness or
they are at fault/ the cause of careless destruction in their wake to “let other
whatever it was
that kept them

75
together, and people clean up the mess they had made” only to
let other people retreat back into their material wealth.
Cruelty: Their selfish acts which they make others
clean up the
mess they had take the hit for them is further amplified when
they do not regret/ remorse intentionally
made….” (Pg M: We learn that the material wealth of the rich
159) cloud their judgement and eyes from seeing their
own carelessness, however, the moment their
T&D are “foul dust” carelessness or harm begins to be inflicted upon
themselves they retreat back into the material
wealth that gives them escape from it.

+ Also: can compare to: careless driving

“Huge The house that supposedly The physical reality of the failure of Gatsby’s dream Nick faces the physical proof of Gatsby’s failed ideal -
incoherent holds the key to Gatsby’s and end goal - He has the house, the “pool”, but Gatsby’s house is significant in TGG as it shows the
failure of a dream: not Daisy immense wealth he has built up in hopes of
house” (Pg 159) reuniting with Daisy (as shown through the
Hosting Parties till Daisy comes lavishness of the house + the fact it is right across
over. from Daisy).

Nick now sees the house as a “huge incoherent

failure”, a jarring contrast from when he calls it “the
world’s fair”. This shows Nick’s conviction that
dreams cannot be achieved, even when in Gatsby’s
case, the person who completely reinvented himself,

76
 becoming rich enough to buy a luxurious house,
despite his poor background.

Tragic Irony hence established: Despite performing

such fantastical feats, he still was unable to attain his
true goal: Daisy.

Gatsby’s house and other materialistic items - all

that is left after Gatsby’s death - are hence no longer
a sign of his reinvention or instruments to help him
achieve his final dream - but a glaring sign of his
defeat.

“He did not Just as Nick once tried to tell Just like in “the shadow of Gatsby’s house”, one Motif of Light and Darkness:
know that it Gatsby “You can’t repeat the cannot repeat the past. The dream was long gone,;
Light: of hope, the Green light
was already past” Gatsby’s massive efforts to attain Daisy was
behind him, doomed; futile a long time ago. => Pathos; Tragedy His house “dispensed light” => G’s idealism, shown
somewhere through material means like his house, gave hope to
back in that others like Nick, + an embodiment of the hope of
vast obscurity meeting Daisy again (hoping Daisy would see the
beyond the city, lights from the party and come over)
where the dark
fields of the
republic rolled
Darkness: the lack of hope, impossibility

77
on under the Daisy’s love with Gatsby is in the past, and is not
night.” (Pg 160) connected with the present Daisy, “who once loved
Tom but also Gatsby”.

Thus, the moment with Daisy is in the past, and also

in the darkness of the republic

“Gatsby Gatsby’s belief in symbolic Green Light is symbolic of the American Dream: T: Metaphor: chasing of dreams is likened to a boat
believed in the objects Future, Hopes, Possibilities beating ceaselessly against the currents.Ellipses after
green light, the one fine morning.
what they represent is greater
orgastic future
than what they actually are C: Ellipsis: pause, creating a wait between the idea of
that year by Like boats pushed back by waves, as we push striving further and information on what happens to
year recedes against the current to chase our dreams, Nick
before us. It us when we do so > creates anticipation.
believes we will be pushed back continuously,
eluded us then, Symbols like the green light unable to ever reach that possibility of the our The ellipses bring the anticipation of the reader to its
but that’s no “elude” us with the possibility dreams peak before delivering a cynical, defeatist
matter — to- of achievement, to stretch our conclusion, reflecting the cynical beliefs of Nick and
morrow we will arms out farther, driven by a that yet even if there was the possibility of a greater
run faster, useless blind hope/faith we
i.e Opposite of the American Dream: Everyone can dream, Nick can no longer believe in it.
stretch out our would reach our goal
attain their goals (Money like Myrtle’s, Love/Social Boat metaphor: the idea of pushing against
arms farther…
but we are beaten back Class like Gatsby’s) regardless of background/social
And one fine resistance. Also calls to mind the Tuolomee, on
anyways, unable to attain it class. => Hence eluded them into thinking they
morning —— which Gatsby served Dan Cody and got his crucial
could climb out of their social status.
So we beat on, start in life. Shows us that this attempt to push
boats against forward is one filled with resistance, futile and
the current, difficult the way it would be if boats tried to sail
Nick wanted: against unrelenting, powerful currents.
borne back
ceaselessly into Love => turns to Jordan
the past.”

78
More to Life(b4 he turns 30) => turns to Gatsby The boat metaphor shows the futility of all of one's
efforts: we can never escape the glaring thing that is
our past and it shall forever accompany us as
baggage on the voyage of life. Even if we change
ourselves completely, we still are cast back into our
past and shall never escape.

M:

What Nick wishes to put across is that even if there

was a greater future and that if he himself was able
to chase after it, it would nevertheless be futile.
After witnessing the death of Gatsby, the person
Nick pours all his dreams of idealism into, Nick
begins to come to terms that there is no “orgastic
future” unlike what Gatsby believed.

79