Summary
- Our narrator Nick is at Gatsby’s party, full of people he is certain do not even know Gatsby on a personal level
“Those who accepted Gatsby’s hospitality and paid him the subtle tribute of knowing nothing whatever about him” (61). - Nick lists, in detail, all the names of people who visited Gatsby’s house during the summer
- Nick and Gatsby are set to meet for lunch, and Gatsby comes to pick Nick up
- A few days later, Nick and Jordan meet for tea, and she tells Nick how she met Daisy and Gatsby:
- Daisy was the most popular girl in Louisville, always sought after
- She had a tendency to date soldiers, and one night Jordan saw her with a young soldier, who she later found out was Gatsby
- Gatsby went to war, and a few years later, Daisy married Tom Buchanan, and they moved to Chicago
- The night before their wedding, drunk, Daisy tells Jordan to call off the wedding- she is holding a letter in her hand
The Great Gatsby: Chapter One Analysis & Summary
The Great Gatsby: Chapter Two Analysis & Summary
The Great Gatsby: Chapter Three Analysis & Summary
The Great Gatsby: Chapter Four Analysis & Summary
The Great Gatsby: Chapter Five Analysis & Summary
Symbolism
Symbolism: Gatsby’s Car
- cream color
- possibly that color to mirror Daisy’s white roadster, which we learn of later on in the chapter during Jordan’s story
- Gatsby’s love, admiration, and fondness of Daisy fueled this decision in his car
- Nick is shocked when Gatsby attempts to sway his opinion of him by revealing the story of his past
- “So he was aware of the bizarre accusations that flavored conversation in his halls” (65).
Symbolism: The cuffs
- Human molars
- Represents cruelty; no respect for human dignity
- This aspect of Wolfsheim’s personality reflects on Gatsby as a person, considering their close ties with one another
Symbolism: The Montenegro Badge/ The Oxford Photo
- Both are proof that counteracts the theme of skepticism, as they add credibility to Gatsby’s seemingly farfetched stories
- “He hurried the phrase ‘educated at Oxford’… as though it had bothered him before” (65).
- “And with this doubt… I wondered if there wasn’t something a little sinister about him, after all” (63).
- Gatsby reveals this information about his past as a way to ask a favor of Nick, which we find out later on in the chapter is to ask Daisy to tea
Symbolism: Jordan’s story and the letter
- Jordan’s portrayal of Gatsby as an innocent, sentimental soldier contradicts
- Nick’s earlier thoughts of him as a gambler and bootlegger (based on
- Wolfsheim and Gatsby’s generally sinister nature)
- Once again, Nick’s opinion of Gatsby changes, as he discovers more about the man
- Finally, Jordan tells Nick of Gatsby’s request to have tea with Daisy
- Nick and Jordan kiss
Theme
Theme: Secrecy
- Gatsby’s motives are kept hidden until the end of the chapter
- Nick knows nothing of Gatsby’s profession but has suspicions based on the meeting with Wolfsheim
- Nick and Gatsby meet Meyer Wolfsheim (Gatsby’s colleague) for lunch
- Gatsby gets up to answer a phone call, and Wolfsheim explains about his cuff buttons
Theme: Skepticism
- Nick is skeptical of Gatsby’s story
- He believes there is something not quite right about Gatsby
- As Nick and Gatsby are leaving, they run into Tom Buchanan; Gatsby leaves, feeling uncomfortable
Theme: Discovery
- Nick is discovering hidden aspects of Gatsby’s character though:
- Stories of his past
- Meeting Wolfsheim
- Hearing Jordan’s story
Character Development
Gatsby
- His “past” is revealed, and even though a liar is his first label, he proves himself to Nick by displaying the evidence of the Oxford photo and badge
- The whole reason he allows unknown people into his house to participate in lavish parties was through the hope that Daisy would show up to one of them; his wealth was accumulated mainly to impress her
- His honesty becomes questionable through meeting the shady character of Wolfsheim
- The history of him and Daisy is learned, and a more sentimental side of Gatsby is seen through the telling of Jordan’s story
Nick
- Befriends Gatsby
- His relationship with Jordan Baker grows, as they share an intimate embrace
- He questions Gatsby’s character constantly throughout the chapter
Jordan Baker
- Her past is revealed, along with her apparent admiration she used to possess for Daisy
- She is an “insider” of sorts, as she knows detailed information about Daisy and Gatsby, and is the one who asks Nick the favour for Gatsby
- She is close friends with Daisy, shown when she helps her with her breakdown the night before her wedding
Meyer Wolfsheim
- Is introduced
- His personality is introduced as sinister, as well as smart
- He is a gambler and fixed the 1919 World Series
- Is close with Gatsby; they have known each other for many years
- The way he acts is a reflection of how Nick perceives Gatsby
