The Great Gatsby Presented by Sean Egan by F. Scott Fitzgerald Chapter 5

Revision

The Characters

Where we met them New York Catherine Mr. and Mrs. McKees Meyer Wolfshiem The Valley of Ashes East EggWest Egg George Wilson Myrtle Wilson Tom Buchanan Daisy Buchanan Jordan Baker Nick Carraway Jay Gatsby

The Story so far… Nick arrives in New York. Chapter 1 Nick first hears about Gatsby. Nick visits Tom and Daisy. Meets Jordan Baker. Nick goes to a party with Tom and his mistress Myrtle Wilson Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Nick is invited to and attends Gatsby’s party. Nick finds out Tom has a mistress. Nick hears more rumors about who Gatsby is. Nick meets Gatsby and, even after attending more parties, still knows nothing about him. Chapter 4 Nick goes to lunch with Gatsby. Gatsby tells Nick about his past. Nick is introduced to Meyer Wolfshiem. Nick goes to tea with Jordan Baker. Nick is asked to arrange a meeting between Gatsby and Daisy. Nick learns of the history between Daisy and Gatsby.

Important notes Gatsby is ‘New Money’ and MAY have done illegal things to get his money. Tom and Daisy both come from old money. Daisy fell in love with Gatsby before she got married but after she got married appeared to be in love with Tom. Nick is from a ‘Middle class’ family. Tom has had many affairs with women during his marriage to Daisy. Daisy seems unhappy in her marriage. Gatsby is still in love with Daisy. Nick has gotten involved but still tries to remain neutral.

Gatsby’s temptation of Nick “Well, look here, old sport. You don’t make much money, do you?”

Would you say ‘Yes’? “This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.” “You wouldn’t have to do any business with Wolfshiem.” “…a little business on the side…you might pick up a nice bit of money…a rather confidential sort of thing.” “I realize now that under different circumstances that conversation might have been one of the crises of my life. But, because the offer was obviously and tactlessly for a service rendered...”

Gatsby panics “I can’t wait all day. Nobody’s coming to tea. It’s too late.”

Gatsby loses his composure “He was pale, and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes.” “He inquired blankly.” “He added hollowly.” “with vacant eyes.” “in an uncertain voice.” “pale as death.”

Daisy and Gatsby meet “I certainly am awfully glad to see you again.”

An awkward moment “…in a strained counterfeit of perfect ease…” “distraught eyes.” “unhappy eyes.” “This is a mistake,…a terrible, terrible mistake.” “’She’s embarrassed?’ he repeated incredulously.”

Gatsby’s confidence returns “He literally glowed;…a new well-being radiated from him and filled the little room.”

The rain stops “…every vestige of embarrassment was gone.” “I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well loved eyes.” “…he stared around at his possessions in a dazed way, as though in her actual and astounding presence none of it was any longer real.” “But there was a change in Gatsby that was simply confounding.” “He had passed visibly through two states and was entering upon a third…embarrassment…unreasoning joy…wonder” “…he was running down like an over-wound clock.”

Daisy in tears “It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such – such beautiful shirts before.”

Happily ever after? “…they looked back at me, remotely, possessed by intense life..”

An ominous ending “There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams – not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of the illusion.” “He had thrown himself in to it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time…” “No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man can store up in his ghostly heart.”

Interesting quotes “That’s the secret of Castle Rackrent.” “Does the gasoline affect his nose?” “His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.” “…I stared at it, like Kant at his church steeple…” “The evening had left me light-headed and happy...”

Thoughts Does the narrator leave us with feelings of hope or doom? The narrator twice mentions Gatsby in darkness – first in shadow, the second in gloom. Why? What is the significance of the clock in Nick’s house and the way he describes how the rain had affected the lawn? Why is Gatsby still not revealing the truth of his life?

General Discussion Time