THE GREAT GATSBY: CHAPTER IV

THE GREAT GATSBY: CHAPTER IV FelitaRachelLeeroy

PLOT SUMMARY • Starts with Nick as he hears further gossips about Gatsby from the female guests of Gatsby’s party: 1) Bootlegger that killed a man. 2) Nephew to von Hindenburg. 3) Second cousin to the devil. • Followed by Gatsby asking Nick out for lunch in the city. • Gatsby then proceeded to ask Nick what he thinks of him, which followed by Gatsby telling Nick his past. But Gatsby’s story seems very unlikely. • Gatsby claimed to be the son of a wealthy couple who have already died, and was from the Midwest. But when Nick asked him which part of the Midwest, Gatsby hesitated before he answered: “San Francisco”

PLOT SUMMARY • Gatsby then continued on to list down all his great accomplishments: 1) Educated at Oxford 2) Collected jewels in the capital of Europe 3) Hunted the big game. 4) Awarded medals in World War I by multiple European countries. Gatsby then tries to convince Nick by showing him a medal as well as a picture of him playing hockey in Oxford. • In the city, Gatsby introduced Nick to Meyer Wolfshiem who claims to be the one who fixed the 1919 world series.

PLOT SUMMARY • Wolfshiem gives Nick the feeling that Gatsby’s wealth came from an unpleasant source, and that Gatsby may even have ties with organized crimes that Wolfshiem is also mixed in. • After the lunch, Nick saw Jordan Baker who then proceeded to tell Nick about her “talk” with Gatsby during the night of the party • Jordan told Nick that Gatsby was in love with Daisy, and that before she was married to Tom, all the military officers in town during that time of war were in love with her

PLOT SUMMARY • Daisy fell in love with Gatsby who happened to be stationed near her home. Daisy chose to marry Tom after Gatsby left for war but she was devastated when she received Gatsby’s letter the night before her wedding day. • Daisy remained faithful towards Tom, but however, Tom was cheating on Daisy. • Jordan also mentioned the fact that Gatsby bought the house in West Egg so that Daisy is just across the bay from him.

PLOT SUMMARY • Jordan then mentioned about Gatsby’s request, which is to convince Nick to let Gatsby to arrange a meet-up between Gatsby and Daisy: Gatsby wants Nick to invite Daisy to tea over to Nick’s house, and without Daisy’s knowledge, Gatsby will come to Nick’s house for tea as well – forcing her to meet him. • According to Jordan, Gatsby was scared of the idea that Daisy will refuse to see him.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS • Gatbsy • Daisy

CHARACTERS - GATSBY • Modest • “The modesty of the demand shook me” (p. 76) • Gatsby was someone rich and powerful, yet his request to have Daisy come over was reserved • The unassuming estimation of his achievements and abilities shows how even though he had to go through so much to get to where he is, he still requests for something humble • Nick was taken aback my purity and innocence of his love for Daisy

Dishonest • “I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West – all dead now” (p. 64) • My family all died and I came into a good deal of money” • Gatsby is lying about his past, possibly because he was ashamed of his poverty and disliked his own identity from the past. He creates a new character of himself, and so he tries to deteriorate from his own identity. • Cross reference: his father is still alive and came for his funeral in chapter

CHARACTERS - DAISY • Gets over things quickly • “By next autumn, she was gay again” (p.73) • She was upset that her family disallowed her to be with Gatsby due to differing social gap • But only after a short while, she was back to normal and had even started seeing other men. Eventually, she married Tom Buchanan

Unstable • “They went to France for a year” (p.75) • Constant moving of places symbolizes that she is a very unstable and flippant character • This symbolizes how she does not have a steady direction in life, and is constantly moving around

Voice • Throughout the book, Daisy’s voice have been constantly brought up. Again in this chapter it is mentioned • “… something in that voice of hers” (p.75) • Her voice was known for being very melodious and seductive, and how she was able to attract men with her voice • One of her best traits

THEMES • Materialism • The theme of materialism can be seen throughout this chapter • Daisy’s family’s refusal of her being with Gatsby due to their differing social classes reinforces this theme • Daisy’s decision to marry Tom instead of waiting for Gatsby symbolizes how some people would choose wealth over love

Romance • One of the main themes in GG itself is further reinforced in this chapter • “Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would just be across the bay” • This quote illustrates how much Gatsby wanted to be with Daisy, and how he is willing to do so much for her • Willing to go to such a big extent as the though of being close to Daisy brought him content

SIGNIFICANT QUOTES • “Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay” • This quote illustrates the extent that Gatsby is willing to go through just to be with Daisy • Despite being involved in corrupted illegal business, his love for Daisy is still pure and innocent • Shows that the motive behind Gatsby’s investment of all his money, time and efforts was just to be with Daisy

SIGNIFICANT QUOTES • “He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless spleandour” – p. 76 • This quote would mean that Nick was finally able to see the reasons and motives behind Gatsby’s seemingly spendthrift character • What seemed to be pointless spending of Gatsby’s money actually had a motive behind it – Daisy • “He had waited five years and bought a mansion… so that he could ‘come over’ some afternoon to a stranger’s garden” - p. 76 • This quote reinforces Gatsby’s innocent love for Daisy • He was willing to spend so much money and wait for such a long time for something he was not even sure whether he could get • Invests his hopes highly on Daisy, and was someone that depended greatly on ‘chance’

Our thoughts about this chapter • I feel that chapter 4 is an important chapter as this chapter gives us more information on the mysterious character Jay Gatsby. The main protagonist in “The Great Gatsby” • This chapter also reflects perfectly the theme of moral decay and vibrant optimism as Gatsby is a combination of both because of his involvement in organized crime and his undying hope that one day he and Daisy will be together. • Chapter 4 is also an important chapter as it reveals to us that Gastby still possesses the undying love he has for Daisy ever since he was a young soldier in the war. In one way, Gatsby is a role model because of the authenticity of his love for Daisy and his loyalty towards Daisy. On the other hand, he is not as he earns his money through illegal means.

THE GREAT GATSBY: CHAPTER IV