Told about James Gatz; who changed his name at the age of
seventeen; and reader gets to meet Dan Cody- being able to observe how the
riches of Gatsby’s current lifestyle were fathomed and completed.
Narrative perspectives/
voices:
In this chapter, Nick takes a very critical view on characters; particularly Gatsby at the beginning- using phrases such as: ‘Just why these inventions were a source of satisfaction to James Gatz of North Dakota, isn’t easy to say.’ This portrays a more mysterious side to Gatsby, giving the impression to the reader that he may be a stereotypical bad person. He says: ‘I suppose he’d had the name ready for a long time, even then’, which emphasises the fact that Nick does not currently trust Gatsby very much at all- he presumes that he was planning his wealth from a very young age and seized the opportunity whilst he could. Nick makes a swooping statement amongst no real mention of his family: ‘His imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all’, which highlights the possibility that Nick has had a tough past also. ‘His heart was in constant, turbulent riot’- saying this could also be an accurate description of Nick himself, and expresses this with judgemental ‘honest’ insight into everyone else’s feelings. Another judgemental statement portrays Gatsby in a dull light, as someone who would do anything for money: ‘an instinct toward his future glory had led him’ Nick goes on to re-tell, ‘it was from Cody that he inherited the money- a legacy of twenty-five thousand dollars. He didn’t get it.’ The reader has to assume that the source is accurate for this information that they are being fed; as the true reason for why Gatsby did things is only on his own heart. Nick becomes quite self-centred towards the middle of the chapter, saying to the reader-‘As though they cared!’ when he is told that Gatsby was ‘delighted to see [Nick]’. One other person he criticises and puts in a bad light due to his judgemental character, is Daisy; saying that ‘she saw something awful in the very simplicity she failed to understand’; creating the impression that she is to selfish to think about others and have a wider perspective on different aspects.
In this chapter, Nick takes a very critical view on characters; particularly Gatsby at the beginning- using phrases such as: ‘Just why these inventions were a source of satisfaction to James Gatz of North Dakota, isn’t easy to say.’ This portrays a more mysterious side to Gatsby, giving the impression to the reader that he may be a stereotypical bad person. He says: ‘I suppose he’d had the name ready for a long time, even then’, which emphasises the fact that Nick does not currently trust Gatsby very much at all- he presumes that he was planning his wealth from a very young age and seized the opportunity whilst he could. Nick makes a swooping statement amongst no real mention of his family: ‘His imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all’, which highlights the possibility that Nick has had a tough past also. ‘His heart was in constant, turbulent riot’- saying this could also be an accurate description of Nick himself, and expresses this with judgemental ‘honest’ insight into everyone else’s feelings. Another judgemental statement portrays Gatsby in a dull light, as someone who would do anything for money: ‘an instinct toward his future glory had led him’ Nick goes on to re-tell, ‘it was from Cody that he inherited the money- a legacy of twenty-five thousand dollars. He didn’t get it.’ The reader has to assume that the source is accurate for this information that they are being fed; as the true reason for why Gatsby did things is only on his own heart. Nick becomes quite self-centred towards the middle of the chapter, saying to the reader-‘As though they cared!’ when he is told that Gatsby was ‘delighted to see [Nick]’. One other person he criticises and puts in a bad light due to his judgemental character, is Daisy; saying that ‘she saw something awful in the very simplicity she failed to understand’; creating the impression that she is to selfish to think about others and have a wider perspective on different aspects.
Time Period:
Times used to separate the chapter include:‘an ambitious young
reporter from New York arrived one morning’, emphasising the popularity of
Gatsby, and potentially Nick’s source for finding out the information he
suddenly receives. Ella Kaye is described as: ‘common property of the turgid
journalism in 1902’.Gatsby is said to have been ‘coasting along all too hospitable shores for five years when he turned up’ he, being Dan Cody- emphasising ‘he’ rather than Gatsby being the centre of the sentence, makes Dan seem like a great character in Gatsby and the readers’ eyes.
Nick tells the reader that ‘for several weeks I didn’t see
him or hear his voice on the phone’, as he had been in New York with Jordan
mainly, ‘but finally [Nick] went round to his house one Sunday afternoon’
As Gatsby reflects, he remembers‘...one autumn night, five
years before’, reminiscing about the easier days when it was just himself and
Daisy.
‘...I didn’t see him or hear his voice on the phone- mostly
I was in New York, trotting around with Jordan...finally I went over to his
house one Sunday afternoon.’ (setting: Gatsby’s house)
Nick, quite judgingly, describes Daisy as being ‘appalled by
West Egg...this unprecedented place’ and makes her seem less worthy of nice
character traits from the readers’ perspective.
Narrative Techniques,
Elements and Themes:
Poetic prose; ‘the most grotesque and fantastic conceits
haunted him in his bed at night’
Use of ellipses; ‘he could find out what that thing was...
...One autumn night, five years before, they had been walking down the street
when the leaves were falling’
Descriptive detail; ‘that yacht represented all the beauty
and glamour in the world’ ‘for a moment, a phrase tried to take shape in my
mouth and my lips parted like a dumb man’s, as though there was more struggling
upon them than a wisp of startled air. But there was no sound, and what I had
almost remembered was uncommunicable forever.’
Use of dramatic dialogue; ‘‘I’d like to know who he is and
what he does,’ insisted Tom, ‘And I think I’ll make a point of finding out’
Descriptive writing; ‘each
night he added to the pattern of his fancies until drowsiness closed down upon
some vivid scene with an oblivious embrace. For a while these reveries provided
an outlet for his imagination; they were a satisfactory hint of the unreality
of reality, a promise that the rock of the world was founded securely on a
fairy’s wing.’
Surreal description;
‘moved by an irresistible impluse’ ‘husky rhythmic whisper’
Colloquial language; ‘I
know your wife’...’That so?’
Time references; ‘an
ambitious young reporter from New York arrived one morning’ ‘common property of
the turgid journalism in 1902’ ‘he had
been coasting along all too hospitable shores for five years when he turned up’
‘for several weeks I didn’t see him or hear his voice on the phone’ ‘one
Sunday afternoon’
Language of altercation; ’’she didn’t like it,’ he said
immediately ‘of course she did’ ‘she didn’t like it,’ he insisted, ‘she didn’t
have a good time.’ He was silent’’
Use of names; introduction to Dan Cody
Colours; ‘torn green jersey’ ’pair of canvas pants’ ‘white
plum tree’
Themes; past: ‘‘You can’t repeat the past.’ ‘Can’t repeat
the past?’ He cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’’
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