The Great Gatsby Blog Posts

Chapters 4-6:

Chapters 4 through 6 of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby have much to do with pointing out distinctions in social class. There seem to be distinctions emerging between Nick, his cousin Daisy and husband Tom, and Gatsby. The differences between the three are often overshadowed in the event of a party, such as those at Gatsby’s mansion where everyone seems to blend together in a drunken haze. During the light of day, however, we can see the distinctions much better. These three chapters focus mostly on the social status of Gatsby himself, who no one can quite figure out. It is suspected that Gatsby is faking his grand upbringing, which is finally confirmed in Chapter 6. Although Gatsby is wealthy, there is a difference in his “new money” status versus that of the Buchanan’s who come from long lines of family names and inheritances. The juxtaposition of these two wealthy parties is emphasized by their homes on either side of the bay, staring in contention of one another.

While the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock continues to become more of a complex symbol in the story, in these three chapters, one can’t help but think of the association of the green light with money. Gatsby longs for Daisy, but he also associates her with the attainment of wealth and social status, which we’re beginning to realize are probably unattainable fantasies to his social climbing efforts. There is an inherent idealism in the notion of the American Dream, which Gatsby seems too long for across the water when he looks towards Daisy and all that she represents for him and all that she illuminates, i.e. his lack of a secure social status. The green light becomes a symbol of jealousy as well, adhering to the associations of green with envy. As hard as he has tried, there is something still lacking in Gatsby’s wealth and distinction that can’t be made up for with lavish parties and a muddled story of his rise to power. As “new money,” Gatsby will always remain outside of the social circle that Daisy and Tom rightfully belong to.

Chapters 7-9:

The once elusive character of Jay comes to light in the final chapters of The Great Gatsby. The accusations about Gatsby’s involvement in criminal activity as a means of his wealth are proven true, but this does not end up deterring Nick, or the reader, from seeing Gatsby for who he really is. He is an idealist and he is also a gentleman and genuine hero in regards to Daisy. He essentially risks his life for Daisy, even if he couldn’t predict what would happen exactly, we know that he was willing to take the blame for the car accident. When Nick finds Gatsby hiding out in front of Daisy and Tom’s house, with her inside indifferent to Gatsby’s heroic efforts, we see that there is very much a distinction between Gatsby and the Buchannans in that although his social status may be faked, he is a genuine person and while Daisy and Tom are true high society, they are shallow people. It is nearly impossible not to be on Gatsby’s side at this point as we see his vulnerability and childish idealism in regards to Daisy. While he wants to love and protect her, she is merely concerned with keeping up appearances.

Nick’s recollection of Gatsby and his subsequent reflections on the past inspired him to make the final famous quote of the book in Chapter 9. Nick recalls, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…And then one fine morning--So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (Fitzgerald). This quote by Nick offers both a retrospective view of the tragic events of the novel as well as points to a revelation that was suggested throughout the novel but felt more poignantly than ever in this monologue by Nick: the past holds us back. Gatsby was a dreamer in that he denied his past and believed that the future would bring him all he wanted in his ideal image of Daisy and his wealth. It also suggests the futile nature of all that Gatsby tried in vain to reach out for. Finally, the quote by Nick suggests that as hard as Gatsby tried, he could never fully overcome his past or rewrite it, just as these events for Nick can’t be rewritten; Gatsby has a profound effect on him and at the end of the novel we feel the same sense of wasted time that can never be regained since as we try to move forward, we are inevitably pushed back.

Work Cited

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2004. Print.