Reader's thoughts:
- This chapter is strange in that it starts out of chronological order! Nick tells us about James Gatz and Jay Gatsby's former life at the start of this chapter, despite the fact that he was told about it all "much later". Why? He says it's because he wants to stop us believing in the rumours that the crowd at Gatsby's parties pedal, but considering that he didn't know any of the stuff he tells us at the time, why does he bother telling us? Can't we make our own mind up about Gatsby before Nick ruins it for us!
- Jay Gatsby is a character who was invented by James Gatz. James Gatz was born in North Dakota but then moved to the shores of lake Superior to work as a "clam-digger" and a "salmon fisher". He was 17 when he changed his name to Jay Gatsby and with the new name came a new personality. James Gatz "knew women early" and grew tired of them whereas I believe Jay Gatsby is scared of getting on the wrong side of women. "He wouldn't even look at a friend's wife" and, when a random woman of the crowd at one of his many parties accidentally (and presumably, drunkardly) rips her dress, Gatsby sends her a new one worth a lot of money being but two pieces of evidence for this theory.
- James Gatz seems to be a good actor and sees Jay Gatsby as the main character in his own personal play. He seems to act very well and keeps the compulsive (he rows out into the middle of a bay to tell someone he doesn't know that a storm's a'coming) James Gatz from cropping up in public and this puts a metaphorical curtain between him and reality. One of the only times the façade is dropped involuntarily is in this chapter when he says "I know your wife" to Tom!
- "Sticking your head in the stand" seems to be the theme for this chapter. For example, when told that "you can't repeat the past", Gatsby says "why of course you can". Only an idiot would actually believe this, and Gatsby is no idiot, he is simply hiding from the truth.
Other Miscellaneous points:
- Dan Cody, the multi-millionaire was Jay Gatsby's "fate". He made him into a non-drinker by his extreme drinking, a fearer of women because Dan Cody's mistress murdered him and stole his money and gave him his classical education.
- Daisy is "appalled" by West egg which she sees as a shadow of a shadow. She thinks of it as an "unprecedented place that Broadway had begotten upon a Long Island fishing village".
- Nick is very much a judgemental character. His tone changes and lots of sympathy is shown towards Gatsby.
- The East corrupts Nick's moral
- Gatsby points people out to Daisy at his party to make Tom feel unimportant.
- Tom takes an instant dislike to Gatsby because he knows his wife. Tom says that he doesn't like how his wife talks to people without him knowing. This is old fashioned and sexist.
- Most of the actions that Gatsby makes are defensive (hands in pockets ect.) bar when he says to Tom that he "knows" his wife.
- West Egg and it's residents symbolise the idea that money/power is more important than thoughts and feelings, or so Daisy thinks anyway. This is not true of Gatsby, who's feelings for Daisy cause him to buy a large mansion and hold extravagant parties so that he can see her green light at the end of her pier.
Something to remember:
- Gatsby is frightened of women and specifically, mistresses and the act of having an affair because Dan Cody, Gatsby's old "best friend" was murdered by his.
Is there enough evidence to suggest that gatsby is frightened of women? Very good on the developments in characters.
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