Chapter 9 Page 163-180

Chapter 9 Page 163-180


Chapter nine begins with a plethora of reporters and detectives crowding onto Gatsby's property. Nick, being Gatsby's best friend, steps up to take the lead in organizing the funeral and doing what needs to be done. Henry Gatz, Gatsby's father, arrives from Minnesota, and is amazed at all the wealth and possessions his son has accumulated. He still refers to Gatsby as "Jimmy." Despite Nick's efforts, no one comes to the funeral, and Owl Eyes shows up to the cemetery, only to say its a shame no one came. Nick remembers his college years, and the summer with Gatsby. He breaks up with Daisy and realizes that Tom and Daisy ruin the lives of those they interact with.


Owl Eyes


"Why? my God! they used to go there by the hundreds" (Fitzgerald, 175).


Owl Eyes is unlike the majority of the guests who attended Gatsby's parties, may have been a friend of Gatsbys. He was the only one of Gatsby's friends, other than Nick who made any attempt to go to the funeral. He feels bad for Gatsby when he sees that no body else comes. He is a nice and compassionate character in the novel.


Owl Eyes represents the normal American of the 20s. Unlike the majority of the characters, he has not been corrupted by dishonesty. At the cemetery, Owl-Eyes says, 'The poor son-of-a-bitch" (Fitzgerald 175). He said this because Gatsby had no friends, and basically died alone. His dream died, and so did he. He put all his hopes and dreams into Daisy, and when that fell through, so did he.


"...found Mr. Gatz walking up and down excitedly in the hall. His pride in his son and his son's possessions was continually increasing and now he had something to show me" (Fitzgerald 172). Mr. Gatz was extremely proud of his son's material accomplishments. This shows how money and wealth can blind people of the big picture. Gatsby, although rich, was poor on the inside. He spend his entire adult life waiting for Daisy. Everything he did was for her. The wealth he accumulated it all for her, and did not care one bit about it himself. If Mr. Gatz knew this, I do not think he would be as proud of his son's possessions. It also represents how Gatsby recreated himself.