Sean O'Donnell Chapter 5 Pages 81-96

Sean O'Donnell Chapter 5 Pages 81-96

Chapter five begins with Nick's conversation with Gatsby as he is returning from the city late at night.  Nick asks Gatsby when he wants to get together with Daisy, and Gatsby asks if Nick wants to join in his 'confidential business.'  Gatsby is extremely nervous when the day comes, and when Daisy arrives, he is very embarrassed.  He freaks out and Nick gives him a pep talk in the kitchen before Nick goes outside for a while.  When he returns, Gatsby and Daisy are talking and Gatsby is very joyful.  He invites them both over to his house, where he shows off almost everything he owns.  Daisy is impressed and by the end of the night, both of them forget that Nick is there.

Jay Gatsby

"He had passed visibly through two states and was entering upon a third.  After his embarrassment and his unreasoning joy he was consumed with the wonder at her presence" (Fitzgerald 91-92).

Gatsby is very awkward around Daisy at first.  He changes his character completely after Nick talks to him.  He shows he is dishonest when he says it took him 3 years to earn the money for the house.  He had told Nick that his money was inherited.  He is a creeper and shows it when he is showing her his house.  His image is important, which can be seen by his house, his fancy clothes and his car.

Gatsby provides great mystery in the novel.  He is a binary opposite of a number of characters including Nick and Tom.  Gatsby is another character that represents dishonesty, wealth, and obsession of appearance.  He provides the drama in the book.  Although he too is dishonest, he is the one man of that wealthy class that he likes.

"With enchanting murmurs Daisy admired this aspect or that of the feudal silhouette against the sky, admired the gardens, the sparkling odor of jonquils and the frothy odor of hawthorn and plum blossoms and the pale gold odor of the kiss-me-at-the-gate" (Fitzgerald 90).  This quote is found right after Nick, Gatsby, and Daisy enter onto Gatsby's property.  It shows how easily Daisy is impressed by material things.  Because Gatsby has such a nice garden, Daisy is impressed.  Fitzgerald mentions the color gold when explaining the flowers.  It shows wealth and the importance of appearance.