Tuesday 6 November 2012

Notes on Chapter 5

Chapter 5 starts with Nick telling Gatsby that he has decided to invite Daisy over for tea as previously requested by Gatsby in Chapter 4.

Gatsby offers Nick some kind of small job in return for the favour but it sounds illegal so Nick declines. This is the first time Gatsby is associateed with illegal activity other than the rumour that he had killed someone.

When Daisy arrives Gatsby becomes nervous and a coward who runs out of the room which contrasts with the strong man he tries to portray to the characters.

Gatsby mentions to Daisy that he has clippings of/ about her which conveys to the reader his infatuation with her, so much so that he moved to a house so he could monitor her.

To try and impress Daisy and show her what she is missing or how much more she could have if she ended things with Tom, he orders Ewing around and makes him play the piano as if he is a slave.

During the song Nick reminds us that he is narrating by drifting in and out of the scene and commenting on the weather instead. Also showing that he is no longer interested with the goings on and is tired of Gatsby and Daisy's company.

1 comment:

  1. Yes, Nick's role is interesting in this chapter. How much has he romanticised do you think?

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