THE GREAT GATSBY

CHAPTER 3

Structure
Recalls all the parties that Gatsby has that he observes before hes actually
invited to his first party.
The rumors about Gatsby murderer, spy, cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm
hints to larger thematic concern the reconstruction of past events
The past may exist in different versions according to whose memory is involved.

Narrative interjection on pg. 55

Splits back to present timeline
He reminds us that he is a writer as well as a narrator and events have been filtered
through his recollections and reconstructions of them

Structure
Nick casts a critical eye over his account and
recognizes that he has been misleading.
Events that he describes as casual were less significant
than routine daily demands
It becomes apparent that in his retrospective tale, hes
become preoccupied with Gatsby

Nick as observer
He beautifully captures the extravagance of Gatsbys parties
He tells us that he thinks he was one of the only invited guests
Not untrue, but an assumption

Nicks says that guests, after first introductions to other guests, conducted themselves
according to the rules of behavior associated with an amusement park (41)
Despite the rumors and uncertainty about Gatsby, he admires the romance of the
notion
It was a testimony to the romantic speculation he inspired that there were whispers
about him from those who had found little that it was necessary to whisper about in the
world (44)

Nick as observer
Feels out of place at the party
Nick's feelings of discomfort at the party shows that he senses the emptiness
behind the party.
Nick meets Gatsby by chance. They strike up a conversation and feel like they
served together in the war.
Gatsby also interests Nick because he remains apart from the party, as if his
pleasure derives from observing the spectacle, not participating in it.

Nick as observer
Nick then describes his everyday life that summer to the reader:
he wants it clear he does more than just go to parties.
He works each day in the city
has a brief relationship with a woman from New Jersey
then begins to date Jordan Baker.

Nick & Jordan

Yet though he's attracted to Jordan, he doesn't like her because she's
dishonest and even cheats at golf.
Nick then says that he is one of the only honest people he's ever known.

Nick as observer
Nick isn't comfortable with the carefree Roaring Twenties
mentality of easy money and loose morals shared by
other characters in the novel, including Jordan.
He prefers substance, and generally seems honest
Yet having a relationship with someone he dislikes makes
him not entirely honest.

The parties
Gatsbys vast number of guests and extravagant parties at his mansion
guests arrive in the afternoon, spend the day on the beach weekdays
His cars shuttle people between the city and West Egg
Nick observes all the amazing luxuries of the party: a live orchestra, a
cornucopia of food and imported fruits, and endless reserves of
alcohol.
The party's incredible luxury seems to be the fulfillment of the American
Dream.

The parties
The shallowness of the Roaring Twenties: the vast library of "realism" that
Owl Eyes admires is full of books no one reads. The books contain
"realism" but are just for show.
See! [Owl-Eyes] cried triumphantly. Its a bona-fide piece of printed
matter. It fooled me. This fellas a regular Belasco. Its a triumph. What
thoroughness! What realism! Knew when to stop, too didnt cut the
pages. But what do you want? What do you expect?
The library and interior of the home is meticulously staged for the
possible arrival of Daisy
Everything, the books, the parties, the people, Klipspringer are
PROPS

The parties
After the party ends a sudden emptiness seemed to flow now
from the windows and the great doors, endowing with complete
isolation the figure of the host, who stood on the porch, his hand
up in a formal gesture of farewell (55)

Who is gatsby?!
Sends a formal note to Nick to invite him to his little party
Signs it in a majestic hand
We learn that people used Gatsby for his extravagant parties:
most of his "new money" guests didn't even know him.
Gatsby continues to be a man who barely seems to exist beyond the rumors about
him.
The main topic of conversation is rumors about Gatsby. Nick hears from various people
that Gatsby is a German spy, an Oxford graduate, and someone even claims Gatsby
once killed a man.
Larger thematic concern the reconstruction of past events
The past may exist in different versions according to whose memory is involved.

Who is gatsby?!
Gatsby's enchanting smile is like a mask, just as the "fun" of the Roaring
Twenties hides an emptiness beneath. Nick and Gatsby connect because
they share a common past: the war.
Gatsby's distance at the party, observing his guests, suggests he has goals
other than just fun and money.
Gatsby asks for a word with Jordan.
Until now Gatsby has been a smile and a bunch of rumors. Suddenly he has a
story, a past, though Nick doesn't know what it is.

Jordan baker
Straddles line of feminine AND masculine descriptions
Slender golden arms
Wearing dresses like sports clothes
Gatsby confides in her about Daisy, though its not
revealed yet. Nick doesnt know
Why doesnt Nick and Jordans romance last?
IMPT PASSAGE Pg. 57-58

Symbolism - vision
Owl-Eyes his glasses (repetitive of Mr. Eckleburgs glasses)
He has the appearance of wisdom conventionally associated
with the owl.
Vision impaired
But the limits to his vision are clear, and they are not just the
consequence of his drunkenness.
Hes interested in the Library (that it seems real) but he is not interested in the
contents of the books
Just as the guests at the party are not interested in the real Gatsby

Represents the disparity between pretension and reality

Symbolism - vision
Owl-Eyes also gets into a car accidents.
The crash is symbolic in two ways.
It represents the reckless disregard of the Roaring
Twenties and the inevitable plunge Fitzgerald sensed
would end the boom.
It also foreshadows a car accident later in the novel.