The Great Gatsby: Chapters 5-6

2. The Great Gatsby: Chapters 5-6 More characters: • Meyer Wolfsheim: Gatsby’s business partner; professional gambler. Fixed 1919 World Series. • Klipspringer: Gatsby’s “border”; a leech and representative of party-goers. • Dan Cody: Gatsby’s mentor; taught him about adventure and pursuing dreams.

3. Chapters 5 and 6 • Themes: Hope and paradox • Gatsby is susceptible to unattainable fantasies. • The paradox of hope: unrealistic expectations must inevitably be disappointed because reality seldom matches ideals. • “Bewilderment had come into Gatsby’s face, as though a faint doubt had occurred to him as to the quality of his present happiness … There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams” (101).

4. Chapters 5 and 6 • Gatsby’s dismay that Daisy didn’t like the party compounds this creeping gloom: All of his efforts don’t impress her at all – or Tom, who is not so star-struck by celebrity as Gatsby is. • Daisy recognizes his false attempts to imitate the style of wealth. It’s clear that Gatsby does not know how money works. (This is also shown in Gatsby’s encounter with Tom and the others on the horses.) • Yet, Gatsby desperately clings to the illusion: “Can’t repeat the past,” he cried incredulously. “Why of course you can!” • Translation: “I MUST be able to repeat the past.”

5. Chapters 5 and 6 • Literary elements • Flashback: Withholding info about Gatsby’s background creates suspense; Nick is clearly sympathetic to Gatsby. • As an adult, Gatsby still has elaborate fantasies, as he did at 17.

6. Chapters 5 and 6 • Characterization • We now know that Jay Gatsby is James Gatz • From his rowboat, James looked at Cody’s yacht and saw a symbol of all the beauty and glamour in the world. • Now, let’s re-trace his history.