THE GREAT GATSBY - WEEK 4 - CHAPTER 3

THE GREAT GATSBY -by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I added a comment to last week's post answering some of the questions.

Chapter 3 - Gatsby's place is an ongoing party. Note that Nick is one of the few invited guests. Most of these people just show up for a great party. No one really knows who Gatsby is. Possibilities suggested include a German spy. American army, murderer. It is here that Nick finally meets Gatsby but he doesn't realize that he has until afterwards. Nick notices that Gatsby stands by himself surveying the group and he doesn't drink. There are reasons for this that we'll circle back to in a later chapter. We have this juxtaposition of the party atmosphere - people everywhere versus the emptiness that permeates everything as Gatsby waves to people as they leave. Talking with Jordan, Nick learns that Gatsby has confided in her. He's confided in her something "amazing." (Foreshadowing.) Closing out my thoughts we see the start of a relationship starting between Jordan and Nick. Fitzgerald gives us a clear picture of Nick's character as he needs to break it off with a girl back home before moving forward with Jordan. Note the honorable actions versus the dishonorable actions of Tom where relationships are concerned.