The Great Gatsby Chapter Analysis Essay Example

The Great Gatsby Chapter Analysis Essay Example The Great Gatsby Chapter Analysis Paper The Great Gatsby Chapter Analysis Paper Essay Topic: The Great Gatsby Nick observes several drunken women at Gatsby lawn, gossiping about the mysterious identity and unusual rumors of Gatsby. Gatsby invites Nick forever lunch and they go on a ride to the city in Gatsby white Rolls Royce. On their way to the city, Gatsby tells Nick about his past. Gatsby describes himself as a son of wealthy parents from the Midwest town of San Francisco, who graduated from Oxford, been a reputable jewel collector in Europe and war hero. Gatsby shows Nick his war medal to prove his claims. He informs Nick to expect a story about his tragedy which he will tell him about later this afternoon. As they drive, Gatsby does not pay attention to the speed limit and an officer pulls them over. Gatsby shows the officer a small white card from the commissioner. The officer apologizes and lets them go. During lunch, they meet Gatsby business partner Meyer Wolfishly. Wolfishly describes Gatsby to Nick as a man Of fine breeding (p. 46 1 993 edition) who would never so much as look at a friends wife? (p. 47 1993 edition). Gatsby informs Nick of Wolfishly identity and that hes the man responsible for the fixing of the 1919 World Series. Nick becomes concerned that Gatsby is involved in crime business. As they leave the restaurant, Nick sees Tom Buchanan and introduces him to Gatsby. Gatsby becomes embarrassed and leaves without even saying goodbye. Later on, Nick meets Jordan at the Plaza Hotel. She tells Nick the amazing thing that Gatsby had told her previously. There is a flashback into Gatsby past: as a young man, Gatsby had a passionate romance with Daisy Fay, who is now Daisy Buchanan. During the war, Gatsby met Daisy at his stay in Louisville and they fell in love. Daisys family prevented her from marrying Gatsby and one year later she married a wealthy man from Chicago, Tom Buchanan, who gave her a string of pearls worth $350 000 and 3 month honeymoon to the Southern Seas. When they arrive at the Central Park, Jordan finishes the story. She tells that Gatsby)dos love to Daisy is unbreakable and he bought his giant mansion in West Egg just to be across the bay from her. Gatsby believes that he could buy back the love of Daisy with money. Nick realizes that the mimes Gatsby gazed at the green light across the docks, was due to his passionate love to Daisy. Jordan tells Nick, that Gatsby requested him to invite Daisy to his house for tea. Gatsby will suddenly arrive, so she could see him, even though he fears that she doesnt want to. Analysis Thesis Statement: Through the use of flashbacks Fitzgerald unfolds the mysterious identity of Jay Gatsby. At first the author portrays Gatsby as an untrustworthy, suspicious man, who is involved in criminal activity of bootlegging. However after Cordons story of Gatsby past, there is a major heft in his identity and his true character is revealed. Nick realizes that Gatsby has accumulated this wealth and all his possessions to win the love of Daisy. Chapter 4 opens up with a portrayal of The Roaring Twenties and its dynamic lifestyle. Nicks description of Gatsby guests shows the different roles and classes of the society, during 1922. Nick outlines how they are all just using Gatsby for his hospitality and wealth. The author achieves this theme through Nicks list the guests who attended the parties: Chester Backers and the Leeches, and a man named Bunsen (p. 1 993 edition) and the fact that none of the guests knew anything about the host. They arrived at Gatsby mansion with the intention to enjoy their time, consume alcohol and display their wealth, thereby portraying the main concept of the fast paced life of the Roaring Twenties. At the beginning of the chapter, the author foreshadows Gatsby s connection to the criminal world by the chatter of the young ladies at the party. The rumors about Gatsby that are overheard from the m: He is a bootlegger One time he killed a man who had found that he was a nephew o Von Hindering (p. 9 1 993 edition), cause the reader to be suspicious of Gatsby character and provide an indication that he is not a clean person. The rumors reveal a minor element Of Gatsby identity and the immoral way he gained his wealth, giving a sign to the reader of what to expect further in the chapter. Another portrayal of the Roaring Twenties appears when Gatsby pays no attention to the speed limit and an officer pulls him over. Gatsby shows the white card he had received from the commissioner, due to a favor he had previously done for him. The officer apologizes, Know you next time Mr.. Gatsby. Excuse me! (p. 44 1993 edition) and lets him go. Gatsby action of simply waving a small white card to escape the consequences of breaking a law shows that he is a superstar. Gatsby acts above the law and the police, displaying himself as the New Money of the Roaring Twenties and that there are no boundaries to his actions. When Meyer Wolfishly is introduced in the chapter; Nicks awareness of the criminal side to Gatsby s character increases. Throughout the conversation Nick suspects that the rumors he had revisions heard from the young ladies hes a bootlegger One time he killed a man ) (p. 9 1993 edition) are true and that Gatsby is involved in organized crime. In the chapter, Wolfishly serves as symbol to represent the Criminal Element. The way that Fitzgerald describes the visual characteristics of Wolfishly A small, flat nosed Jew raised his large head and regarded me with two fine growths of hair which luxuriated in either nostril. After a moment I discovered his tiny eyes in th e half-darkness (p. 44-45 1993 edition), generates a stereotype of the Jewish nation. During the 1 sass, Jews were hardwired for their greed, wealth and physical attributes of a miniature body build a large nose. Fitzgerald applies the stereotype to describe Wolfishly as a symbol for Crime and Corruption. Meyer Wolfishly describes the success in wealth as an outcome of fine breeding (p. 46 1 993 edition). This is the Old Money way of thinking, where the fundamentals to achieving The American Dream of wealth lie in the genes of the person. After the meeting with Wolfishly, Nick realizes that the source to Gatsby high income is his involvement in bootlegging activities. Gatsby is the New Money lass of The Roaring Twenties, who has recently acquired his fortune of wealth, instead of inheriting it. Throughout the mid-section of the chapter Fitzgerald begins to unfold the mysteries of Jay Gatsby past, revealing his true identity and creating a major shift of Gatsby character. At the beginning of the chapter the author characterizes Gatsby as enigmatic, suspicious and not fully trustworthy person. The information Gatsby gives about his past seems highly over exaggerated and inconceivable; l am the son of wealthy people in the Middle West -all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford, because all my ancestors have been educated there for many years. (p. 42 1993 edition). Gatsby portrays himself as a son of wealthy parents, war hero, jewel collector and a graduate of oxford. Later on, Cordons story about Gatsby past radically changes Nicks perception of Gatsby character. Through the use of flash backs, Jordan depicts Gatsby as a romantic person who is fighting to achieve his love. Jordan reveals his lower class background, what influenced Daisys parents to oppos e the marriage; but Gatsby is a man who is prepared to go beyond the boundaries to reach his goal. Through Cordons flashbacks of Gatsby, Fitzgerald presents a romantic click, where Gatsby is the Romeo of The Roaring Twenties: a perfect lover, brave and handsome, and war hero. The end of Chapter 4 reveals the true objective to Gatsby accomplishment of his wealth. Gatsby desire to reach the mysterious green light and Daisy across the bay is unstoppable. The green light acts as a symbol to several themes, among them is Daisy herself, Gatsby fearless romantic optimism and Gatsby s view of the American Dream.