The Great Gatsby
By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Chapter 6
Chapt. 6
Page 97
A reporter from New York arrived at Gatsby's house. He wanted to know if Gatsby had anything to say.
"Anything to say about what? inquired Gatsby politely.
"Why-any statement to give out.”
After about five minutes the reporter explained that he had heard Gatsby’s name around the office. The reporter did not want to say in what way or manner that he heard about Gatsby. Since it was his day off, the reporter wanted to come and ‘see’ if anything he heard was true.
Gatsby’s notoriety spread throughout the city by those who attended his parties and accepted his hospitality. They seem to be “experts” about Gatsby’s past. There are so many rumors about him.
Gatsby became legendary . A rumor about the ‘underground pipeline to Canada was attached to him. There was one persistent story that Gatsby didn’t live in the house at all, but lived in a boat and traveled up and down the Long Island shore.
Why these rumors were a source of satisfaction to James Gatz of North Dakota is unclear. James Gatz was his name legally. He changed it at the age of seventeen at a particular moment in his life-when he met Dan Cody.
98 -99(par 2)
Dan Cody was on his yacht on Lake Superior. James Gatz was loafing on the beach in a torn green jersey and a pair of canvas pants when he saw Dan Cody in his yacht. The weather was extremely bad and the boat would be destroyed within an hour. By the time James Gatz rowed his boat to the yacht, he was Jay Gatsby.
James Gatz's parents were poor, unsuccessful farm people. His imagination never really accepted them as his parents. He thought very highly of himself. So he invented Jay Gatsby as the man whom he would become.
For over a year he was working as a clam digger and salmon fisher. He was fit and ‘knew women early.' Since they spoiled him, he was contemptuous of them, because they were ignorant and were hysterical about everything. He fantasized about being rich. Every night he dreamt more and more elaborately about his future.
He went to small Lutheran college and stayed two weeks. He felt that he was above the janitors work that he was required to do in order to pay for his books and tuition.
99(par 3)-101
After saving Cody and his boat, Cody hired Gatsby in an ‘vague personal capacity.' Cody was fifty years old and made his money from mining in the Nevada sliver fields of the Yukon and the cooper mines of Montana. Although the work make him physically fit, his mind was soft. Many women tried to separate Dan Cody from his money. When he was sober he was fine, but when he drank, he did not what would happen. So Cody hired Gatsby to take care of him when he was drunk. They traveled three times around the Continent . The arrangement lasted for five years. Then Ella Kay, a newspaper reporter ‘played Madame de Maintenon to his weakness.' She boarded Cody’s boat one night in Boston. A week later, Cody was dead.
Gatsby had inherited twenty-five thousand dollars from Cody. Unfortunately, Gatsby did not receive any of it. He did not understand the legal device that was used against him. What remained of Cody’s millions went to Ella Kaye.
101(par. 1)-103
Nick spent most of the summer with Jordan. One Sunday afternoon, he decided to visit Gatsby. When he gets there, Tom Buchanan is there with Mr. and Mrs. Sloan. Gatsby tells Tom that they met before. Tom doesn’t remember, but acts as if he remembers Gatsby. Then Tom recalls that he saw Gatsby with Nick a couple of weeks ago at the speakeasy.
Aggressively Gatsby says, “I know your wife.”
“That’s so?”
Tom turns to Nick.
“You live near here, Nick?”
“Next door.”
“That’s so?
Tom tells Nick that he wonders how Daisy knows Gatsby. He was so concerned that Tom went with Daisy to Gatsby’s next party.
104-108
Gatsby introduces Daisy and Tom to other guest at the party. Gatsby introduces Tom as the Polo Player for the rest of the night. Tom doesn’t like the fact that Gatsby.
“I’d a little rather not be the polo player, ‘ said Tom pleasantly, “I’d rather look at all these famous people in-in oblivion.
Nick knew that Daisy wasn’t having a good time; except for the time that she spent dancing with Gatsby.
Daisy and Tom are waiting outside for their car. Nick waits with them. As they are waiting, Tom asks:
“Who is this Gatsby anyhow? ….some big bootlegger?
Nick and Daisy defended Gatsby.
Daisy tells Tom that Gatsby owns some drug-stores(pharmacies)……”a lot of drug stores. He built them up himself.”
109-111
Nick stayed late at Gatsby’s house after the party. Gatsby is concerned that Daisy did not like the party. Gatsby said that he felt far away from Daisy and it was hard to make her understand. Nick doesn’t understand what Gatsby wants from Daisy.
Gatsby wants the past relationship that he had with Daisy. “He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say, “I never loved you”
Nick tells Gatsby that the past can’t be repeated. Gatsby feels that it can be repeated. He just has to make Daisy understand.
Gatsby tells Nick about his past. While listening to Gatsby, Nick realizes that Gatsby wants to recover something or some idea of him that had gone into loving Daisy……
............On an autumn night, five years before, Gatsby and Daisy had been walking down the street in Louisville, Kentucky. They stopped and turned towards each other. Gatsby’s heart was beating faster and faster as Daisy’s face came close to his. When they kissed, Gatsby knew that he would never be the same. ‘His mind would never romp again like the mind of God.’ He would never look at women or life in the same way again.