The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Rumors still aboundRumors still abound About this time an About this time an ambitious young ambitious young reporter from New reporter from New York arrived one York arrived one morning at morning at Gatsby's door and Gatsby's door and asked him if he had asked him if he had anything to say anything to say

James GatzJames Gatz Nick begins to set Nick begins to set

the record straight the record straight about Gatsby's about Gatsby's past. past.

James Gatz was his James Gatz was his legal name. legal name.

He had changed it He had changed it at the age of at the age of seventeen.seventeen.

James James GatzGatz

Jay GatsbyJay Gatsby

ChildhoodChildhoodHis parents were His parents were

shiftless and shiftless and unsuccessful farm unsuccessful farm people from North people from North Dakota. Dakota.

Even as a boy, Even as a boy, he dreamed of he dreamed of a better life. a better life.

At age sixteen, he set off to At age sixteen, he set off to make his own way as a clam make his own way as a clam digger and salmon fisherman digger and salmon fisherman on the shore of Lake Superior.on the shore of Lake Superior.

The TransitionThe Transition While working along Lake While working along Lake

Superior, Gatsby saw a large Superior, Gatsby saw a large yacht drop anchor nearby.yacht drop anchor nearby.

It was James Gatz who had It was James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach been loafing along the beach

that afternoon in a torn that afternoon in a torn green jersey and a pair green jersey and a pair

of of canvas pants, but it was canvas pants, but it was already Jay Gatsby who already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a rowboat and borrowed a rowboat and pulled out to the Yacht.pulled out to the Yacht.

Dan CodyDan Cody Dan Cody was fifty Dan Cody was fifty

years old years old Worth millions due to Worth millions due to

his Montana copper his Montana copper mining venture. mining venture.

With vast wealth and With vast wealth and no purpose, he became no purpose, he became a drifter, drinker, and a drifter, drinker, and womanizer, sometimes womanizer, sometimes prone to violence.prone to violence.

TravelingTraveling Dan Cody took an immediate liking to the Dan Cody took an immediate liking to the

young Gatsby and believed him to be young Gatsby and believed him to be quick and ambitious. quick and ambitious.

As a result, Cody invited the youth to sail As a result, Cody invited the youth to sail with him to the West Indies while serving with him to the West Indies while serving in a vague capacity as steward, mate, in a vague capacity as steward, mate, skipper, and secretary. skipper, and secretary.

In essence, Gatsby became Cody's In essence, Gatsby became Cody's assistant and protector, watching over assistant and protector, watching over him during his drunken outings and wild him during his drunken outings and wild parties.parties.

Cody trusted the young man more and Cody trusted the young man more and more. more.

The arrangement lasted five years and The arrangement lasted five years and through three trips around the continent.through three trips around the continent.

Ella KayeElla KayeElla Kaye was Ella Kaye was

newspaper woman newspaper woman involved with Dan involved with Dan Cody. Cody.

Ella Kaye came on Ella Kaye came on board one night in board one night in Boston and a week Boston and a week later Dan Cody later Dan Cody died. died.

Inheritance LostInheritance Lost And it was from Cody that And it was from Cody that

he inherited money he inherited money A legacy of twenty-five A legacy of twenty-five

thousand dollars. thousand dollars. He didn't get it. He didn't get it. He never understood the He never understood the

legal device that was legal device that was used against him, but used against him, but what remained of the what remained of the millions went intact to millions went intact to Ella Kaye.Ella Kaye.

Back to the presentBack to the present Nick has not seen his neighbor in several Nick has not seen his neighbor in several

weeks because Gatsby is devoting his time weeks because Gatsby is devoting his time to Daisy, and Nick has been involved with to Daisy, and Nick has been involved with Jordan. Jordan.

As a result, Nick decides to go over and As a result, Nick decides to go over and check on Gatsby one Sunday afternoon. check on Gatsby one Sunday afternoon.

He has not been in Gatsby's mansion for He has not been in Gatsby's mansion for two minutes when a party of three two minutes when a party of three horseback riders stops for a drink. horseback riders stops for a drink.

Moved by an irresistible impulse, Gatsby turned to Moved by an irresistible impulse, Gatsby turned to Tom, who had accepted the introduction as a Tom, who had accepted the introduction as a stranger.stranger.

““I believe we've met somewhere before, Mr. I believe we've met somewhere before, Mr. Buchanan.”Buchanan.”

““Oh, yes,” said Tom, gruffly polite, but obviously not Oh, yes,” said Tom, gruffly polite, but obviously not remembering. “So we did. I remember very well.”remembering. “So we did. I remember very well.”

““About two weeks ago.”About two weeks ago.” ““That's right. You were with Nick here.”That's right. You were with Nick here.” ““I know your wife,” continued Gatsby, almost I know your wife,” continued Gatsby, almost

aggressively.aggressively. ““That so?”That so?” Tom turned to me. Tom turned to me. ““You live near here, Nick?”You live near here, Nick?” ““Next door.”Next door.” ““That so?”That so?”

Social GracesSocial Graces Gatsby asks the trio to stay for dinner. Gatsby asks the trio to stay for dinner. the female rider suggests, out of politeness, the female rider suggests, out of politeness,

that Gatsby come to supper with them.that Gatsby come to supper with them. Gatsby does not realize that she doesn’t Gatsby does not realize that she doesn’t

mean it, and he goes off to change for the mean it, and he goes off to change for the dinner party. dinner party.

Tom remarks, “My God, I believe the man's Tom remarks, “My God, I believe the man's coming. Doesn't he know she doesn't want coming. Doesn't he know she doesn't want him?”him?”

Tom immediately recognizes Gatsby's lack Tom immediately recognizes Gatsby's lack of class and wonders how in the world Daisy of class and wonders how in the world Daisy knows him. knows him.

When Gatsby returns downstairs, he When Gatsby returns downstairs, he discovers he has been left behind. discovers he has been left behind.

Next SaturdayNext SaturdayTom was evidently perturbed at Tom was evidently perturbed at

Daisy's running around alone, for Daisy's running around alone, for on the following Saturday night on the following Saturday night he came with her to Gatsby's he came with her to Gatsby's party. party.

I felt an unpleasantness in the I felt an unpleasantness in the air, a pervading harshness that air, a pervading harshness that hadn't been there before.hadn't been there before.

The partyThe party Daisy and Gatsby danced. Daisy and Gatsby danced. I remember being surprised by his I remember being surprised by his

graceful, conservative fox-trot - I had graceful, conservative fox-trot - I had never never seen him dance before. seen him dance before.

Then they went to Nick’s house and sat on Then they went to Nick’s house and sat on the steps for half an hour. the steps for half an hour.

Nick “remained watchfully in Nick “remained watchfully in the the garden. “In case there's garden. “In case there's a fire or a a fire or a flood,” she flood,” she explained, “or any explained, “or any act of God.”act of God.”

The Party continuesThe Party continuesDaisy tries to be excited about the party-Daisy tries to be excited about the party-

goers and involved in the festivities, but goers and involved in the festivities, but everything about the party offends her. everything about the party offends her. The women are inebriated and acting The women are inebriated and acting poorly, and Tom is chasing a girl who is poorly, and Tom is chasing a girl who is “common but pretty.”“common but pretty.”

Gatsby introduces Tom as Gatsby introduces Tom as the polo the polo player….player….

And Tom does not like it.And Tom does not like it.

Tom & Daisy LeaveTom & Daisy Leave““Who is this Gatsby anyhow?” Who is this Gatsby anyhow?”

demanded Tom suddenly. “Some big demanded Tom suddenly. “Some big bootlegger?”bootlegger?”

““Where'd you hear that?” Where'd you hear that?” I inquired. I inquired.

““I didn't hear it. I imagined I didn't hear it. I imagined it. A lot of these newly it. A lot of these newly rich people are just big rich people are just big bootleggers, you know.”bootleggers, you know.”

After the partyAfter the party Gatsby asks Nick to stay after the other Gatsby asks Nick to stay after the other

guests have left. guests have left. Nick immediately notices that his Nick immediately notices that his

neighbor's eyes look tired and that his neighbor's eyes look tired and that his face is drawn tight. face is drawn tight.

He is the picture of misery. He is the picture of misery. Gatsby tells Nick that Daisy Gatsby tells Nick that Daisy

did not enjoy the party, that did not enjoy the party, that she does not understand him, she does not understand him,

and that he feels far away and that he feels far away from her. from her.

Gatsby’s dreamGatsby’s dreamHe wanted nothing less of Daisy than He wanted nothing less of Daisy than

that she should go to Tom and say: “I that she should go to Tom and say: “I never loved you.”never loved you.”

After she had obliterated four years After she had obliterated four years with that sentence they could decide with that sentence they could decide upon the more practical measures to upon the more practical measures to be taken. be taken.

One of them was that, after she was One of them was that, after she was free, they were to go back to Louisville free, they were to go back to Louisville and be married from her house – and be married from her house –

just as if it were five years ago. just as if it were five years ago.

Recapturing the pastRecapturing the pastHe talked a lot about the past, and I He talked a lot about the past, and I

gathered that he wanted to recover gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy. Daisy.

His life had been confused and His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could disordered since then, but if he could once return to a certain starting place once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was. . . . out what that thing was. . . .

conclusionconclusionNick tries to warn his neighbor Nick tries to warn his neighbor

that it is difficult to repeat the that it is difficult to repeat the past, past,

but Gatsby fools himself into but Gatsby fools himself into believing that through his believing that through his wealth he can make wealth he can make everything right with Daisy. everything right with Daisy.