The Great Gatsby - November 21- Pages 65 - 103

This week we read chapters four and five. I really like the book and I think the real plot of the story started to develop in these two chapters. Chapter four started out kind of weird. It was just telling us about a "list" that Nick kept one summer of all the people that came to Gatsby's house over the course of the summer. I'm not sure though what the first two paragraphs were even talking about at all?? It then quickly jumps to one morning in July when Gatsby showed up in Nick's driveway and asked, or more like told, Nick that they were going to have lunch. While driving into New York Gatsby suddenly opens up about his past. He first implies that he knows what people say about him and asks Nick what he thinks of him. Nick never really gives a definate answer. Gatsby goes on to tell Nick that he inherited a lot of money when all his family died. He spent most of it traveling and living in foreign cities. He did go to Oxford though, and was considered a kind of 'hero' in the war for leading his section of soldiers so far ahead that it was impossible for the other side to win, or something like that. For this great feat, he was given a medal of honor from almost every country, including Montenegro, which was significant for some reason I do not know. Also, to prove these two things, he carries that medal from Montenegro, and a picture of him at Oxford with a cricket bat in his hand. Why did he need to carry these things with him to prove it? Why wouldn't people just believe him anyways?? He then implies that Mrs. Baker is going to tell Nick something at the tea Nick and Mrs. Baker had planned. This doesn't really make sence at first, but later on in chapter five it all comes together. So, they go to New York and have lunch with another man, Mr. Wolfshiem, and nothing peculiar really happens at all. When they are leaving though, they see Tom, and go to say hello. After talking for a brief moment Nick turns to Gatsby and Gatsby has disappeared. Later on we find why he leaves so suddenly without anyone knowing why.
When Jordan and Nick has tea we find out possibly the most important bit of information in the story so far. Jordan tells Nick of a long story about the past. It pretty much ended up that at one time Gatsby and Daisy dated, Daisy broke it off, and Gatsby has never forgotten her. He deliberatly moved across the bay from her, and wants Nick to have Daisy over for tea so he can come too. I don't understand why this all had to come fro Jordan, was he just kind of embarrassed maybe?? I think Nick wondered the same thing.
In chapter five Nick has Jordan over and Gatsby is a nervous wreck before she even gets there. He wants to make sure everything is perfect. At first it is very awkward, Gatsby is so nervous he isn't even acting like himself. Daisy knows that Gatsby lives across the bay though, because she asked Jordan about him in the first chapter, when Tom was at their house and she made the connection by the description Jordan gave her. I think that if Daisy actually liked Gatsby she would have came to one of the parties, afterall they were thrown to try to attract her. The tea goes fairly well after awhile and soon Gatsby invites them to his house. Daisy is overwhelmed with the size and beauty of it. They were suppose to tour the outside too but it is raining. Therefore, they are all just standing inside looking out. I think this is kind of an awkward moment, there has to be quite a bit of tension amongst the three, because they all know the reason why there was a tea now. At the end of the chapter Nick goes home and leaves Daisy and Gatsby, who seem to be quite cozy at this point.
These two chapters were filled with alot of information. It was almost overwhelming trying to decifer between what is real and what is symbolism, and what is suppose to be drawn from every action and word. At this point I have few prediction, I think anything is possible.