Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 1

Character Profile: Jay Gatsby (James Gatz)

Chapter Page Quotation Analysis
“Gatsby ... represented everything for which I have an
unaffected scorn.”
“If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, Implies hollowness and falsity.
1 8 then there was something gorgeous about him”
“an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such Introduction of Gatsby's hope as a defining trait.
as I have never found in any other person and which it is
not likely that I shall find again.”
“Well, they say he's a nephew of Kaiser Wilhelm's. That's Speculation, specifically linked to Gatsby's wealth; there
2 34
where all his money comes from.” seems to be suspicion of 'nouveau riche' here.
“I watched his guests diving from the tower of his raft, or Repetition of the possessive emphasises how the
taking the sun on the hot sand of his beach while his two enjoyment which is had is all down to Gatsby. We don't
41 motor-boats slit the waters of the Sound ... his Rolls-Royce who the neighbour is at first; the impersonality of the
became an omnibus … his station wagon scampered like a pronoun reflects how Gatsby's guests do not know even
brisk yellow bug to meet all trains” know who he is!
“'Somebody told me they thought he'd killed a man once.' This speculation is more disturbing. There is a clear
… development from someone having heard speculation
' … I'll bet he killed a man.'” from somebody else to this clear expression of certainty.
45 “' … he was a German spy during the war' ... This speculation is bottomless, because Gatsby didn't grow
'I heard that from a man who knew all about him, grew up up in Germany, but seems to be a development of the
with him in Germany'” Kaiser myth, especially since it develops the suspicion of
Gatsby stemming from his wealth. After all, what can be
more suspicious than a spy?
“It was testimony to the romantic speculation he inspired Such is his mystery that even those who fear little else fear
46 that there were whispers about him from those who had Gatsby.
found little that it was necessary to whisper about in this
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 2
world.”
“a high Gothic library, panelled with carved English Oak, Gatsby trying to mimic the Old World aristocracy from
and probably transported complete from some ruin which the society to which he aspires originates.
overseas.”
“ … This fella’s a regular Belasco. It’s a triumph. What Belasco was a Broadway producer known for the realism of
47 thoroughness! What realism! ... '” his sets; Gatsby's image is all an elaborate act that fools
everybody apart from, ironically Owl-Eyes the Drunk.
“a man of about my age” Nick doesn't know it's Gatsby yet, but this is their first
48
meeting.
“It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal Epic, romantic, lyrical prose
reassurance in it that you may come across four or five
times in life. It faced — or seemed to face — the whole
external world for an instant, and then concentrated on
you with an irresistible prejudice in your favour. It
understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood,
3 believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and
assured you that it had precisely the impression of you
49 that, at your best, you hoped to convey.”
“an elegant young rough-neck, a year or two over thirty, A rough-neck is an unskilled or slightly-skilled worker.
whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being
absurd”
“'Well, he told me once he was an Oxford man.' Gatsby is intrinsically mysterious; even when you think
A dim background began to take shape behind him, but at you know something about him, it is probably wrong, and
her next remark it faded away. the digger you deep, the more blurs out of focus.
'However, I don't believe it.'”
“But young men didn't … drift coolly out of nowhere and This is proleptic irony, since we find later that this is
buy a palace on Long Island Sound.” precisely what Gatsby did. More importantly, however, it
50 implies that you cannot casually traverse such class
distinctions without breaking the law, i.e. bootlegging, but,
even if you do, you never truly fit in.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 3
“His tanned skin was drawn attractively tight on his face His tanned skin is also mentioned later (Chapter 6 p.105),
and his short hair looked as though it were trimmed but as a sign of tiredness and annoyance at the failure of
everyday. I could see nothing sinister about him. I his efforts to obtain Daisy.
51
wondered if the fact that he was not drinking helped to set Daisy is the other character who abstains from alcohol.
him off from his guests, for it seemed to me that he grew Gatsby's abstention puts a barrier between him and his
more correct as the fraternal hilarity increased.” guests.
“The familiar expression held no more familiarity than the This refers to one of many 'old sport's; Gatsby behaves this
53 hand which reassuringly brushed my shoulder.” way with everyone, so his personality becomes, ironically,
impersonal.
“One time he killed a man who had found out that he was The young ladies have found a way to make Gatsby is more
nephew to Von Hindenburg and second cousin to the suspicious than a spy: make him a distant relative of the
devil.” pure personification of evil. This speculation does, in its
60 farcity, seem like it might be ironic or satirical.
“the subtle tribute of knowing nothing whatever about Gatsby's guests know nothing about him, but it's a tribute
him.” because he prefers it that way.
“'I don't want you to get a wrong idea of me from all these He knows there are rumours being spread about him, and
stories you hear.'” he wants to dispel these myths.
“He hurried the phrase 'educated at Oxford', or swallowed Perpetuates our sense of uncertainty.
63 it, or choked on it, as though it had bothered him before.
And with this doubt, his whole statement fell to pieces, and
I wondered if there wasn’t something a little sinister about Like Jordan in the previous Chapter, Nick goes back on
him, after all.” what he had previously thought about Gatsby.
“I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West – Sounds like a biography he has written and memorised.
all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Nick agrees; he finds that “The very phrases were worn so
64
Oxford, because all my ancestors have been educated there threadbare that they evoked no image” (Chapter 4 p. 63)
for many years. It is a family tradition.”
“' … trying to forget something very sad that had happened Really vague; Gatsby isn't giving us any reason to believe
54
to me long ago.'” him.
62 “He was balancing himself on the dashboard of his car with Gatsby represents the American Dream.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 4
that resourcefulness of movement which is so peculiarly
American”
“With an effort I managed to restrain my incredulous Gatsby is so affected that it is very difficult to believe him.
laughter.”
“” … I tried very hard to die, but I seemed to bear an Double meaning: not only does Gatsby believe himself to
64 enchanted life … '” be incapable of suicide due to his fate, which is to regain
Daisy, but it also refers to the sense of illusion and magic
which surrounds his life.
“Here's another thing I always carry. A souvenir of Oxford Gatsby needs photographic verification of his life on his
days … ' It was a photograph.” person like normal people need ID.
65
“Then it was all true.” Nick is incredulous.
“'Miss Baker's a great sportswoman, you know, and she'd Shows Gatsby's incurable optimism about people and life
never do anything that wasn't all right.'” in general, despite his own less-than-savoury occupation.
4
“'Handsome to look at and a perfect gentleman' …
70
'He's an Oggsford man'”
“' … a man of fine breeding … ' … Wolfshiem's comments are both laced with proleptic irony,
' … He would never so much as look at a friend's wife.' as we find out later that neither is true.
“He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb Nick learns that Gatsby bought the house only to be near
of his purposeless splendour.” Daisy. The romantic, lyrical language is typical of Nick's
descriptions of Gatsby.
76
“He … bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to His guests are like moths attracted to a flame. Ironically,
casual moths” his house, a candle designed to attract Daisy, ends up
destroying him rather than her.
He looked out the window at it, but, judging from his Daisy leads to Gatsby becoming nervous and losing his
81
expression, I don't believe he saw a thing. suavity.
83 “Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights Again, Daisy results in a far less confident Gatsby
in his coat pockets”
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 5
“reclining … in a strained counterfeit of perfect ease” Oxymoronic. Also, it shows that, even when at ease, Gatsby
is doing it all for show.
84 “The automatic quality of Gatsby's answer” Gatsby is obsessive; he remembers, to the month, when he
met Daisy.
“He literally glowed; without a word or a gesture of Daisy has a rejuvenating effect on him, even if only
exultation a new well-being radiated from him and filled temporarily.
the little room.”
“'Oh hello, old sport,' he said, as if he hadn't seen me for Meeting Daisy makes him a new man.
86 years. I thought for a moment he was going to shake
hands.”
“he smiled like a weather man … 'What do you think of A weather man, just like Gatsby, is somebody whose
that? It's stopped raining.'” ecstatic presentation of the weather seems a little crazy
and even fake.
“'My house looks well, doesn't it?' he demanded. 'See how The house has been lit up purely for Daisy; indeed, it
5 the whole front of it catches the light.'” reflects her own light. Also, the way he demands
appreciation of his possessions is similar to Tom's stating
“'I've got a nice place here,'” (Chapter 1, p. 13). The
difference is that Tom seems to be far more confident and
assertive about it, whereas Gatsby is more like a needy
child.
87 “when I asked him what business he was in he answered: Occasionally, his cover of a respectable gentleman with
'That's my affair', before he realized that it wasn't an generations of money behind him slips; such a person
appropriate reply.” would not need to hide their affairs.
“I was in the drug business and then I was in the oil This tells us nothing, and is typically elusive.
business. But I’m not in either one now.”
“'I keep it always full of interesting people, night and day.'” Gatsby refers to his house almost like a zoo.
88 “His bedroom was the simplest room of all – except where This word is used instead of 'embellished' or 'decorated',
the dresser was garnished with a toilet set” implying that, like food, his possessions are disposable.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 6
“he was consumed with wonder at her presence.” Gatsby thinks he's in a dream.
89 “'I've got a man in England who buys me clothes. He sends More hints of disposibility.
over a selection of things at the beginning of each season,
spring and fall.'”
“His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.” Implication: there will always be more enchanted objects
90
to chase. Gatsby's chase never stops.
“'Yes … well, I can’t talk now … I can’t talk now, old sport … Is Gatsby organising a bank heist?
I said a small town … he must know what a small town is …
91
well, he’s no use to us if Detroit is his idea of a small town
… '”
“a faint doubt had occurred to him as to the quality of his Daisy cannot live up to Gatsby's illusion, because Gatsby's
present happiness … There must have been moments … illusion is so strong. In fact, nothing will ever live up to his
92 when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams – not through her dream, because, as mentioned before, every time he finds
own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his something, his “orgastic future … recedes before”
illusion.” (Chapter 9, p. 171) him.
“No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man The power of enduring hope.
92
can store up in his ghostly heart.”
“James Gatz – that was really, or at least legally, his name.
94
He had changed it at the age of seventeen”
95 “Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Conforms to his fantasy of the best possible version of
Platonic conception of himself. He was a son of God” himself. It fits with Nick's other epic descriptions of Gatsby
that he invokes both Plato and God here.
“he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen- This fits with what we are told about Gatsby's globe-
year-old boy would be likely to invent, and to this trotting; the invented Gatsby seems to be an amalgam of a
conception he was faithful to the end.” penny dreadful or comic book character and an aristocrat.
Gatsby never escapes his childhood.
“His brown, hardening body … He knew women early … Sexual imagery, partly because he is only 17, but also
young virgins … the moon soaked with wet light his because the new Gatsby was born of necessity and from
tangled clothes upon the floor.” lust.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 7
“these reveries provided an outlet for his imagination; they Dreams allowed Gatsby access to the world of fantasy.
were a satisfactory hint of the unreality of reality, a Daisy’s maiden name, Fay, is an Old English word for
promise that the rock of the world was founded securely on 'fairy'. Fitzgerald could be playing a private joke: to
a fairy's wing. Gatsby, even before he ever knew her, he world rested
upon Daisy.
“And when the Tuolomee left for the West Indies and the A new start; the allegorical voyage is an essential part of
Barbary Coast, Gatsby left too.” any fantasy, and Gatsby's fantasy is no exception.
96 “He stayed there two weeks, dismayed at its ferocious Gatsby sees something in himself that the world does not.
indifference to the drums of his destiny, to destiny itself” Do not compare with Doctor Who's Master, who also hears
'drums of destiny' in his head.
“I had reached the point of believing everything and Like Jordan in Chapter 3 and himself in Chapter 4, Nick is,
nothing about him. once more, going back on his impressions of Gatsby.
97
“the vague contour of Jay Gatsby had filled out to the Gatsby has been born.
substantiality of a man.”
6 99 “'I haven't got a horse … I'll have to follow you in my car …” Highlights the old-money/new-money contrast.
“I remember being surprised by his graceful, conservative Obviously it's important in its own right that Gatsby can
101 fox-trot” dance, but it shows another thing he has done to be
accepted in high society: learn to dance.
“He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go His fantasy becomes his only desire at this stage. This
105
to Tom and say: 'I never loved you.'” ridiculous demand is where the dream has receded to.
“'And she doesn't understand … She used to be able to Irony: the way Gatsby has changed himself is what has
106
understand … ” distanced him from her.
106 “'Can't repeat the past?' he cried incredulously. 'Why of This ridiculous statement highlights how far down the
course you can!' rabbit hole Gatsby is with his “gift for hope” (Chapter 1,
p.8). It also shows that, in many ways, he is not too
different from Tom, who is “forever seeking, a little
wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some
“irrecoverable football game.” (Chapter 1, p. 11)
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 8
“the blocks of the sidewalks really formed a ladder and Like Jacob's Ladder?
mounted to a secret place above the trees … he could suck According to Henry Idema, there is a Freudian reading:
on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of this is breast imagery, linked to Daisy as a maternal figure.
wonder … He knew that when he kissed this girl, and Even this early on, he sees that she is perishable, and so
forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable takes what he can “ravenously and unscrupulously”
breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of (Chapter 8, p.141).
God … At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a Daisy is also a religious figure, according to Idema. This
flower and the incarnation was complete.” imagery pervades this passage.
“the lights in his house failed to go on one Saturday night – He's cancelled the parties since their sole purpose, to
108 and, as obscurely as it had begun, his career as Trimalchio attract, Daisy has been completed.
was over.” Trimalchio was a Roman who threw lavish parties.
“the whole caravansary had fallen in like a card house at This metaphor is particularly apt, as Gatsby's parties were
109
the disapproval in her eyes.” also processions of exotic people.
“he kept looking at the child with surprise. I don't think he The child is an obstacle to Gatsby's romantic fantasies
had ever really believed in its existence before.” which his denial of reality had never allowed him to see.
112 “'Her voice is full of money' … that was the inexhaustible Gatsby links Daisy, his love, with money, just as money
charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' was the way he intended to attract his love. It shows how
song of it” much he cares about money, since most people find
Daisy's voice attractive for other reasons.
“'I've been here too long. I want to get away. My wife and I Ironic that Wilson wants to find his new start in the West
7 117
want to go West.' when Nick and Gatsby found theirs in the East.
“'I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr Nobody Tom's outburst shows his disdain for the new fashions of
123
from Nowhere make love to your wife … '” new money in two ways.
“'Your wife doesn’t love you,' said Gatsby. 'She’s never The American Dream is all about making your own
loved you. She loves me.' ... successful way in life, regardless of birth. Gatsby's Dream,
124 'She never loved you, do you hear?' … 'She only married where he runs off with another man's wife by convincing
you because I was poor … '” her that she never loved him, is a hilariously twisted
alternative.
126 “' … there's things between Daisy and me that you'll never Gatsby hates to be reminded that he cannot turn back the
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 9
know, things that neither of us can ever forget.' clock or relive the past. While Fitzgerald was writing his
The words seemed to bite physically into Gatsby.” wife was having an affair with a Frenchman; he was
bitterly hurt and came close to divorce, which is no
surprise, since it's humiliating to be beaten by a
Frenchman. Perhaps the knowledge of intimacy between
his wife and another man contribute to Gatsby's reaction.
“He looked – and this is said in all contempt for the This is the point at which Gatsby's past finally catches up
128
babbled slander of his garden – as if he had 'killed a man'.” with him.
“'Just standing here, old sport.' Views of Gatsby change with the wind.
136 Somehow, that seemed a despicable occupation …
I disliked him so much by this time”
139 “watching over nothing.” There is nothing of his relationship left.
“It excited him, too, that many men had already loved Suggests monetary value and hints at Gatsby's obsession
Daisy – it increased her value in his eyes.” with money.
141 “he was at present a penniless young man without a past, In becoming Gatsby, he has destroyed his real past.
and at any moment the invisible cloak of his uniform might The implication of this word is that he was obliged to wear
slip from his shoulders.” the illusion all the time as people are obliged to wear
uniforms all the time.
142 “he let her believe that he was a person from much the
same strata as herself”
8
“he had committed himself to the following of a grail.” The American Dream, for Gatsby, is as important a quest
as the Quest for the Holy Grail. Gatsby puts himself in the
context of another fantasy: the Arthurian Romance, with
Daisy as the grail.
“He felt married to her, that was all.” In the novel, marriage is a weak institution. To Gatsby,
Tom is the adulterer.
“some complication or misunderstanding sent him to Only went there by accident.
Oxford instead.”
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 10
“He stayed there a week … revisiting the out-of-the-way “'Can't repeat the past? … Why of course you can!'”
places to which they had driven in her white car.” (Chapter 6 p.106)
“he knew that he had lost that part of it, the freshest and Gatsby's above comment is therefore either him living in
the best, forever.” denial, or Nick being unreliable as a narrator.
145 “'They're a rotten crowd,' I shouted across the lawn. 'You're Even though he disapproves, he's better than all the
worth the whole damn bunch put together.'” others. The reason: Gatsby is the only uncynical character.
… It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I
disapproved of him from beginning to end. Seems to go against his tenet of not judging people.
“radiant and understanding smile”
“he ... paid a high price for living too long with a single Living on dreams destroys you.
dream. He must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky He now looks at the world through new eyes – these things
through frightening leaves and shivered as he found what a are only beautiful according to society. Compare “It is
153
grotesque thing a rose is and how raw the sunlight was invariably saddening to look through new eyes at things
upon the scarcely created grass.” upon which you have expended your own powers of
adjustment.” (Chapter 6, p.100)
“'– Mr Gatz. I thought you might want to take the body Gatsby never managed to equal the old money, no matter
West.' how much he aspired and tried.
159 He shook his head.
'Jimmy always liked it better down East. He rose up to his
position in the East … '”
“' … He was so hard up he had to keep on wearing his
162
uniform because he couldn't buy some regular clothes … '”
9 171 “his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly
fail to grasp it.”
Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that
year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but no Even when he had found Daisy, he always wanted more.
matter – tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms out Inevitability of chasing the Dream, further implied by the
farther…And one fine morning – ellipsis. It's something that 'just happens'.
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back The Dream is unattainable, and to attain it, Gatsby keeps
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jay Gatsby 11
ceaselessly into the past. trying to relive things.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Nick Carraway 12

Character Profile: Nick Carraway

Chapter Page Quotation Analysis
“I’m inclined to reserve all judgements” He makes plenty of judgements in the book.
“I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men.” Foreshadows relationship with Gatsby.
7
“the intimate revelations of young men … are usually Back at 'ya, Nick; so is your writing!
plagiaristic and marred by obvious suppressions.”
“My family have been prominent, well-to-do people in this Categorises himself as reasonably rich.
8
Middle Western city for three generations.”
“I graduated from New Haven in 1915” Went to Yale.
9 “I participated in that delayed Teutonic migration known Nick is confident both with literary language and when
as the Great War. I enjoyed the counter-raid so thoroughly assessing the socio-economic situation of German
that I came back restless.” immigration, such that he can make light of it.
“'How do you get to West Egg village?' he asked helplessly. This loss of loneliness is similar to the way Nick relieves
1 I told him. And as I walked on I was lonely no longer.” himself of the burden of Gatsby's tale by writing it down.
10 “life is much more successfully looked at from a single He admits that he only has access to one, possibly
window, after all.” unreliable, interpretation of Gatsby's story, but this is
preferable to one of his “solemn and obvious editorials”
(Chapter 1, p.10).
“'Do they miss me?' she cried ecstatically. This witty banter is a response to a shallow and false
'The whole town is desolate. All the cars have the left rear question by Daisy, and so it is in itself shallow and false.
15
wheel painted black as a mourning wreath, and there's a
persistent wail all night along the north shore.'”
“Miss Baker and I exchanged a short glance consciously This description is even stronger than just saying
devoid of meaning.” 'meaningless'. Moreover, this meaningless glance
19
foreshadows the meaninglessness of the rest of their
relationship.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Nick Carraway 13
“'Hold on,' I said, 'I have to leave you here.'” Nick does not have to be the centre of attention; he is
30
content to be an observer.
“I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second Nick can be an unreliable narrator.
31 time was that afternoon; so everything that happened has a
dim, hazy cast over it”
“the whisky distorted things, because it didn't make any
32
sense to me.”
2 “It was nine o'clock – almost immediately afterward I
38
looked at my watch and found it was ten.”
“Mr McKee turned and continued on out the door. Taking Like Mr McKee, Nick is an ordinary person who has been
39 my hat from the chandelier, I followed.” transplanted into an insane, extraordinary situation who
simply can't deal with it and so removes himself.
“I was standing beside his bed and he was sitting up Nick can be an unreliable narrator.
between the sheets … Then I was lying half asleep in the
40
cold lower level of the Pensylvania Station, staring at the
morning Tribune, and waiting for the four o'clock train.”
“they conducted themselves according to the rules of The irony is that there are no rules at an amusement park.
behaviour associated with an amusement park.” Nick's snobbish, disapproving tone breaks his previous
promise not to judge.
43
“I slunk off in the direction of the cocktail table – the only Doesn't feel like he fits in.
place in the garden where a single man could linger
without looking purposeless and alone.”
“I even had a short affair with a girl who lived in Jersey Unassuming, laid-back character.
City and worked in the accounting department, but her
brother began throwing mean looks in my direction, so
57 when she went on her vacation in July I let it blow quietly
away.”
“I liked to walk up Fifth Avenue and pick out romantic Is Nick having a sort of sexual fantasy?
women from the crowd and imagine that in a few minutes I
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Nick Carraway 14
was going to enter into their lives, and no one would ever
know or disapprove.
“Imagining that I, too, was hurrying towards gaiety and Springboards off other characters.
58 sharing their intimate excitement, I wished them well.”
“Jordan Baker instinctively avoided clever, shrewd men” Does this make Nick really modest or simply unreliable?
“'I hate careless people. That's why I like you.'”
3 “for a moment I thought I loved her. But I am slow- Logical and rational; not somebody who lives on emotion
thinking and full of interior rules that act as brakes on my and dreams like Gatsby does.
desires”
59
“I am one of the few honest people that I have ever Evidence for this: he wants to break off his old relationship
known.” first, even though it is so far away from his current one.
“when that certain girl played tennis, a faint moustache of Unnamed to highlight anonymity and unimportance.
perspiration appeared on her upper lip. Not usually a positive feature; is Nick bitching?
“' … You know Oggsford College?' Nick is a man of polite understatements.
70
'I've heard of it.'”
4 “Unlike Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, I had no girl whose Nick's own romance lacks the depth and history of the
disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and other characters'.
78
blinding signs, and so I drew up the girl beside me” Nick is a pragmatist; Jordan's not perfect for him or the
love of his life, but she's available, so why not?
“The evening had made me light-headed and happy; I Nick can be an unreliable narrator.
think I walked into a deep sleep as I entered my front door.
81
So I don't know whether or not Gatsby went to Coney
Island”
5
“I stared at it, like Kant at his church steeple” Nick sees himself as the moral arbiter of the society he
keeps. Like Kant, he seems himself as an analytical and
85
objective moral force, and his philosophy bears similarities
to the categorical imperative (cross-curricular yeah!).
87 “But what had amused me then turned septic on the air Nick has grown up and developed as a character.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Nick Carraway 15
now.”
“'I've been here too long. I want to get away. My wife and I Ironic that Wilson wants to find his new start in the West
117
want to go West.' when Nick and Gatsby found theirs in the East.
“Human sympathy has its limits” Nick is limited as a narrator.
129 “Thirty – the promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinning Asyndeton and the repetition of 'thinning' all help make
briefcase of enthusiasm, thinning hair.” Nick's future seem even more dismal.
I'd be damned if I'd go in; I'd had enough of all of them for
one day, and suddenly that included Jordan too.”
136 I must have felt pretty weird by that time, because I could Nick can be an unreliable narrator.
7 think of nothing except the luminosity of his pink suit
under the moon.
“I found myself on Gatsby's side, and alone.” Nick isn't scared to be the only one to hold an opinion. Or
156 is he? After all, the passive voice indicates a lack of active
choice.
“That's my Middle West … the Carraway house in a city Nick is very much old money.
167 where dwellings are still called through decades by a
family's name.”
“ … 'I thought you were rather an honest, straightforward Earlier in the novel, Nick was the only honest person he
168 person. I thought it was your secret pride.' … knew. His experience in the East has changed him.
'I'm five years too old to lie to myself and call it honour.'”
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Daisy Buchanan 16

Character Profile: Daisy Buchanan

Chapter Page Quotation Analysis
11 “Daisy was my second cousin once removed”
“an absurd, charming little laugh” Other things described as absurd by Nick: the random
dog-seller's “absurd resemblance to John D. Rockefeller”
(Chapter 2, p.29) and, nearly, Gatsby's “elaborate
formality of speech” (Chapter 3, p. 49)
“'I'm p-paralysed with happiness.' Hyperbole implies fakeness, as does the stutter.
“I've heard it said that Daisy's murmer was only to make Attention-seeking. See
people lean toward her” http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=743755074
“low, thrilling voice … the kind of voice that the ear Like Gatsby and Daisy's relationship; “'Can't repeat the
follows up and down, as if each speech is an arrangement past? … Why of course you can!'” (Chapter 6 p.106).
14 of notes that will never be played again.” Both Gatsby and Nick see Daisy's voice as her most
desirable characteristic, but whilst Nick sees it for the
reasons provided here, Gatsby remarks that “'Her voice
is full of money'” (Chapter 7, p.112).
“Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, Tricolon emphasises Daisy's brightness, as does her
bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was pallette, although this is discussed further in the section
an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for on colour symbolism.
her found difficult to forget: a singing compulsion, a A sensous and sensual description; it utilises all the
whispered 'Listen', a promise that she had done gay, senses, but there is also sexual tension in this
exciting things just a while since and that there were gay, description.
exciting things hovering in the next hour.
“she added irrelevantly: 'You ought to see the baby.'” She treats the baby as an afterthought; she is
15
irresponsible, like her husband.
“'Why candles?' objected Daisy, frowning. She snapped If candles are taken as a metaphor for light, this
17
them out with her fingers.” foreshadows Myrtle's death.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Daisy Buchanan 17
“'He reads deep books with long words in them … '” She's proud of Tom's reading like a parent might be. The
18 irony: it's a book of thuggish racism, and Daisy is too
shallow to see this.
“her glowing face … the glow faded, each light deserting Compare “He literally glowed; without a word or a
her” gesture of exultation a new well-being radiated from him
and filled the little room.” (Chapter 5, p.86) Here, Gatsby
reflects Daisy's glow.
“' … You remind me of a – of a rose, an absolute rose … '” She's just made this up on the spot. It's a shallow and
fake compliment, especially considering how Nick
19
describes what Gatsby discovered: “he found what a
grotesque thing a rose is” (Chapter 8, p.153); the rose is
only a beautiful thing according to society.
“a stirring warmth flowed from her, as if her heart was
trying to come out to you concealed in one of those
breathless, thrilling words.”
1
“there was the flutter of a dress and the crunch of leather Daisy's light, insubstantial character is represented by
20
boots, and Tom and Daisy were back at the table.” her vestiments.
“' … I'm pretty cynical about everything.'” Tom's behaviour is the cause of this cynicism. According
to Nick, Gatsby is the only non-cynical character.
21
“' … she was less than an hour old and Tom was God We are invited to feel sympathy for Daisy.
knows where … '”
22 “' … I hope she'll be a fool – that's the best thing a girl can Sums up the role of the 1920s woman. Daisy seems to be
be in this world, a beautiful little fool.'” commenting that she would be happy if she were
oblivious about the world rather than cynical.
“I felt the basic insincerity of what she had said.” We lose sympathy for Daisy, and she becomes a shallow,
insincere character for the rest of the novel.
“' … I've been everywhere and seen everything and done This rich experience of life would normally be a good
everything.'” thing, but Daisy seems to be tired of these experiences.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Daisy Buchanan 18
“' … Our white girlhood was passed together there. Our This is intended only as a comment about the purity of
beautiful white –'” their childhood, but develops sinister overtones so soon
after Tom's racist outburst.
“Daisy peremptorily called: 'Wait!'” Commanding, assumes power; very much like Tom, who
has a “peremptory heart” (Chapter 1, p.25).
24
“opening up again in a flower-like way.” As she once did (innuendo alert) for Gatsby and is later
described as doing (Chapter 6, p.107). She lives up to her
name.
“'We heard it from three people, so it must be true.'” Vacuuous bitch.
“She was just eighteen, two years older than me, and by Jordan, on Daisy's past.
72
far the most popular of all the young girls in Louisville”
73 “By the next autumn she was gay again, gay as ever.” Lacks depth to hold long-term emotions.
“drunk as a monkey” Even though she had “'Never had a drink before … '”
(Chapter 4, p. 74), she's drunk the day before her
wedding.
4
74 “' … Tell 'em all Daisy's change' her mine … '” Irony: sees her doubts about Tom clearest when drunk.
“Next day at five o'clock she married Tom Buchanan Gets over problems quickly and moves on; see “gay
without so much as a shiver, and started off on a three again, gay as ever” (Chapter 4, p.73); does this also
months' trip to the South Seas.” imply she lacks the depth to have long-term emotions?
“she came out with an absolutely perfect reputation.
75
Perhaps because she doesn't drink.”
81 “'Who is “Tom”?' she asked innocently.” Playful, open to possibilities. Incestuous possibilities?
'“Is this absolutely where you live, my dearest one?” Compare with Gatsby's own “elaborate formality of
The exhilarating ripple of her voice was a wild tonic in speech” (Chapter 3, p. 49).
the rain. I had to follow the sound of it for a moment, up
and down, with my ear alone, before any words came
through. A damp streak of hair lay like a dash of blue
paint across her cheek, and her hand was wet with
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Daisy Buchanan 19
glistening drops”'
“'Come back in an hour, Ferdie.' Then in a grave murmur: Typical inane Daisyism.
82
'His name is Ferdie.'”
'I'm glad, Jay.' Her throat, full of aching grieving beauty, Daisy is the only character to call Gatsby by his first
86
told only of her unexpected joy. name, even though it is a lie! Also, note her reaction.
“brass buttons on her dress gleamed in the sunlight.” Daisy reflects light.
5
“'They're such beautiful shirts,' she sobbed, her voice Materialistic; transfers emotions to objects. In some
89 muffled in the thick folds. 'It makes me sad because I've ways, Gatsby and Daisy are made for each other; “'Her
never seen such – such beautiful shirts before.'” voice is full of money'” (Chapter 1, p. 112).
“that voice held him most, with its fluctuating, feverish Unlike everything else about Daisy, her voice does not
93 warmth, because it couldn't be over-dreamed – that voice fall short of his expectations.
was a deathless song.”
“'I liked that man – what was his name? … ' Daisy judges people by their fame.
Gatsby identified him, adding that he was a small
101 producer.
'Well, I liked him anyhow.'
“She … told me the girl was 'common but pretty'” Old money, Old World snob.
6 “Daisy began to sing with the music … bringing out a Very much like “as if each speech is an arrangement of
104 meaning in each word that it had never had before and notes that will never be played again” (Chapter 1, p.14),
would never have again.” and, of course, Daisy and Gatsby's relationship.
“At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower” Quite a chauvinistic wording. She also opened up “in a
107 flower-like way” (Chapter 1, p.24) for Nick. Again, it fits
her name.
110 “sweet, exciting laugh”
112 “' … your mother wanted to show you off.'” Even she admits that she treats her child as a possession.
113 “'But it's so hot,' insisted Daisy, on the verge of tears, 'and Daisy feels the oppression in the atmosphere, symbolised
everything's so confused. Let's all go to town!'” by stifling, oppressive heat. There is also a recognition of
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Daisy Buchanan 20
the confused conditions which lead to the deaths in the
novel: “There is no confusion like the confusion of a
simple mind” (Chapter 7, p.119)
“'you look so cool … You resemble the advertisement of She loves his image, not him per se.
the man,' “
“High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden Daisy is above “the hot struggles of the poor” (Chapter 8,
girl...” p.142), and Nick seems to be above normal syntax when
115
describing her. Fitzgerald may be referring to his first
(and spurned) love, the daughter of a Mr King.
7 “'Her voice is full of money,'” It is Daisy's voice with which men fall in love. Is this
because love was equated to money by all, not just
114
Gatsby, or is it because Gatsby is the only one to
recognise this gonnegtion between her voice and money?
“'Open the whisky, Tom,' she ordered … Daisy tries to assert herself as a modern woman, but is
123
'Wait a minute,' snapped Tom” slapped down again.
126 “' … I can't say I never loved Tom,'” She recognises that she cannot be exclusive.
“Her frightened eyes told that whatever intentions,
128
whatever courage she had had, were definitely gone.”
142 “the wicker of the settee squeaked fashionably” Daisy makes even the most ordinary objects fashionable.
“Gatsby was overwhelmingly aware of the youth and Wealth brings security, but also desensitises the rich to
mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves, of the real passion and emotion.
freshness of many clothes, and of Daisy, gleaming like Daisy is like a prize, once more objectified. Like the
silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the butler who had to clean the silver, the wealth has
8 poor.” damaged her.
143 “She thought I knew a lot because I knew different things The class difference means that Gatsby knows about
from her...” things which cannot be found in upper-class life.
“She didn't see why he couldn't come.” It's a war, stupid. Daisy is really, really unintelligent.
“For Daisy was young and her artificial world was Orchids are long-lasting, unlike other, more fleeting
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Daisy Buchanan 21
redolent of orchids and pleasant, cheerful snobbery” flowers.
“She wanted her life shaped now, immediately – and the Married Tom out of convenience, not love. Compare with
decision must be made by some force – of love, of money, Nick: “I had no girl whose disembodied face floated
of unquestionable practicality – that was close at hand. along the dark cornices and blinding signs, and so I
drew up the girl beside me” (Chapter 4, p.78).
145 “the pale magic of her face” Like an enchantress of Arthurian legend.
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they In a sense, their carelessness sums up the 1920s.
smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back
9 170 into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it
was that kept them together, and let other people clean
up the mess they had made...”
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Tom Buchanan 22

Character Profile: Tom Buchanan

Chapter Page Quotation Analysis
“dinner with the Tom Buchanans.” Even before we meet him, Tom is dominant.
“I'd known Tom in college.”
“one of the most powerful ends that ever played football Described more as an object or a tool than a person.
at New Haven”
11
“one of those men who reach such an acute excellence at
twenty-one that everything afterward savours of anti-
climax.”
“His family were enormously wealthy” It's more important that his family are wealthy; shows he
is old money.
“I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little Not too different from Gatsby: “'Can't repeat the past?'
wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some he cried incredulously. 'Why of course you can!'”
irrecoverable football game.” (Chapter 6 p.106)
“Tom … was standing with his legs apart on the front Physically dominant.
porch.”
“a sturdy straw-haired man of thirty with a rather hard Use of aggressive language matches Tom's aggressive
mouth and a supercilious manner. Two shining arrogant character. Moreover, the language is explicitly negative;
12 eyes had established dominance over his face and gave this prejudices us against him from the outset.
him the appearance of always leaning aggressively
forward…the enormous power of that body – he seemed
to fill those glistening boots until he strained the top
lacing, and you could see a great pack of muscle shifting Depersonified, disconnected from humanity
when his shoulder moved under his thin coat. It was a
body capable of enormous leverage – a cruel body.”
“His speaking voice, a gruff husky tenor, added to the It is fractious because a tenor is a high voice but gruffness
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Tom Buchanan 23
impression of fractiousness he conveyed. There was a and huskiness are associated with low voices.
touch of paternal contempt in it, even toward people he Further prejudices us against Tom.
liked – and there were men at New Haven who had hated
his guts.”
“'I've got a nice place here,'” Makes a final judgement with which he expects others to
agree. Compare with Gatsby's: “'My house looks well,
doesn't it?' he demanded.” (Chapter 5, p.87); far less
confident.
“Turning me around by one arm” Dominant, violent, considers words unnecessary.
13 “'We'll go inside.'” Almost an imperative. He sayd that they'll go inside, so
they do go inside.
“Then there was a boom as Tom Buchanan shut the rear A powerful onomatopoeic interruption.
windows and the caught wind died out about the room, Representative of how Tom has killed Daisy's dreams.
and the curtains and the rugs and the two young women
ballooned slowly to the floor.”
1
“'Never heard of them,' he remarked decisively.” Arrogant: he's decided that if he has never heard of them,
15 they are unimportant.
“'Oh, I'll stay in the East … '” Daisy has no say, for Tom is running this show.
“Tom Buchanan compelled me froms the room as though Dominant.
16
he were moving a checker to another square. Everything is a confrontation, a contest.
“' … a brute of a man, a great, big, hulking physical His wife, somebody who loves him, is saying this about
17
specimen of a -'” him. What do the people who hate him think?
“'Civilization's going to pieces,' broke out Tom violently. This has little relevance to the rest of the conversation. It
seems that Tom has been waiting to shoehorn this racist
18 topic into the conversation all evening.
“'Well, these books are all scientific,' insisted Tom” Defensive.
20 “'… I want to take you down to the stables.'” Likes to show off possessions.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Tom Buchanan 24
“'They oughtn't to let her run around the country this Tom's views on the freedoms of women are quite old-
23 way.'” fashioned, especially in contrast to how modern Jordan
herself is.
“his peremptory heart.” Dominant, assumes power; this trait has rubbed off on
25 Daisy: “Daisy peremptorily called: 'Wait!'” (Chapter 1,
p.24)
“I had no desire to meet her … he jumped to his feet and, Tom compels Nick to do as he wants; in this case, to meet
taking hold of my elbow, literally forced me from the car Myrtle.
27
… his determination to have my company bordered on Very child-like, much like Daisy's pride over his reading
violence” ability earlier on implies.
2 “Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke Sharp and brutal isolated statement for a sharp and
her nose with his open hand.” brutal act. That he can break her nose with a slap despite
her substantial build implies Tom's strength and how
39
much of a bully he is. We are not told about the action so
much as its consequence: the breaking of the nose; this
makes the act seem even more reprehensible.
“The girl who was with him … was one of the He even cheats on his honeymoon!
4 75
chambermaids in the Santa Barbara Hotel.”
“' … By God, I may be old-fashioned in my ideas, but Tom's desire to restrict Daisy is ironic considering his
women run around too much these days to suit me. They own adultery. She is just another possession and she
meet all kinds of crazy fish.'” needs controlling in the way that suits him.
100
“his presence gave the evening its peculiar quality of Negatively affects ambiance.
oppressiveness … I felt … an unpleasantness in the air, a
6 pervading harshness that hadn't been there before.”
“'Mrs Buchanan … and Mr Buchanan -' After an instant's Daisy is prioritised, as opposed to “dinner with the Tom
hesitation he added: 'the polo player.' Buchanans.” (Chapter 1, p.11).
101 'Oh no,' objected Tom quickly, 'not me.'
But evidently the sound of it pleased Gatsby for Tom Tom is dehumanised; this is what really pleases Gatsby.
remained 'the polo player' for the rest of the evening.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Tom Buchanan 25
“Tom flung open the door, blocked out its space for a Domination, power.
moment with his thick body, and hurried into the room.”
111
“He put out his broad, flat hand with well-concealed Cannot bear to treat somebody from the lower orders as
dislike.” an equal, even though he's never met him before.
112 “'I read somewhere that the sun's getting hotter … '” Trying to seem intelligent again.
“'Have it your own way,' she said.” Tom is in control of Daisy.
114 “'I don't see the idea of going to town,' broke out Tom Condescending about women; also refers to her affair.
savagely. 'Women get these notions in their heads -'” Double meaning: primitive AND violent.
115 “'Plenty of gas,' said Tom boisterously. Sums up Tom's character.
“'You think I'm pretty dumb, don't you?' he suggested. He himself derides Wilson for being “' … so dumb he
116
'Perhaps I am, but I have a – almost a second sight … '” doesn't know he's alive.'” (Chapter 2, p.29)
“'How do you like this one?' inquired Tom. 'I bought it Tom teases Wilson cruelly with the offer of Gatsby's car;
117
last week.'” his unhappiness is taken out on others.
“There is no confusion like the confusion of a simple
mind, and as we drove away Tom was feeling the hot
119
whips of panic. His wife and his mistress … were slipping Tom cannot bear to be out of control, and acts even more
precipitately from his control” violently to reassert his himself.
“he was afraid they would dart down a side street and out Jealous of Daisy and Gatsby as well as fearful more
120
of his life forever.” generally of the rising new money.
“'Open the whisky, Tom,' she ordered … Tom is reduced to a position of servitude as Daisy tries to
'Wait a minute,' snapped Tom” assert herself, but is slapped down again.
“'I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Draws distinction between old institutional money and
123 Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife. Well, if new fashionable money.
that’s the idea you can count me out … Nowadays people Hilarious hypocrisy. He justifies his own adultery
begin by sneering at family life and family institutions, because he sees himself as better than Wilson.
and next they’ll throw everything overboard and have
intermarriage between black and white.'” Racism, as seen before.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Tom Buchanan 26
“he saw himself standing alone on the last barrier of Inflates his own importance.
civilization.”
“' … I suppose you've got to make your house into a pigsty A reactionary commenting on the nouveau riche.
in order to have any friends – in the modern world.'”
124 “The transition from libertine to prig was so complete.” Changes views of society to suit his situation.
125 “Tom's voice groped unsuccessfully for the paternal note. He's lost control of Daisy.
“' … I'll be damned if I see how you got within a mile of More snobbery.
her unless you brought the groceries to the back door … '”
125 “Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of He expects sympathy for a behaviour he implies he
myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love cannot control; he doesn't seem to realise that others are
her all the time.” affected by his actions.
126 “There was a husky tenderness in his tone”
“' … I can't say I never loved Tom,' she admitted … Tom tries to win Daisy back as he might a trophy, but is
7 'Of course it wouldn't,' agreed Tom. pushed back by Daisy who, despite trying to assert
127
She turned to her husband. herself as a modern woman, cannot bear to live life as a
'As if it mattered to you,' she said.” mistress.
“'You two start on home, Daisy,' said Tom. 'In Mr Tom does not know generosity, using it only as a weapon.
128 Gatsby's car.' … He sees Gatsby as below him and as no threat.
he insisted with magnanimous scorn.”
“'Wreck!' said Tom. 'That's good. Wilson'll have a little Irresponsible, with no sympathy for human suffering.
business at last.'”
“'There's some bad trouble here,' said Tom excitedly. His excitedness and the behaviour he exhibits in order to
131
He reached up on tiptoes and peered” see further emphasise his childish nature.
“with a violent thrusting movement of his powerful arms
pushed his way through”
134 “' … That yellow car I was driving this afternoon wasn't He doesn't try and console Wilson, but instead looks after
mine – do you hear? I haven't seen it all afternoon.'” himself. Self-serving arse.
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Tom Buchanan 27
“I heard a low husky sob, and saw that the tears were Very un-Buchanan-like (-esque? -ish?) behaviour.
overflowing down his face. Indicates that he actually cares about her. On the other
'The God damned coward' he whimpered. 'He didn't even hand, all he is seeking to do now is blame others for his
stop his car.' loss.
“A change had come over him, and he spoke … with His business-like moving-on seems to come very soon
decision … he disposed of the situation in a few brisk after his distressed outburst; does this indicate that he
phrases. didn't actually care about Myrtle, or is this a coping
135 'I'll telephone for a taxi to take you home, and while mechanism?
you're waiting you and Jordan better go in the kitchen
and have them get you some supper – if you want any.'
He opened the door. 'Come in.'”
8 144 “There was a wholesome bulkiness about his person”
“He was walking … in his alert, aggressive way, his hands Constantly confrontational.
out a little from his body as if to fight off interference, his
169
head moving sharply here and there, adapting itself to his Same dehumanised description as “it was ... a cruel
restless eyes.” body” (Chapter 1, p.12)
9 “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they In a sense, their carelessness sums up the 1920s.
smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back
170 into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it
was that kept them together, and let other people clean
up the mess they had made...”
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jordan Baker 28

Character Profile: Jordan Baker

Chapter Page Quotation Analysis
“with her chin raised a little, as if she were balancing Is this representative of her social standing? Or is she
14 something on it which was quite likely to fall.” just somebody who tends to have her 'chin up', denoting
optimism (unlikely) or haughtiness (more likely)?
“She was a slender, small-breasted girl, with an erect Epitome of 1920s flapper fashion.
carriage, which she accentuated by throwing her body
backwards at the shoulders like a young cadet. Her grey Conforms to Nick's own desires. He “wanted the world
16
sun-strained eyes looked back at me with polite to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention
reciprocal curiosity out of a wan, charming, discontented forever” (Chapter 1, p.7)
face.”
1
“Miss Baker and I exchanged a short glance consciously This description is even stronger than just saying
devoid of meaning.” 'meaningless'. Moreover, this meaningless glance
19
foreshadows the meaninglessness of the rest of their
relationship.
“Miss Baker … seemed to have mastered a certain hardy
21
scepticism”
“The lamp-light … dull on the autumn-leaf yellow of her Blonde hair is usually considered attractive, but is here
22 hair, glinted along the paper as she turned a page with a described as something dead and unattractive.
flutter of slender muscles in her arms.” An almost masculine physique.
“'Let's get out,'” Quite domineering for a woman in this era. She is a
46 modern woman, reflected by her cynicism, masculine
physique her names, both of which are makes of car.
51 “there was a jauntiness about her movements as if she
had first learned to walk upn golf courses on clean, crisp
mornings.”
“The bored haughty face that she turned to the world
Will Thong, Raph Torrance and Christopher Howarth Jordan Baker 29
concealed something”
“Jordan Baker instinctively avoided clever, shrewd men” Does this make Nick really modest or simply unreliable?
58
“She was incurably dishonest. She wasn't able to endure She is modern, independent and, possibly even as a
being at a disadvantage” result of this, immoral. What is Fitzgerald saying here?
“'You're a rotten driver,' I protested.” Double meaning: not only is she terrible at the wheel, but
3 she is also corrupt as a golfer. Her carelessness can be
compared to Tom and Daisy's similar carelessness.
59
“'They'll keep out of my way,' she insisted. 'It takes two to Shows her irresponsibility but, more importantly, is
make an accident.' foreshadowing.
“'I hate careless people. That's why I like you.'”
“'Miss Baker's a great sportswoman, you know, and she'd Ironic.
70
never do anything that wasn't all right.'”
“sitting up very straight on a straight chair” Ironic, not because she's a lesbian, but because she's
72
4 dishonest.
“this clean, hard, limited person, who dealt in universal Is Fitzgerald being critical of the modern woman? She is
77
scepticism” the exact opposite of Gatsby and his r/Romanticism.
78 “wan, scornful mouth”
“Jordan … unlike Daisy, was too wise ever to carry well- She, unlike Daisy and Gatsby, knows that you cannot
7 129
forgotten dreams from age to age.” repeat the past. Is this due to her cynicism?
“her voice came over the wire as something fresh and This contrasts with Daisy's low, husky contralto.
8 147
cool”