The Great Gatsby: Chapter IV / pages 61-80

Summary:

               On a Sunday morning, Gatsby is once again having another extravagant party. Nick has written a list of all the people that have went to Gatsby’s house that summer; it’s a long list. One morning late in July, Gatsby personally called on Nick to have lunch with him. On their way to lunch, Gatsby tells Nick about his life. When Nick meets Gatsby for lunch, he is introduced to Mr. Wolfsheim and chat. After Mr. Wolfsheim leaves, Gatsby tells Nick that Wolfsheim was the man who fixed the World’s Series back in 1919. Then Nick sees Tom and introduces Gatsby to him, but afterwards Gatsby disappears. The story then transitions to Jordan’s dialogue where she talks about Daisy’s past. She talks about Daisy’s relationship with a soldier, who turns out to be Gatsby, how she left for New York and married Tom, and how she got drunk before the bridal dinner. Jordan then proceeds to tell Nick that Gatsby wanted to know if Nick could invite Daisy to his house and then let him come over. Nick and Jordan then share a kiss (:

Meyer Wolfsheim:

• “He’s the man who fixed the World’s Series back in 1919” (73).

• Wolfsheim is a “small, flat-nosed Jew” (69) and a gambler. He is a shady character who is basically a criminal. He fixed the World’s Series and has not gotten caught, which means he’s sly.

• Wolfsheim seems to have a part in Gatsby’s past and reveals a little bit about Gatsby to us. For Gatsby to be acquainted to a shady guy like Wolfsheim is questionable and it makes us wonder about why Gatsby knows Wolfsheim. The fact that Wolfsheim asks Nick if he’s looking for a business gonnegtion (connection) and Gatsby stops him and says that Nick isn’t the man shows that Gatsby has been involved some shady business. This might even be a reason why he got rich and why he was so nervous when talking about his past. I believe Fitzgerald uses Wolfsheim to show us a different side of Gatsby

Quote:

“There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired” (79).

               In “The Great Gatsby” all different types of characters emerge: the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired. Nick is beginning to pursue Jordan, while Daisy is being pursued by Gatsby. In a sense, Gatsby had been pursued by Nick and Jordan during the party too. Jordan has a busy life, filled with golf tournaments and social events. Daisy, Tom, and Myrtle are all tired of being with their spouses. All characters of the novel seem to be pursuing someone or something. In addition, this quote can relate to real life too. I am pursuing a good future and a happy life, I am busy with homework and studies, and I am tired because of the workload.