The Great Gatsby Chapter 4

What is weird about Nick's drive into New York with Gatsby? List at least three things about Gatsby in this scene that strike you as odd.

1. Gatsby overshares about his background, being sure to mention that he inherited family money, but that all of his people are dead now. Weird. 2. he emphasizes that he was "educated at Oxford," in such a way that it immediately makes Nick think that he's lying. He's even carrying around a photo of himself at Oxford to use as proof. Even weirder. 3. he says his people are from the mid-west, but then says they're from San Francisco. It doesn't take a geography expert to know that San Francisco is not in the mid-west. More weirdness. Finally (yes, here's an extra one for you), he's carrying around a medal of valor from Montenegro. Who does that? Someone who's trying too hard to impress others, that's who.

Looking through the list of party-goers, find and paraphrase at least three pieces of evidence that the old money is in East Egg and the new money in West Egg?

1.The East Eggers named Blackbuck are snooty and flip their noses up at everyone. 2. East Eggers include legendary American family names, such as Voltaire and Stonewall Jackson, and people Nick knew from Yale. 3. West Eggers are mostly movie/entertainment producers and people with more-ethnic-sounding names like Poles and Mulreadys, making us think more of an immigrant class of people.

Gatsby disappears when which other character unexpectedly arrives at lunch? Why doesn't Gatsby want to see this character.

Gatsby is avoiding Tom mainly because Gatsby is in love with Daisy or at least that he has a compelling reason to want to avoid Tom Buchanan.

Nick says, "Then it had not been merely the stars to which he had aspired on that June night" when Nick first spotted Gatsby reaching out across the bay. What does Nick now realize about that night and about Gatsby's real estate purchase?

Gatsby wants Daisy, but he also aspires to reach the higher social class that Daisy represents. Nick realizes that Gatsby purchased that particular house because it's adjacent to the Buchanans' house.

8. Who, do you suppose, sent the letter that caused Daisy to become so upset? What do you think the letter may have said?

Gatsby. He was probably declaring his love for her in the letter.

What's happening between Nick and Jordan?

Nick is attracted to her, even if she doesn't really like/respect her. They have a romance brewing, but it's more of a summer fling than the real thing.

How does Daisy behave the night before her wedding? Why?

She gets roaring drunk and attempts to throw away an expensive pearl necklace that Tom gave her.She's having second thoughts about carrying Tom and has received a letter that has caused her to become very upset.

What two things does Nick see on/near the Queensboro Bridge that make him think that Gatsby is, perhaps, telling the truth?

There's a somber funeral procession, but then they are passed by a limousine driven by a white chauffeur. Inside the limo, two African-American men and a woman are having a riotous time. This contrast makes Nick think that anything is possible in New York.

Who is Meyer Wolfsheim, and what do we know about him?

Wolfsheim is a shady businessman/gangster who Gatsby does business with. We know that he wears cufflinks made out of human molars (ew!) and that he was involved in the scandalous fixing of the 1919 World Series.

Jordan recalls the time in 1917 when she saw Gatsby and Daisy together. From Jordan's description, do you think Daisy was genuinely interested in Gatsby?

Yes. She's so captivated by him in that scene that she doesn't even notice Jordan until she's just five feet away. Daisy and Gatsby were very into each other back in the day.