Summary: Chapter Five is one of the most pivotal chapters within the novel. The chapter begins when Nick returns to his home and encounters Gatsby walking across his front lawn. Nick and Gatsby engage in a long conversation in which Gatsby makes several offers to Nick, among them a potential job position, as well as an offer to go swimming and take a trip to Coney Island. However, most of these offers are aimed specifically at convincing Nick to invite Daisy over for tea. In the following days, a man sent by Gatsby comes to cut Nick’s grass. On the appointed day, Gatsby and Nick pace nervously around Nick’s house as they wait for Daisy to arrive. As Daisy and Gatsby converse, Gatsby knocks down a clock and mentions that the reunion was a “terrible, terrible mistake”. When Nick returns later, however, he finds the two in deep conversation and very happy with each other. Later, the three journey to Gatsby’s mansion, where they are entertained by a piano player and Gatsby and Daisy appear to be deeply entranced by one another. The chapter ends as Nick leaves the mansion and Gatsby and Daisy are left alone together.
Chapter Quote: “He had passed visibly through two sates and was entering upon a third. After his embarrassment and his unreasoning joy he was consumed with wonder at her presence.” The quote selected here has a very large significance to the whole of the novel. Although the quote does not provide any significant foreshadowing or add a great deal of revealing information to the story, it does provide a good amount of detail regarding Gatsby’s feelings and motivations. When Nick talks about Gatsby going through several phases and “states” he is revealing that most of Gatsby’s actions and motivations, at least to this point in his life, have been motivated by his love of Daisy. In fact, it is very likely that Gatsby even selected the location for his mansion based on proximity to Daisy’s home. Also revealed by this quote is the evidence that Gatsby’s feelings are highly based upon his love for Daisy. It has become very likely that future parts of the novel will also be motivated by Gatsby’s love for Daisy.
Character Role: One of the most significant characters to examine at this point in time would be Nick, the narrator of the story. Throughout Chapter Five, one learns much about Nick and his feelings and attitudes towards many things. A very important quote regarding Nick can be found within the chapter. “I realize now that under different circumstances that conversation might have been one of the crises of my life. But, because the offer was obviously and tactlessly for a service to be rendered, I had no choice but to cut him off there.” Through this quote, it becomes very possible to analyze some of Nick’s best qualities. Throughout the novel, the reader can easily see that Nick is an honest man. He does not participate in illegal activity, and has only been drunk twice in his entire life. Although Gatsby offers Nick an opportunity to make a large amount of money, Nick refuses, realizing that it is against his principles to take part in a job that was offered only as payment of a service. However, we can also see that Nick does possess at least one or two negative qualities. It seems, at several points throughout the novel that Nick is somewhat of a pessimist, however, if there could be considered one solidly good character in the novel, it would be Nick.
As to his role within the novel, Nick’s position is somewhat easy to analyze. Nick acts as the narrator and protagonist to the story, as well as serving as one of Gatsby’s good friends. Also, Nick is one of the essential characters to the plot, as it is primarily through his actions and presence that Daisy and Gatsby are reunited, paving the way for the rest of the action within the story. Nick represents the protagonist of the story, and he also represents that portion of American society which is still trying to follow a dream. While Nick is an important character, he does not always appear to be at the forefront of the action, a peculiar effect for a main character and narrator. In fact, it appears that Nick often puts himself out of the action to better analyze the thoughts and feelings of those around him.
Symbols: The most significant symbol to be found within Chapter Five is doubtlessly the ever present rain. The rain can be though to represent Gatsby’s moods and overall outtake on the situation before him. Note that as Daisy arrives and Gatsby is overcome by depression and anxiety, the sky pours down rain. However, as the two become reacquainted with one another and interact in a positive and friendly manner, the sky seems to clear up. Note also, though, that as Gatsby’s moods and feelings change throughout the chapter so to does the weather continuously undergo a variety of changes. Interesting to analyze is that Gatsby’s feelings are often represented by other objects, as the green light (which is mentioned again in this chapter) represents his hopes and dreams, and the weather represents his feelings.
