Chapter+5

Jennifer Corona Shea Kopp Ramin Tasbihchi

=The Great Gatsby=



**The Recurring Theme(s):**
In Chapter 5, the first meeting, after almost five years, between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan occurs. The main themes encountered in this chapter are those of false belief and infatuation. The 1920's were a time in which people were very interested in pursuing the American Dream, and the people were respected according to their social ranking/standing, thus encouraging the //false sense// of correctness if one belonged to the high social class. Because at this time, America was just recuperating from the first World War, people saw this time as one in which they were to take advantage of the material things, America was becoming more and more, a consumer's society. //Infatuation// also comes into play in the way that Gatsby carries himself, so as to impress Daisy. He does indeed do that, but he fools himself into thinking that Daisy loved him and only him. Gatsby's and Daisy's affair begins in this chapter and the mutilation of the the moral of high class are becoming more apparent.


 * 1. Consider ways in which Gatsby might be a counterpart to Don Quixote.**

Don Quixote de la Mancha can definitely be considered a counterpart to Jay Gatsby. The story of Don Quixote de la Mancha tells of a man who had read and heard so much of the times of chivalry, he had become utterly obsessed with the notion of recreating that fantasy. He convinced himself that he was a knight of older times and goes so far as to create imaginary quests. Like Gatsby, Quixote created the life he had dreamed of. Though Quixote’s means were to re-establish chivalry and Gatsby’s were to “win” the girl, they both had the same maniacal, linear thought path of obtaining what they wanted. Both Don Quixote were victims of their outrageous dreams and in the end there lives were forfeit. Gatsby was “high” on the fruits of his dreams. Gatsby believed that Daisy was his, without realizing his own disillusionment and this kept him happy until his end. The paths the two took to get to where they wanted can also be paralleled. While both men are blinded by their aspirations, they seem to be willing to do anything to gain their dreams. Both men resort to criminality to reach there means, (though Quixote, who has driven himself to madness, is unaware he is committing crimes). Believing that his knighthood is on the line he performs dishonorable deeds. Gatsby, the more sane of the two men, realizes what he has to do to gain Daisy’s praise but doesn’t care about the immorality of the paths he takes.

//This symbolizes how Don Quixote imagined himself.//

Tom Buchanan is the husband of Daisy; yet, he is having an affair with Myrtle; mean while, Daisy is having an affair with James Gatz (Jay Gatsby). George Wilson is the husband of Myrtle; but, she is having an affair with Tom Buchanan. The two characters of Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Wilson are comparatively alike, yet at the same time different. Their differences are fundamentally obvious to all; however, it is their differences that are more intricate to observe. Tom and Wilson clearly both have unfaithful wives. Both are driven into a state of madness by the unveiling of the horrid truths. Tom becomes infuriated by the thought of his wife being unfaithful (as hypocritical as it may seem). He becomes conniving and shrewd as to get rid of his opponent, Gatsby. Wilson also becomes crazed in his dilemma. He becomes so enraged that he goes on to locking his wife in the house. After the tragic death of Myrtle, he looses his state of sanity. With his unreasoning thought process, he believes Tom’s words, and then murders Gatsby. Still emotionally disbelieving, and mentally delusional, he commits suicide instantly.
 * 2. Consider ways in which Tom Buchanan and George Wilson are alike, in that the wives of both men are capable of being lured away by another man. Therefore, both men, different as they are, are cuckolds (a Middle Ages term, defining men whose wives are unfaithful. In the legendary account, such husbands were said to grow horns, thus becoming monsters).**

This point is this story could be seen as the point in which Gatsby realizes his long and compelling dream because everything that he has worked and longed for was for Daisy. He became the "Great Gatsby" so as to impress the woman he had once lost, because at the time he was not a man of riches, wealth, prestige, position, standing, nor great reputation, which he now had become. Just as Jordan said, “‘Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay’ Then it had not been merely the start to which he had aspired on that June night.” (p. 78) Here was where Gatsby had a false belief that he now was the man that Daisy had always wanted, and from Gatsby thinks he is beginning is dream. Yes, Daisy did indeed care for him enough to have a secret affair with, but yet she stayed with Tom the man that offered her his riches and stability. This again is a proof of the oblivious Great Gatsby who was infatuated with Daisy to the extent of believing that his new prestige had brought him to his lost love. “He stared around at his possessions in a dazed way, as though in her actual and astounding presence none of it was any longer real.” (p 91) Which accordingly brings him to the end of his dream in that he has found that bliss that only Daisy can compel, “expression of bewilderment had come back into Gatsby’s face, though a faint doubt had occurred to him as to the quality of his present happiness.” (p 95)
 * 3. The reunion of Daisy and Gatsby, a rather sordid relationship, signals simultaneously the beginning and the end of Gatsby’s dream and of his success. Justify this statement.**