Gatsby Chapter 3 Journal

Summary: Nick describes the goings-on at Gatsby's: Gatsby is always playing music, having guests over, transporting party-goers in his Rolls-Royce and yellow station wagon, and having large amounts of food (specifically oranges and lemons) delivered to his house. Servants are always running around performing tasks. Gatsby hosts extravagant late-night parties at least once a fortnight with caterers, an orchestra, and lots of booze. Nick is invited to Gatsby's house by a chaffeur, and attends that night. Nick meets up with Jordan and is introduced to some of the guests. Nick hears rumors about Gatsby: that he killed a man, was a relative of the Kaiser, and was a German spy. Nick eats supper with Jordan's party and meets her date, the undergraduate. Nick and Jordan enter the library where they meet Owl Eyes, who is completely drunk, and goes on about how the books are uncut (meaning Gatsby has never read them). Nick finally meets Gatsby, recognizing him from the war. He agrees to take a plane ride with him the next day. Jordan says that she was told Gatsby was an Oxford man, but she doesn't believe it. The party goes on with much dancing and music. The butler retrieves Jordan upon request to speak to her privately from Gatsby. The guests start to leave. Eventually, Gatsby and Jordan return to Nick. Goodbyes are said, and Jordan says she heard an amazing secret about Gatsby, but that she can't tell Nick. Nick and Jordan leave together and see a car wreck on the way out. The car crashed into a ditch and was being driven by a very drunken man and Owl Eyes. Nick walks to his house, and the night is over. Nick then tells us about what he did between these few events: working, seeing a girl in Jersey, enjoying New York. Nick visits Jordan midsummer and recalls the scandal about Jordan, when she cheated during a tournament, and learns why she likes men that are below her level. Nick witnesses Jordan's horrible driving abilities, and they discuss carelessness, the reason why Jordan likes Nick. Nick realizes he needs to break off a relationship with a 'fiancee' back west, and yet still calls himself one of the most honest men hes ever known.

Motifs: Carelessness, bad driving, large eyes, drunkeness.

Symbols: Owl Eyes

Allusions: Jazz History of the World by Vladimir Tostoff