Gatsby Chapter 5 Journal

Summary: Nick returns home late to find Gatsby's house lit up like the World's Fair, but almost entirely empty. Gatsby goes to talk with Nick, and tells him that he has been "glancing into some of the rooms", in order to make sure everything is perfect for Daisy of course. Gatsby asks Nick is he would like to go to Coney Island or take a swim in the pool, as a sort of payment for Nick agreeing to invite Daisy over. Nick declines, and tells Gatsby that Daisy will be over the day after tomorrow. Gatsby insists that Nick's grass must be cut by his gardener for Daisy. Gatsby then talks to Nick about money, and invites him to join his little confidential business. Nick says he already has enough work, and goes to bed. The next morning, Nick calls Daisy, and tells her not to bring Tom. On the day of the tea-meet, it was pouring rain. Gatsby had Nick's grass cut, and Nick goes into West Egg to fetch his Finn, and some flowers, lemons, cakes, and cups. When Nick gets home though, he sees that Gatsby already took care of the flowers, bringing an entire greenhouse over to Nick's. Gatsby arrives at Nick's house, looking very nervous. They speak about the rain, the grass, and the tea supplies, waiting for Daisy. At two to four (when Daisy is supposed to arrive), Gatsby decides that he needs to leave, but Nick convinces him to stay, just as Daisy arrives. Daisy's car pulls up, and Nick goes out to meet her. They greet each other and Nick makes a joke about the butler's nose. When they go inside, Nick is a little confused because Gatsby has left the living room. Seconds later, Gatsby knocks at the door, looking pale and miserable. Gatsby walks into the living room, and there is utter silence. Daisy is first to speak, saying that she is glad to see Gatsby again. Silence follows. Just as Gatsby says that they have met before, the broken clock on the mantle falls, but Gatsby catches it in time. He apologizes for the clock, and Nick says it's alright. Daisy says that they haven't seen each other for a long time, and Gatsby replies "Five years next November." The tea arrives and Nick and Daisy converse for a while before Nick makes up an excuse so he can leave Daisy and Gatsby to themselves. Gatsby quickly goes along with Nick into the kitchen saying that everything was a terrible mistake, but Nick consoles him, saying that they're both just embarrassed. Gatsby goes back into the living room where Daisy is waiting. Nick goes outside and admire Gatsby's house for half an hour. The rain stops, and Nick goes inside, making as much noise as he possibly can before entering the living room. When he sees the two again, Daisy has tearstreams down her face and Gatsby is ecstatic and glowing. Both are happy. They discuss the halt of the rain, and Gatsby invites Daisy and Nick over to his house for a tour. As Daisy washes her face, Nick and Gatsby wait out on the lawn . While admiring the house, Gatsby says it took him three years to get the money to pay for it. Nick catches this and states that Gatsby had previously said he inherited his money. Gatsby quickly comes up with the excuse that he lost most of it in the panic of the war. Nick asks Gatsby what business he is in, and Gatsby immediately tells him it's none of his concern. He corrects himself however, saying that he was once in the oil and drug businesses, but that he's not involved in them anymore, and asks Nick is he has reconsidered his offer. Just then, Daisy comes out and exclaims that she loves his house, but asks is he gets lonely. Gatsby replies that he has a lot of celebrated people over all the time. They walk through the lovely-smelling gardens and up the marble steps into Gatsby's house. Gatsby gives them the tour, through music-rooms, salons, the library, and other extravagant places, Daisy making pleasing comments on Gatsby's possessions all the way. They make their way upstairs, visiting luxurious bathrooms, dressing-rooms, poolrooms, and walking in on the "boarder", Mr Klipspringer, doing liver exercises. Gatsby finally shows them his own personal quarters, and breaks out a bottle of Chartreuse. Daisy notices Gatsby's gold brush, and uses it. Gatsby begins to laugh from wonderment. Then Gatsby brings out his numerous colorful shirts, which Daisy begins to cry over. It begins to rain again, so they decide to end the tour there and stay inside. As they are looking at the bay from the window, Gatsby makes a remark about the green light on Daisy's porch right across the bay, shielded from view by fog. Nick notices an old photograph of a man and asks who it is. Gatsby tells him that it is Mr. Dan. Cody, Gatsby's deceased best friend. Nick sees another picture, this one of Gatsby on a yacht when he was eighteen, and Daisy exclaims how much she loves it. Gatsby then shows them the newspaper clippings he has collected about Daisy. Gatsby then gets a phone call about some business with a man in Detroit, who seems to think it is a small town. Daisy then points out the pink and gold clouds over the bay, and they admire them. Nick then tries to go so he can leave them alone, but they keep him there, and Gatsby fetches Klipspringer to play the piano for them. They sit in the music room, Daisy and Gatsby near each other, listening to Klipspringer play, but then Nick gets up to say goodbye. Nick walk over to the couch and sees that Gatsby's face is again beaming with bewilderment. Nick thinks about how Daisy couldn't possibly have met up to Gatsby's expectations of her, the illusion he's had for five years. They say goodbye, and Daisy and Gatsby soon forget about Nick, only acknowledging each other. Nick goes back to his house, leaving Daisy and Gatsby together.

Allusions: Marie Antoinette, "The Love Nest", Kant.

Foreshadow: Dan Cody, man in Detroit, Gatsby's illusion of Daisy.

Symbols: the clock on the mantle, rain, the green light - not important to Gatsby anymore, Owl Eyes, Gatsby's shirts, clouds.