Chapter 6-p.97-112

Summary: Rumors about Gatsby are at an ultimate high, and the chapter begins with a reporter coming to the door to examine these rumors by interviewing Gatsby. The story is halted however, when Nick narrates the true story of Gatsby's life, unlike the reader has heard it before. It turns out Gatsby was a poor farm boy in North Dakota who's real name was James Gatz, after dropping out of college out of embarrassment for having to do janitorial work to get through it. He begins fishing and one day he rows out to a man's yacht to warn him of an impending storm. The man, a millionaire named Dan Cody, likes Gatsby, who changes his name when introducing himself, so much that he invites him to be his assistant on his sail around the world. This made Gatsby want to be wealthy, Dan Cody died and left Gatsby some money but his mistress stole it, leaving Gatsby with nothing. Later in the chapter Nick stops by Gatsby's house to find Tom Buchanan along with two friends there. Gatsby talks about Daisy and invites them all to dinner but they decline and awkwardly invite Gatsby to dinner to which he awkwardly accepts, proving his bad social abilities. Daisy and Tom attend a party at Gatsby's but Daisy doesn't have much fun which makes Gatsby angry. Gatsby thinks he can recreate the past.

a. Dan Cody

b."At any rate Cody asked him a few questions (one of them elicited the brand new name) and found that he was quick and extravagantly ambitious. A few days later he took him to Duluth and bought him a blue coat, six pairs of white duck trousers, and a yachting cap. And when the Tuolomee left for the West Indies and the Barbary Coast Gatsby left too." p. 100

c. Cody, who was much older than Gatsby, made his whole fortune through mining for metals. He was robust but soft-minded which made him a target for gold diggers. Dan Cody was a nice man when sober but was an extremely heavy drinker. He allowed himself to be taken advantage of and mysteriously died when one of his pursuing gold diggers was on board.

d. Dan Cody plays a huge role in the story because he is the cause of Gatsby's dream of wealth and success. After meeting Dan Cody Jay Gatsby changes his name in an obvious symbol of recreating himself to be of a higher class. Before Dan Cody Gatsby was a simple man but after seeing something he wants Gatsby becomes obsessed with obtaining the wealth he experienced on Cody's yacht. Dan Cody not only provides Gatsby's desire for wealth and change into the character that stars in the novel, but also provides insight into Gatsby's obsessive desire for things that he sees. Dan Cody also supplies the reason for Gatsby's sobriety, as he was turned off from alcohol by watching Dan get so drunk.

"Can't repeat the past?" he cried incredulously. "Why of course you can!" p. 110

This quote is extremely important because it shows the true depth of Gatsby's illusions. While initially he could be confused for a man in love, it becomes apparent that there is something off about Gatsby in this line, that he is perhaps suffering from a break with reality.