Chapter 9-p.163-180

Chapter 9-p.163-180

Summary: Nick starts the chapter by describing how all the reporters are swarming to hear the story of Gatsby's murder. Nick, unable to find any of Gatsby's family, is left to plan the funeral. Nick is extremely upset however, because despite all the people who came to Gatsby's parties, he cannot find anyone to attend his funeral. Tom and Daisy move away, Klipspringer has a picnic to go to, and Meyer Wolfsheim refuses to get involved with a murder. Luckily, Gatsby's father attends as well as Owl Eyes. Gatsby's father is extremely proud of him and carries around a picture of his mansion. He also shows Nick a book in which Gatsby had a schedule written in from childhood. After Gatsby dies, Nick decides to go back to the Midwest. He breaks things off with Jordan and has one last encounter with Tom in New York City. Tom says that Gatsby deserved to die and Nick reflects on what awful people they all are.

a. Daisy Buchanan

b. " They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they made" p. 179

c. Daisy Buchanan, first described as something of an angel, has now been portrayed for her true self. She is artificial and material. She leaves Gatsby without even saying goodbye and does not even stop Tom from inaccurately telling on Gatsby. The character that seemed to charm the reader in the first chapter now disgusts them. She has been proven to be entirely materialistic with no real substance or character after all.

d. Daisy Buchanan represented the dream in this novel. All though her character proved to be disappointing she was a strong symbol of idolization. Without Daisy Gatsby would have no obsession and henceforth there would be no story. Daisy's eventual abandonment of Gatsby only furthers Fitzgerald's message, that dreams have the ability to destroy you, and that they are either impossible to attain, or once attained will be the demise of the dreamer.

"It eluded us then, but thats no matter-to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther...And one fine morning----" p.180

This quote is important because it is Fitzgerald final word in the novel. All the sudden the reader is being not only acknowledged but becomes a part of the whole, a subject of the novel. Fitzgerald reveals to us that all along we were Gatsby, chasing for our dreams, even when they seem crazy. There is no biased passed on whether or not it is foolish to chase dreams, Fitzgerald is simply highlighting a basic fact of humanity, and that is the true purpose of the story.

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