The Great Gatsby Ch. 9 Reading Journal

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 9 (pp. 163-180)

Summary:

Nick talks about the days after Gatsby’s death and all the ridiculous rumors from reporters and people that circulated about Gatsby.  He “talked” to Gatsby who told him that he didn’t want to be alone so Nick contacted all Gatsby’s old friends and no one can attend the funeral.  Henry Gatz, Gatsby’s father, comes from Minnesota for the funeral and is extremely proud of Gatsby’s accomplishments and aspirations.  Owl Eyes also showed up to the funeral but none of his other friends did.  Nick believes that since he, Gatsby, Daisy, Jordan are from the West, they were unable to adapt correctly to the East all along so he decides to move back home.  Before leaving, Nick bumps into Tom on Fifth Avenue in New York City and refuses to shake his hand believing that Tom is the reason George Wilson discovered Gatsby as the owner of the car and therefore led him to believe he killed Myrtle.  On his last night back East, Nick goes to Gasby’s mansion then to his beach and thinks about America’s green land being like Daisy’s green light on the dock for many people and that Gatsby hadn’t realized that the dream had ended long before.

Henry C. Gatz:

“It was a photograph of the house, cracked in the corners and dirty with many hands…. He had shown it so often that I think it was more real to him than the house itself.” (p. 172)

Henry Gatz is Gatsby’s father who is extremely proud of his son’s accomplishments.  He shows Nick Gatsby’s set of goals from when he was younger and that he always had aspirations and goals set for himself.  Henry is convinced that his son was meant to do great things for the country and had a very bright future ahead of him.  Henry’s been relying on the picture of Gatsby’s house to channel all his pride and hope for his son and now, seeing his son’s wealth in person is overwhelming.  Henry Gatz has an important role as Gatsby’s father and as the only person who knew the real Jay Gatsby, James Gatz, and his potential before it was robbed from his obsession with Daisy.

Significant Quote:

“He had a big future before him, you know.  He was only a young man, but he had a lot of brain power here… If he’d lived, he’d be a great man… He’d of helped build up the country” (p. 168)

This quote comes from Henry Gatz, reflecting on the Jay Gatsby he knew.  He said Gatsby would have been a great man “if he’d lived,” probably meaning literally living but I think that it can stem to mean that if James Gatz had lived and had not been taken over by James Gatsby and his one, destructive and impossible dream, he could have done something great with his life.  But, Gatsby through all the potential he had away for an illusion and lost any possibility of a bright future with it.