: Chaptersix 1 Jay Gatsby was really James Gatz, the son of unsuccessful farmers in North Dakota. He changed his name when he was seventeen, the same moment he saw Dan Cody's yacht on Lake Superior. Cody was a fifty-year-old multi-millionaire who had made his money in silver and ‘copper*. To Gatz, the yacht represented all the beauty and glamour in the world. He already had a clear idea of the kind of person he wanted to be ~ and he had probably already invented his new name, He was just waiting for the right moment to start out on his new career. And ‘is was it. He obviously managed to impress Cody because when the yacht left for the West Indies, Gatsby was on it. Cody soon discovered that the young boy was quick to learn and extremely ambitious. He did all the jobs there are to do on a yacht, and he was also Cody's secretary. Five years later when Cody died, Jay Gaisby was no longer just an idea in a young boy’s imagination. He was a real person. I didn’t see or hear from him for several weeks. I was spending a lot of time in New York with Jordan, But one Sunday afternoon, I went to his house. About two minutes later we heard the sound of horses’ hooves* and Tom Buchanan arrived. I was a little surprised to see him. He had ridden thete with two friends ~a man named Sloane and a pretty woman, who seemed to know Gatsby. ‘m pleased to see you, said Gatsby delighted that you decided to pay me a vis ining on his porch. ‘I’m ( glossary ——— © copper: red-brown metal ‘+ hooves: hard parts of a horse's feet ‘The Great Gatsby I'm sure that they didn’t really care if he was pleased or not. They only wanted to rest after their ride. Gatsby knew that too, but Tom’s presence made him nervous. He called the butler and ordered drinks. Then he sai we've met somewhere before, Mr Buchanan.’ ‘Oh, yes,’ Tom replied politely. He obviously didn’t remember the «Yes. [remember it well.’ “About two weeks ago.’ right. You were with Nick.’ "Lknow your wife.’ “Do you?’ Tom turned to me. ‘Do you live near here, Nick?’ ‘Next door! “We must go now,’ said Mr Sloane, ‘Come on,’ he said to the woman. I walked to the porch with Tom. “I wonder where he met Daisy,’ he said. ‘Women go out too much these days. They meet all kinds of strange men.’ believeTom was obviously worried about this because Saturday night he came with Daisy to Gatsby's party. We alll walked together among the hundreds of people. ‘Look around,’ said Gatsby. ‘You must see many people you've heard about ‘Tom’s arrogant eyes looked around. “We don't go out much, he said. ‘In fact, I was just thinking I don’t know anyone here’ ve never met so many celeb Daisy and Gatsby danced. Then they walked slowly over to my house and sat on the steps for half an hour. Daisy asked me to stay in the garden. “In case there's a fire, or something like that,’ she said. 50 ‘The Great Gatsby ‘Tom appeared from nowhere as we were si together. “Do you mind if I eat with some people over there?" he said, “A man’s saying some interesting things. “Go ahead; answered Daisy. ‘And if you want to make a note of some addresses, here's my little gold pencil...’ She turned round a f later. Tom was sitting with a girl. ‘Common* but pretty’ Daisy told me. knew that, except for the half hour she'd been alone with Gatsby, she wasn't having a good time. Isat on the front steps with them while they waited for their car. ‘Who is this Gatsby? demanded Tom suddenly. ‘Some big bootlegger*” “Where did you hear that?’ I enquired. didn’t hear it, I guessed it. A lot of thes just big bootleggers.’ He was silent for a moment. “it must be hard work to get such a strange collection of people together ata party!” “They're more interesting than the people we know,’ said Daisy, “You didn’t look very interested.’ “wel "Yd like to know who he is and what he does,’ insisted Tom. ‘And 1g down to supper newly” rich people are I think Il find out/ ‘T can tell you right now/ she answered. ‘He owned a lot of drugstores*.’ Their car came up the drive* ‘Good night, Nick; said Daisy. Glossary —— aes Re * bootlegger: person who sels illegal drive: road leading up toa house alcohol + commen: of low social class St— CO —_ I stayed late because Gatsby had asked me to wait for him. When he came into the garden, his eyes were bright but he looked tired. ‘Daisy didn’t like it,’ he said immediately. ‘Of course she did.’ He was silent, and I guessed he was depressed. ‘T feel far away from hen’ he said. ‘I's hard to make her understand.’ ‘What do you mean?” He wanted Daisy to go to Tom and say ‘Inever loved you.’ The last four years could be removed with those words. Then, when she was free, they would go back to Louisville and get married -just as he had planned five years ago. ‘She doesn’t understand, he said. ‘She understood before but now she doesn't...” He stopped and began to walk up and down, “You shouldn't ask too much of her’ T suggested. “You can’t repeat the past’ ‘Of course you can!” he cried. 'I’m going to fix everything just the way it was before.’ He talked a lot about the past that night. He told me about the time he had first kissed Daisy one autumn night five years before. He imagined then that he could have everything he wanted. He could without order since then. He had lost something ~ an idea of himself perhaps. Ife could go back and do everything again slowly, perhaps he would discover what that something was.TChapter Seven?! &\ One Saturday night the lights in Gatsby's house didn’t go on. Cars arrived, stayed for just a minute then drove away again. I wondered if he was ill so I went to find out, A butler I didn’t recognise answered the door. “Is Mr Gatsby sick?” “Lwas worried. ‘Tell him Mr Carraway came.’ ‘Carraway. All right, I'l tell him. Later my housekeeper told me that my neighbour had sent all his old servants away and replaced them with just six others. She didn’t think they were real servants. ‘The next day Gatsby phoned me. “Are you going away?’ L asked. ‘I hear you fired" the servants’ ‘wanted people who don’t gossip”. Daisy often comes over in the aftemoons.’ So he had changed the servants because she disapproved * of them. 'She wants to know if you'll come to lunch at her house tomorrow. Miss Baker will be there.” Soon after, Daisy phoned. She was happy that I had agreed to go. felt that something was wrong between her and Gatsby. | =a l GATSBY AND DAISY What could be wrong between Gatsby and Daisy? alia * disapproved: di’tconsidertobe + redesentaway fromajob food orsuiable 2 gossip talk about other people The next day was very warm, When Gatsby and I got to the Buchanan's house, a maid showed us into a darkened sitting room, Daisy and Jordan were lying on an enormous couch while fans cooled air around them. Tom wasn’t there. “We can't move,’ they said. Galsby stood in the middle of the red carpet and looked around, fascinated. ‘Then Tom came in. He put out his hand. ’Mr Gatsby! I'm glad to see you... Nick...” ‘Make us a cold drink; cried Daisy. ‘As soon as he was out of the room she got up, went over to Gatsby and kissed him on the mouth, “You know I love you,’ she whispered.‘Tom came back with the drinks. ‘They certainly look cool’ said Gatsby as Tom gave him one. We drank and talked about the weather. Then Tom said to Gatsby, ‘Come outside and have a look around,’ ‘They went out on the verandah* and I followed. We looked out over the Sound. Gatsby pointed across the bay. se is over there. Exactly opposite yours,’ s right,’ Tom replied. We stayed there for a few more minutes then we went back inside toa darkened dining room and had Tunch. Afterwards Daisy said, ‘What shall we do this afternoon? It’s so hot and everything's so confused. Let's go to town"! Gatsby's eyes turned towards her. she cried, ‘you look so cool.’ ; a8 if nobody else was there. 1g him she loved him with her eyes. Tom sa ‘was very surprised. He looked at Gatsby, and then at Daisy it. He verandah: covered area around a house town: (here) New York 56 | BODY LANGUAGE Daisy didn’t use words to tell Gatsby she loved him. She used her eyes. This is body language. How can you understand surprise, happiness or anger from a person's body language? Mc EN, “Come on, he said quickly, ‘we're going to town.’ He got up, but nobody else moved. “What? Now?’ Daisy asked. ‘Dressed like this?” ‘Tom didn’t say anything. ‘Oh, alright. But we'll need time to get ready.’ She and Jordan went upstairs while we three men stood outside. ‘Shall we take something to drink?’ shouted Daisy from an upstairs window. “Vl get a bottle of whiskey,’ answered Tom and went inside. 37i He came outa few minutes later followed by Daisy and Jordan. * ‘Let's go in my car’ suggested Gatsby. ‘No, you take my coupé* and let me drive your caz’ Gatsby didn’t like the idea. ‘Come on, Daisy,’ said Tom, leading her towards Gatsby's car. ‘I'l take you in this’ He opened the door, but she moved away. “You take Nick and Jordan. We'll follow in the coupé’ she said, moving towards Gatsby. So Jordan, Tom and I got into Gatsby's car and Tom drove off. ‘Did you see that?” he asked. ‘See what?” I'm pretty dumb, don’t you” he said, ‘Perhaps lam, but Y've investigated” Gatsby’s past’ ‘And you found out he was an Oxford man, said Jordan. “An Oxford mant’ he repeated with contempt*. ‘If you don't believe it, why did you invite him?’ demanded Jordan. ‘Daisy invited him. She knew him before we were married.’ ((@lossarY aaa ry a * contempt: tiskingsomebody has no invewgated oud out information sworth about + coupé: open sports car 58 The Great Gatsby “Do we have enough gasoline*?’ asked. “Enough to get us to town,’ said Tom. ‘There's a garage over there,’ said Jordan. ‘I don’t want to get stuck* in this heat* ‘Tom stopped impatiently under Wilson's sign. A moment later the owner appeared. ‘Give me some gas!’ shouted Tom. ‘Tm sick; said Wilson without moving. “What's the matter?” ‘Ym ran down*/ answered Wilson. ‘I need money badly. What about your old car?” "Do you like this one? asked Tom. I bought it last week.’ ‘It’s a nice colour but it's too expensive for me.’ “What do you want money for anyway?” “Tve been here too long. My wife and I want to go West.’ “Your wife wants to go West?’ exclaimed Tom. The news surprised him, ‘She's talked about it for years. Now she’s going whether* she wants to or not” ‘The coupé flashed" past us. Gatsby and Daisy waved. ‘Tve just understood something strange,’ said Wilson. “That's why I want to leave and why I'm interested in the car.’ “What do Iowe* you?’ ‘A dollar twenty* realised that Wilson didn’t suspect® Tom. He'd discovered that Myrtle had another life and this had made him sick. [stared at Tom. ‘Tom had made a similar discovery less than an hour earlier. “Tl send that car to you tomorrow, said Tom, ‘+ run down: il; weak: in bad physical condition + stuck (x) be without petrol + heat: very hot weather + owe: must give money back that you have borrowed or pay for something, ‘you have used + whether ifFroma window over the garage Myrtle Wilson was looking down. Her eyes were fixed on Jordan, however, not Tom, and they were full of jealousy. She thought that Jordan wa: It was obvious that Tom was in a panic. An hour ago, hi his mistress” were both secure. Now he was losing control them. He put his foot down hard on the accelerator®. Soon we could see the blue coupé. Daisy waved her arms at us. She was telling us to stop. ‘Where are we going” she cried. ‘Let's go to the movies,’ Jordan suggested, "It’s too hot Daisy replied. ‘You go if you like. We'll drive around and meet you ‘Vmnot going to argue here i me to the Plaza Hotel’” There we hired” a large, hot, room. “Open another window, ordered Daisy. ‘Forget about the heat,’ said ‘Tom impatiently. ‘You make it worse by complaining” took out the whiskey and put it on the table. Leave her alone, old sport,’ remarked Gatsby. ‘You wanted to come to town’ ‘That's a great expression of yours, isn’ “What is?” “This “old sport”. Where did you get that from?” “If you're going to make personal remarks | won't stay. Order some ice and we can have mint juleps*.’ the street,’ Tom said angrily. ‘Follow ing room. There was no air in the said Tom sharply. accelerator: pedal in aca ileps: drinks with whiskey, ice, [press to make it go faster sugar and mint hired: took fora limited period mistress: woman having a rlationship with a married mani ‘Tom ordered the ice and we made small talk* for a while, Then ‘Tom said, ‘Mr Gatsby, I understand you're an Oxford man.’ ‘Well, I went there.” ‘Vd like to know when’ “Tt was in 1919. But I only stayed for five months, so I'm not really an Oxford man’ ‘The waiter arrived with the mint and the ice. “After the War Gatsby continued, ‘they gave some officers the opportunity to go to a university in England or France. The officers could choose which one.’ Not for the first time, I changed my opinion of him. “Open the whiskey, Tom, Daisy ordered, ‘and I'll make you a mint julep. Then you won't feel so stupicl’ “Wait a minute,’ Tom said sharply*. ‘I want to ask Mr Gatsby another question’ 'Go on/ Gatsby said politely. “What kind of row" are you trying to cause in my house?” ‘They were being open at last, and Gatsby was happy. ‘He isn't causing a row.’ said Daisy. ‘You are. Please! Try and control yourself!’ “What! Control myself!,’ Tom shouted. ‘Must I sit here and let Mr Nobody from Nowhere take my wife away?” ‘ve got something to tell you, old sport,’ began Gatsby. ‘Please don’t!’ Daisy interrupted. She guessed what his intentions* were. ‘Please! Let's go home. Why don't we all go home?” 2 ‘The Great Gatsby “That's a good idea,’ I said and got up. ‘Come on, Tom. Nobody wants a drink’ “L want to know what Mr Gatsby has to tell me,’ Tom said. "Your wife doesn’t love you,’ said Gatsby. ‘She has never loved you. She loves me,” “You're crazy!’ exclaimed Tom, Gatsby stood up. His face was alive with excitement now. ‘She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me’ he cried. ‘It was a terrible mistake. In her heart she has never loved anyone except me!” Jordan and I tried to leave, but Tom and Gatsby asked us to stay. ‘What are you talking about?’ asked Tom. ‘I want to know.’ “‘Tve told you,’ said Gatsby. ‘We've been in love for five years.” ‘Tom turned to Daisy. "How often have you met him?” “We couldn't meet/ said Gatsby. ‘But both of us loved each other all that time, old sport, And you didn’t know! It sometimes made me Taugh’ ‘Js that all?” asked Tom. Then he exploded, ‘You're crazy! I can’t speak about what happened five years ago because I didn’t know Daisy then. But all the rest isa lie, Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now.’ “No said Gatsby, shaking his head. “She does. Sometimes she has foolish* ideas and she doesn’t know what she’s doing’ he said. ‘But I love Daisy. Sometimes I go off and have an “adventure*” and make a fool of myself. But I always come back. And in my heart I love her all the time’ errr rere eeeme * adventure: love affair outside + row: noisy argument/disagreement marriage + sharply: ina severe way + foolish: silly + small talk: informal conversation + intentions: what he wanted to de or about things which aren’t important sy 63‘You're revolting” why we left Chicago’ Daisy. She turned to me, ‘Do you know surprised that you didn’t hear the story of that doesn’t matter, saiel Gatsby. ‘Jus never loved him,’ She looked at Jordan and me for help, as though she realised at last what she was doing, But it was too late. the truth - you = On”, DAISY ] ‘Does Daisy know which man she loves? Why might she love Gatsby? Why might she love Tom? Which man she choose? ‘Please don't’ she said. Then turning to Gatsby, she started to cry. “You want too much. [love you now ~ at enough? I can't help what Idid love him once - but [loved you, too.’ “You loved me, TOO?’ Gatsby repeated. ‘Even that’s not true,’ said Tom. “There are things between me and Daisy that you'll never know - that we'll never forget Honolul ce: being unwilling to do leano something. + revolting: disgusting Gatsby looked shocked, ‘I want to speak to Daisy alone,’ he said. ‘She's upset" now.’ “Bven alone I can’t say I have never loved Tom,’ Daisy admitted. “Tt would be a lie,’ ‘Of course it would, agreed Tom. ‘I'm going to take better care of you from now on. “You don’t understand, said Gatsby. ‘Daisy’s leaving you.’ ‘Nonsense*! “Lam, though, Daisy forced herself to say. “She's not leaving me!’ Tom “This is all too much for me! + nonsense: stupid talk + upset: sad and confused‘Tom leaned close towards Gatsby. ‘Tknow you're a friend of Meyer Wolfsheim. I've done some investigating - and I'm going to co: tomorrow! “Do what you like, old sport! ‘Tknow what your drugstores are.’ Tom turned to Jordan and me, ‘Lfound out that they bought a lot of drugstores together here and in Chicago. They sell alcohol in them. That's one of his businesses. But he’s starting something bigger now. I knew he was a bootlegger when Isaw him, And I was right!’ I looked at Daisy and saw the terror in her face as her eyes ‘moved from Gatsby to her husband. Then I looked at Jordan. Her face had the bored expression I knew well. Then at Gatsby. His cool, self-confident* manner* had gone. SO: SELF-CONFIDENCE Eel He began talking excitedly to Daisy. He de defended everything, Ican’t take any more*’ Her frightened eyes showed that her intentions and courage had definitely gone. ’Go home, Daisy,’ said Tom. ‘Gatsl won't annoy you. He knows that his silly flirtation* is over’ ~can'ttake any more: can’ttolerate _—* flirtation: being romantically Interested in another pers + manner: way of behav’ + self-confident: sure of himself The Great Gatsby And they left without a word. It was seven o'clock when we got and drove to Long Island. He talked and laughed continuously, but he seemed to be very far away from Jordan and me. As we passed over the bridge her pale face fell against my shoulder and she took my hand. That day was my birthday. I was ) thirty.TChapter Eight @ Lu At five o'clock, Michaelis, a young Greek man who ran’ the café next to Wilson’s garage, went round for a chat. He found Wilson in the office. He looked very ill. He tried to persuade him to go to bed, but Wilson said he didn’t want to miss any customers. Suddenly there was a terrible noise from upstairs. 'My wife's locked in/ explained Wilson calmly. ‘She's going to stay there till we move away’ Michaelis was surprised to hear words like those from his neighbour. He tried to find out what had happened but Wilson didn’t Want to explain. Just then some workmen went into his café, so he left to serve them. He came outside again just after seven and heard Mrs Wilson’s voice, loud and angry, downstairs in the garage. She was shouting at her husband. A moment later she ran out into the dark night, Before he could do anything it was over. ‘The ‘death car’, as the newspapers called it, didn’t stop. It came out of the darkness, moved sideways for a moment, then disappeared around the next bend. Michaclis wasn’t even sure of its colour. He told the policeman later that it was light green. Another car heading for New York stopped and its driver hurried back to where Myrtle rrived at the scene. said Tom. ‘Good. Wi have some business. He stopped at the garage. eaA wailing" sound was coming from the garage ~ it was Wilson. “Oh, my God!’ he cried over and over again. “There's some bad trouble here,’ said Tom, trying to look over the heads of the crowd, Suddenly he made a strange sound and started pushing through the people. Jordan and I followed. Myrtie's body lay in a blanket* on a table by the wall. ‘Tom was bending over her. ‘Tom tured to the policeman, who was writing names ina little book. “What happened?” hit her. She was killed instantly.” instantly, repeated ‘Tom. eo = O~w ara] What are some of the reasons for road accidents? Restate oo ‘She ran into the road said Michaelis. “There were two cars. The one coming from New York hit her.’ ‘Another man said, ‘It was a big, new, yellow car’ “Did you see the accident” "No, but the car passed me down the road. It was going very fast! Some of this conversation reached Wilson. “You don’t have to tell me! I know what kind of car it was!’ he shouted. ‘Ki The Great Gatsby ‘The muscles in Tom’s shoulders tensed. He walked over to Wilson and took hold of him. “Pull yourself together* ’ he said quietly. ‘I got here a minute ago, from New York. I was bringing you that coupé. That yellow car T was driving this afternoon wasn’t mine’ The policeman looked over at Tom. “What's that?’ he demanded. “I'm a friend,’ answered Tom. ‘He says he recognised the car that did it. It was a yellow car’ “What colour’s your car? asked the policeman suspiciously. “Isa blue coupé’ ‘We've come straight from New York,’ I sai Someone who'd been behind us confirmed this and the policeman tummed away. ‘Tom helped Wilson back into the office, where he sat down in a chair, Then he came back. ‘Will somebody sit with him?’ he asked. Two men went in and Tom closed the door. ‘Let's get out of here,’ he whispered to me. Tom drove slowly at first, then he put his foot down on the accelerator and the coupé raced through the night. [heard a sobbing* noise and saw that there were tears running down his face, ‘The coward*!’ he said. His voice was shaking with emotion. ‘He didn’t even stop.’ When we got to his house, Tom looked up at the second floor. The lights were on. Daisy’s here,’ he said. Then, ‘I forgot to drop you in West Egg, Nick.’ (Glossary —— Sey ee ee = * blanket thick coveroften made of + wailing: high crying sound + coward: someone who isnot brave + pull yourself together: got control of woo! eect ‘when faced by danger yourself calm down + sobbing: crying noisily 7 nHe was calm and serious now. The emotion had gone. “There's nothing we can do tonight. I'l telephone for a taxi to take you home,’ He opened the door. “Come in. You can wait in the kitchen. Have something to eat ~ if you want’ ‘No, thanks. Ill wait outside’ Jordan put her hand on my arm. “Don’t you want to come in, Nick?” anks. ing a little sick and wanted to be alone. Jordan didn’t go ‘mediately. It’s only half-past nine, she said. But I'd had enough of them for today, even Jordan. She looked at my face and understood. She turned and ran into the house. oT aaa Goa oe I sat on the steps with my head in my hands while the butler phoned for a taxi. en | walked down the drive away from the house to wait by the pate. 2 The Great Gatsby Suddenly Gatsby stepped from between two bushes on to the path, ‘What are you doing” asked ‘Just standing here, old sport,’ he said, ‘Did you see any trouble on the road?” “Yes. ‘Was she killed?” res thought so. I told Daisy. She took it quite well’ He spoke as if Daisy's reaction was more important than Myrtle's death. ‘Tgot to West Egg by a side road,’ he continued, ‘and left the car in my garage. I don’t think anybody saw us, but I can’t be sure. disliked him so much at that moment that I didn’t tell him he was wrong:Vho was the woman? he enquired. ‘Her name was Wilson. Her husband owns the garage. How did it happen?” tried to turn the wheel ~' he stopped, and suddenly I guessed the truth, vas Daisy driving?” “Yes, he said after a moment. ‘But of course I'll say I was. When we left New York, she was very upset. She said she wanted to drive to calin herself down. Then this woman ran out onto the road were passing a car that was coming the other way. Itall happened in a minute. It seemed to me that the woman thought we were somebody she knew. She was waving her arms at us. I guess she was killed instantly.” He paused. ‘Daisy will be all right tomorrow,’ he said. ‘I'm going to wait here. She's locked herself into her room. If Tom tries to do anything violent she's going to turn the light off and on’ as we Sw. GATSBY © ‘What is Gatsby's reaction to the accident? What does this tell us about him? (MBI ao ‘He won't touch her’ I said. 'He’s not thinking about her’ ‘Idor’t trust him, old sport.” A thought came to me just then. Suppose Tom found out that Daisy had been the driver. He might connect the two things in his mind. “You wait here, I said. ‘Tl go and see if there's any sign of trouble’ I walked back and looked in through the kitchen window. Daisy and ‘Tom were sitting opposite each other at the table, He was talking to her. She looked up at him from time to time and nodded her head i lacy* between the people in front of me. Neither of them seemed happy or unhappy. They were like a couple who were planning something together, juiet? asked Gatsby when I got back. replied. ‘Why don't you come home and get some sleep?” He shook his head, y goes to bed, Good night, old sport.’ it him standing there in the moonlight, 1 walked away walching. Glossary aoa * intimacy: close personal relationship BVchapter Nine 7 Cu (Yl couldn’t sleep at all that night. Just before it got light I heard a taxi g0 up Gatsby's drive. jumped out of bed, dressed and went over to his house. ‘The front door was open and he was in the hall. He looked tired. ‘Nothing happened,’ he said. ‘I waited and at four o'clock she ‘came to the window, stood there for a moment and then turned out the light’ ‘We went into the sitting room, opened the windows and sat smoking in the darkness. “You should go away,’ I said. ‘They'll find your car’ ‘Go away now, old sport?’ He didn’t want to leave yet. He had to know what Daisy's plans were first. He was holding on to some last hope. He told me about Dan Cody that night but he really wanted to talk about Daisy. He said she was the first ‘nice girl*’ he’d known. When she invited him to her house, he was amazed at how beautiful it was. Everything about it excited his imagination. He felt that it was full ‘of romance and mystery, but he knew he didn’t have the right to be there. He was poor and he had no past. The only things he had were his dreams and ambitions for a bright future. However, he let Daisy believe that he was from the same social class as her. He planned to take what he wanted from her and leave. He didn’t expect to fall in love with her. After the war he tried to get home, but he was sent to Oxford by mistake. Daisy’s letters to him were full of despair*. Why couldn't he come home? She needed him to be there. The Great Gatsby She needed to know that she was doing the right thing, Daisy was beginning to feel the pressure of the world she lived in - an artificial world of orchids* and orchestras, of snobbery and hypocrisy". She wanted her life to be decided immediately. That she met Tom Buchanan. | ie rurure © ] Have you made a plan for your future yet? What would you like to do? | Where would you like to Bee “I don’t think she ever loved him,’ Gatsby said. ‘He told her those things yesterday to frighten her, to make me look like a cheap* criminal. She didn’t know what she was saying. Perhaps she loved hhim just for a minute when they were first married ~ and loved me more even then. Do you understand?” It was nine o'clock and I had to go to work. “Tl call you at noon,’ I said. “Do that, old sport,’ he said. ‘I suppose Daisy will call too. “Tsuppose so. “Well, goodbye.’ We shook hands. At the gate, Iturned around and shouted, “They're awful people You're worth more than all of them put together.’ ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end. GlossarY ‘alc gi (er gil froma good + despa without hope + cheap: (here) of ile worth seals + hypocly:petndng to have Gale, bell rfedings that you Sextrealy have %6 7going to Southampton, she said. “You weren't very nice to me last night but I want to see you again. We talked for a while and the call ended because one of us put the receiver down, I don’t know which. I just knew that I didn’t want to talk to her any more that day. sby Lealled Gaisby’s house four times, but they told me the line was busy. Now I want to go back a little and explain what happened at the confused, but about three oclock in the morning he began to talk about the yellow car, He said he had a way of finding out who it belonged’ to. He also said that two months ago his wife had come home with a broken nose and bruises* on her face. “Then he killed her; said Wilson ‘Who killed her?” ‘Thave a way of finding o “Te was an accident, Georgy “Tt was the man in that car’ Wilson said with conviction®. ‘She ran out to speak to him and he didn’t stop.’ 2 \ With How is Wilson going to find out who the yellow car belongs to? What is he going to do when he knows? 7 At six o'clock Michaelis left Wilson. When he returned to the garage at ten, Wilson wasn't there. The police guessed he had spent the morning looking for the owner of the yellow car. At half-past two he was in West Egg, where he asked someone the way to Gatsby's house. * belonged: was the property of + conviction: intense feeling, + bruises: marks on your body after you have been hitGatsby put on his bathing suit* at two o'clock. He told his butler to come and tell him if anyone phoned. Before going to his swimming pool, he went to his garage and picked up a water mattress” No telephone messages came. ‘The chauffeur heard the shots” but di said later that he hadn’t thought they wer When I got to the station that evening, I drove straight to Gatsby's house. I think everyone in the house knew what had happened but they didn’t say anything. In complete silence, the chauffeut, butler, gardener and [hurried down to the pool. The wind was making small ripples” on the surface of the water and moving the mattress and its burden® slowly towards the edge of the pool As we were carrying Gatsby's body back to the house, we saw () Wilson’s body. It was lying in the grass not far from the pool. ea—_— + shots: sounds of a gun firing “+ water mattress: soe illustration ~ Ow THINK ‘Was Gatsby expecting to be killed?TChapter Ten 1 LC During the rest of that day and the next, there was a continuous coming and going of policemen, photographers and newspaper men. ‘At the inquest* Michaelis mentioned that Wilson suspected his wife of having a lover. Myrtle’s sister Catherine swore* Myrtle had never seen Gatsby and was completely happy with her husband, Wilson was called a man ‘deranged by grief*’ and the case" ended th informed West Egg village of the catastrophe* and from that moment on everything was referred to me. I became responsible for all the practical details because nobody else was interested. Thad phoned Daisy half an hour after we found him, but she and ‘Tom had already left. Next morning I sent a letter to Wolfsheim. I asked him to come on the next train, He replied saying that he was too busy and didn’t ‘want to be involved. A more tender feeling for Gatsby started to grow inside me. On the third day a telegram arrived from Minnesota. It was signed Henry C. Gatzand said he was leaving immediately. He wanted to be at the funeral and asked us to wait for him. Gatsby's father was an old man with a sad face. He was wearing a ong, warm coat although it was only September. He was obviously exhausted’ so I took him to the music room and asked the butler to bring him a glass of milk. “Tsaw it in the Chicago newspaper’ he said. 41 know how to contact you. “Whereis jimmy?” + inquest: police inquiry into someone's death + deranged by grief: made mad by + swore: spoke in court, promising t© sadness toll the eruth 82 I The Great Gatsby He got up slowly and went into the room where his son lay. After a little while he came 0% “He had a big future. He was young but he had a lot of brain power’ “That's true Isaid, uncomfortably. ‘The morning of the funeral I went to see Meyer Wolfsheim. closest friend, I said, ‘so I know you'll want to come ‘T'd like to,’ he said, ‘but I can’t do it. When a man gets killed, I keep out. I used to be different but now ~" I got back to West Egg and went next door to see Mr Gatz. ‘Had you seen him recently?’ I asked. ‘He came to me two years ago and bought me the house I live in. We were very upset when he ran away from home, but I see there was a reason for it. He knew he had a big future, And after his success he was very generous with me Alittle before three o'clock, a Lutheran* priest arrived. We waited and watched for half an hour but nobody else came. + Lutheran: from a Protestant religion started by Martin Luther 83,Itwas raining, o the cemetery". and I were in the limousine, and a little ater four or five servants and the postman from West Egg arrived in Gatsby's station wagon. Then another car arrived. It was a man I'd met once in Gatsby's library. Tiried to think about Gatsby, but he was already too far away. I could only remember that Daisy hadn't sent a message or flowers, After the service we went quickly through the rain to our cars. ‘Icouldn’t get to the house; the man from Gatsby's library said ‘Nobody could” “But hundreds of people used to go there before,’ he said. ‘The poor man.’ {ctossar¥ Sore ceo eee metery: place where dead people in the ground 84 The Great Gatsby After Gatsby’s death the East wasn't the same for me, so I decided to leave. saw Jordan Baker before I left and talked over what had happened to us, and what had happened afterwards to me. When I'd finished she told me that she was engaged to another man. I didn’t believe her, but I pretended to be surprised. For a minute I thought that I was making a mistake, Then I stood up and said goodbye. I was angry, half in love with her and very sorry. One afternoon in October I saw Tom. He was wall Avenue. He saw me and held out his hand. I didn’t take it, “What's the matter, Nick? Do you object to shaking hands with me?” “Yes. You know what I think of you.’ "You're crazy, Nick’ he said quickly. ‘What did you say to Wilson that afternoon?" I asked. I suspected Wilson had gone to see him before going to Gatsby's place He stared at me and I knew the answ I started to turn away, but he held my arm. “1 told him the truth,’ he said. ‘He came to the door and tried to force his way upstairs. He was crazy. His hand was on his gun. He wanted to know who owned the car. He was ready to kill me. Thad to tell him, but Gatsby deserved® it. He deceived you just like he did Daisy. He was an insensitive man. He ran over* Myrtle and never even stopped his car’ along Fifth + deserved: (here) received a just «+ ran over: killed with a car punishm‘There was nothing I could say, except that it wasn’t true. I couldn't forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, correct. I shook hands with him. It seemed silly not to because I suddenly felt that I was talking to a child, not a grown man. On my last night in West Egg, [went and looked at Gatsby's empty house. I walked onto his beach. Most of the big houses were closed for ter now. I thought about Gatsby. I remembered the time when iad stretched out his arms to the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, His dream probably seemed so close that he couldn't fail to get hold of it. He did not know that it was already behind him. the After Reading Personal Response QC1 Work with a partner. Discuss what you liked most and least about this story. }2 Did this story remind you of any films or TV series you have seen, or stories you have read? If so, tell your partner. 3 Do you think this story could happen today? Why/why not? What changes, if any, would there be? |4 “The Great Gatsby is a beautiful love story.” Discuss this idea in a group of four. 5 Is there anything that you would like to change in the story? Can you think of any way to improve the story? 6 Do you think the story has a moral, and if so, what is it? 87Ce After Reading Comprehension (QI Tick (V) true (1) or false (F) below, a) Jay Gatsby comes from a very rich family. b) The Buchanans have a three-year-old daughter. ) Gatsby and Daisy don’t hide their love for each other. 4) Nick Carraway gets engaged to Jordan Baker. ) George and Myrtle Wilson have a happy marriage. £) Myrtle Wilson is not Tom Buchanan's first mistress. [] 2) Gatsby is driving when Myrtle is killed. a h) Gatsby kills Wilson in the garden. Oo Ge Be 0000 o0 oO v Complete the sentences with the words in the box. sister father business partner neighbour husband second cousin a) Jay Gatsby is Nick Carraway’s .. b) Daisy is Nick’s ©) Meyer Wolfsheim is Gatsby d) Catherine is Myrtle Wilson’s e) Tom is Daisy's... £) Henry C. Gatz is Gatsby's... 88 After Reading 3. Put these sentences from the story in the right order. a) (1) | decided to go to New York to work in the finance business. b)[-] She was telling him she loved him with her eyes. c) J We went toa restaurant on Forty-second Street, where Gatsby introduced me to his friend Wolfsheim. 4) So Tom Buchanan, his girl and I went to New York. ©) (| Daisy and Gatsby danced. f) [1 After Gatsby’s death the East wasn’t the same for me, so I decided to leave. 2) 1 Hewas standing with his arms stretching out towards the water. h)C Trang Daisy the next morning and asked her to come to tea. Work with a partner. Read these things that Nick says in the story and discuss the questions. a) “My fither rw family since 1851. Why did Nick decide not to work with his father in the family hardware business when he finished university? b) “Anyway I drove to East Egg to see two people that I ai really know very well.” Why did he decide to do that? What did he expect to happen? ©) “Thave always been an honest person and I knew I couldn't continue to deceive her.” Who is ‘her’in this sentence? How was Nick deceiving this woman? d) “Not for the first time, I changed my opinion of him.” Who is ‘hiny’ in this sentence? Why did Nick change his opinion of this man so often? @ hardware business that has been in the 89,I After Reading Characters 1 Who are the characters in the descriptions? a) Her face was sad and lovely, with bright eyes and a passionate mouth, b) She was a slim girl, who stood very straight. Her grey eyes looked out of a pale, discontented face. ©) He was a strong man of thirty. He was arrogant and seemed aggressive, His body was muscular and powerful. ) She was in her mid-thi she was a little plump her body. ¢) She was a slim girl of thirty, with red hair and a pale face. £) He didn’t look like a sinister person with his attractive, tanned face and short, tidy hair. ties. She wasn’t beautiful and it there was life and energy in }4 2 Which of the main characters in the book do you like most and which one least? Explain your reasons to a partner. oe How do these characters’ change their behaviour in the story? How is the change described and shown? a) George B. Wilson, after he finds out about Myrtle’s affair. b) Tom Buchanan, after the road accident. BQ Discuss your answers in a group of four. After Reading 4 Who says these things? Who do they say them to? Why do they say them? This is an unusual party for me. I haven’t seen the host. Don't believe everything you hear, Nick. O Let's go to Coney Island, old sport, in my He's the man who fixed the World Series in 1919. Even alone Iean’t say I never loved Tom. I’ve been here too long. My wife and I want to go West. (D5 Read about Francis Scott Fitzgerald on pages 6 and 7 and check on the Internet. Make a list of the similarities between the events in Fitzgerald’s own life and the events in the story. 1After Reading Plot and Theme B01 Workin groups of four, and discuss the following statements. o Which ones best reflect the themes of the story? a) Life is no good if you aren't rich and famous. b) You should never try to be something you aren't. ©) Money cannot buy love. ) True love always wins in the end. Think about historical characters who have had the word great attached to their name (e.g. Alexander the Great, King Alfred the Great, Peter the Great). What does it mean about them? Is Gatsby really ‘Great’ ? If so, in what way? If not, why not, and why did Fitzgerald give the book this title? Discuss with a partner. Think of alternative titles for the book. Nick Carraway is the narrator, but he is also a character in the story. How does this affect what we know about the events of the story? Tom Buchanan finds out that Gatsby made his fortune through crime - probably selling alcohol illegally (‘bootlegging’). Did you feel any differently about Gatsby when you found out he was a criminal? Discuss your ideas in groups of four. After Reading 5 Discuss how each of the following characters tries to achieve his or her version of the American Dream. What advice would you give each one? 6 What do you think Nick does when he goes back to the West at the end of the novel? Imagine you are Nick. Write aletter of 100-120 words to Jordan Baker a year later, saying, what has happened to you in the last twelve months. D4 Give your letter to a partner and ask him/her to reply. 93,“—isss ae BQ After Reading Language 1 Look at this sentence from the story: “During dinner, Daisy and Miss Baker talked in a way that was as cool as their white dresses.” The structure as coo! called a simile. Asimile is the comparison of two unlike things using the words ‘as’ or ‘like’. Complete these similes with ideas of your own. a) The sand on the beach was as hot as .. ‘burnt our feet. b) Angela has black hair and her eyes are as blue as... ©) Jane isn’t a very good cook. Instead of being light and soft, her cakes are always like .. 4) Icouldn’t understand the newsreader, He spoke as fast as. ¢) I've been working in the garden all day and I'm as tired as... £) Silvia has a beautiful voice. She sings like .. Share your sentences with the class. Vote for the most interesting similes. After Reading 2 Complete the sentences from the story with the prepositions in the box. a) Tom stopped impatiently ... Wilson’s sign. b) Tom frowned, and without a word went to sea but I could only see a green light. 4) And she hurried .uu.uu to join her group, who were waiting for her at the door. ¢) Something very sad happened ........ me long ago. 9) He planned to take what he wanted her and leave. g) In the west there were pink and golden clouds the sea. h) Tom picked Wilson........and carried him into the office. i) She looked up at him from time to time and nodded her head agreement. j) The wind was making small ripples......... the surface of the water. o Read these phrases about homes from the story a) a red and white mansion with a lawn that stretched all the way down to the beach. 1b) Myrtle will be hurt if you don’t come to the apartment. c) Young men didn’t arrive from nowhere to buy a palace on Long Island Sound. ) Iwant you and Daisy to come to my house. Work with a partner. Makea list of the differences between these four types of home. 95,After Reading After Reading [D2 Tick (V) true (1) or false (F). cy Exit Test a) Tomand Nick were at Yale University together, (41 Listen and tick (/) the correct picture. b) Jordan and Daisy grew up in the same town. ©) Gatsby sent Nick an invitation to one ait) of his parties. d) Nick and Jordan fell in love. e) Jordan didn’t believe that Gatsby had studied at Oxford University. £) Gatsby was anxious about seeing Daisy again. g) After the tea party, Gatsby told Nick the truth about his past, h) Tom admired Gatsby because he was a self-made man. i) Daisy often visited Gatsby in his mansion. j) Wilson wanted to leave the East because Myrtle was ill, ) In the hotel room, Daisy confessed that she had never loved Tom. 1) Myrtle was waving at her Greek neighbour when she was hit by the car. ‘m) After the accident, Gatsby went to the Buchanan’s house to talk to Tom. n) Wilson spent all of the following morning, looking for the yellow car. 0) Daisy asked Nick to take care of the funeral arrangements and then left. p) Nick wrote to Gatsby’s father to tell him what had happened. oo OO # Se eo, we Oe eo oe Bree er O° OO Ce Oo Late lal 96 7Sow much do you know about the 1920s? Answer these questions and discover how much you know about the decade. g Which name is not used to describe the 1920s? a) The Golden 20s b) The Swinging 20s ©) The Roaring 20s d) The Jazz Age @ The most important invention in the 1920s was... a) the telephone. b) the radio. ©) the automobile. d) the television. B What is the title of the first talking movie and when ‘was it made? a) Metropolis, 1927 b) The General, 1926 c) The Jazz Singer, 1927 d) The Gold Rush, 1925 = © 4 when was the first flight across the Atlantic Sea, and who made it? a) 1903, The Wright brothers b) 1927, Chark indbergh c) 1928, Amelia Earhart d) 1928, Charles Kingsford Smith 5 Who was Al Capone and what was his nickname? a) He was a famous robber, and his nickname was Babyface. b) He was a famous boxer, and his nickname was Thunder. ©) He was a famous detective, and his nickname was Eagle Eyes. 4) He was a famous gangster, and his nickname was Scarface. 6 Who were the flappers? a) Women who wore a lot of make-up, had short hair and went to parties. b) Women who worked in politics. ©) Women who were very conservative. d) Women who only wanted to make a good career. i If you have answered more than 4 que: Pes COUR EsmnceTt Now search the Internet to check your answers. Tacpe After Reading Project Work Changing the Narrator ‘The Great Gatsby is narrated by Nick Carraway, and so we see everything from his of view. For example, there is no information about what Gatsby did in West Egg, before Nick arrived there, nothing about the things he did on his own when Nick wasn’t around, about his business deals, apart from the little Nick overhears, and so on. This is what happens in story writing when we have a single narrator, | Work with a partner, and tell the story from the point of view of either Jay Gatsby or Daisy Buchanan. Think about these things: « How and when did you come to West Egg (Gatsby) or East Egg (Daisy) and why? How did you spend your time before Nick Carraway arrived there? Explain your feelings about Gatsby /Daisy. Say how you felt about the first meeting with Gatsby/ Daisy, the meeting in the Plaza Hotel room and the car accident. Daisy, say how you felt about Gatsby’s death, where you went and what you think your future will be. Write scenes from the story, making sure you write it in the first person ("I meaning either Gatsby or Daisy), and expressing your feelings and opinions about things. 100