Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The picture of raindrops is very relevant to the fifth chapter of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, because in this chapter, there are a lot of symbols involving weather. For example, when Jay Gatsby is nervous about the reunion with his ex-lover, Daisy Buchanan, at Nick's house, it is raining outside. Also, during the reunion, Gatsby and Daisy hit it off quite well and the rain stops and the day clears up. After the reunion, Gatsby is upset again at the thought of him and Daisy not being able to continue their affair. When this happens, the skies begin to darken and the rain continues.

Quotes

"Who is 'Tom'?" (88). -Daisy after being invited to Nick's and told not to bring her husband

"The day agreed upon was puring rain" (88). -It raining before Gatsby and Daisy's date at Nick's

"After half an hour the sun shone again..." (93). -The weather clearing up after

"One thing's sure and nothing's surer; the rich get rich and the poor get- children" (101). -Gatsby playing a song on the piano

Analysis

The fifth chapter is a very important chapter of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. There are many symbols in this chapter. One of the most important symbols of the fifth chapter is the symbol of weather. Weather in this chapter is often parallel to the mood of the novel’s title character, Jay Gatsby. Whenever Gatsby is upset or saddened by something, the weather is grey, gloomy, and rainy. When Gatsby feels joy, the outside quickly becomes clear and sunny. Usually, his mood depends on where he stands with his love interest, Daisy Buchanan.

A reoccurring theme in this chapter is the theme of romance. Although not a new romance (Daisy and Jay Gatsby had been in love previously before Gatsby went overseas to fight during World War I), Gatsby gets a chance to start his romance with Daisy Buchanan again. Daisy is married but Gatsby doesn’t let that get in the way of his love. Nick, persuaded by his friend and neighbor, Gatsby, invites Daisy over for tea. He tells Daisy not to bring her husband, Tom Buchanan, and Daisy replies, “Who is ‘Tom’?” This response makes it quite apparent to the reader that Daisy clearly is not in love with her husband. After all, if she were in love, she would have remembered her husband’s name.