Chapter Six Analysis

This chapter begins with an "ambitious young reporter" arriving on Gatsby's doorstep. Nick tells readers that this was the journalist's day off and "he had hurried out 'to see'". The fact the journalist is doing his job even on his day off hints at the American Dream and the determination to succeed - one of the key themes of the novel. More rumours are circulating around Gatsby, adding to the mystery. One rumour in particular involves the "underground pipe-line to Canada", meaning the underground road from Canada to the United States that could be used to transport alcohol. It is almost certain by the end of the story that Gatsby accumulated his fortune by smuggling alcohol (amongst other criminal ventures) - later on Tom Buchanan maliciously accuses Gatsby of being a "bootlegger" to his face. Naturally, people are suspicious of Gatsby's wealth as it is 'new money' and they don't where it came from, which causes these rumours to spread. Nick also says:

"there was one persistent story that he didn't live in a house at all, but in a boat that looked like a house and was moved secretly up and down the Long Island shore."

This rumour is the most absurd of them all, and could be Fitzgerald's way of mocking 1920's media, which often sensationalised things (note the recurring tabloid in the story is called "Town Tattle" suggesting the 'news' is little more than gossip).

Chapter 6 is also the chapter in which Gatsby's true identity is revealed; James Gatz. Gatsby reinvented himself as a rich and aristocratic man of 'new money' when in actual fact he was the child of "shiftless and unsuccessful farm people" living in North Dakota. Gatsby chased the "beauty and glamour in the world" by winning over a rich yacht owner named Dan Cody, who took Gatsby under his wing and helped him create his new identity by buying him new clothes, giving him work and taking him sailing around the continent. Cody left his fortune to Gatsby when he died, but a woman named Ella Kaye (whose relationship with Cody is never defined, but it can be assumed she was a love interest) used illegal means to inherit the money. Gatsby was left poor and then turned to criminal activity to rebuild the fortune that was taken from him.

 Gatsby "sprang from his Platonic conception of himself" at just 17 years old, and, according to Nick, was "faithful to the end" to this identity he created. The fact that Gatsby is modelled on the invention of an ambitious and imaginative 17 year old suggests immaturity; 'Gatsby' was the character of a young boy's fantasy, and yet he now fills this role in the way a child might play at being a 'grown up'. After his past is revealed, Gatsby is even more representative of the American Dream, as he rose to great wealth and success through imagination and determination alone.Whilst readers certainly feel they know and understand Gatsby better now that his past has been revealed, in a way the revelation only leads readers to question Gatsby more; everything Gatsby has said about his past has been lies, meaning everything he has said has reason to be doubted.

Nick also talks of how "the most grotesque and fantastic conceits haunted [Gatsby]". Nick's conflicted feelings towards Gatsby are evident in this sentence. Nick's moral side may associate Gatsby with the word 'grotesque' as he is repulsed by Gatsby's excessive materialism, whilst Nick also admires Gatsby and is enchanted by his charm, meaning he also sees Gatsby as "fantastic". The fact that grotesque comes first, and then fantastic, suggests that Nick's infatuation with Gatsby exceeds his morality.

Gatsby has yet to master social interaction with people of old money, despite his façade. A woman invites Gatsby and Nick to supper when she is drunk, but Mr. Sloane, her partner, does not want them over (this can be inferred by the way he says "come along" to the woman only, rather than their potential guests, and then murmurs something in her ear.) Nick, reading the situation, politely declines, however Gatsby does not understand the insincerity of the invitation and agrees. As he leaves to get his things together, there is this discussion:

"My God, I believe the man's coming," said Tom. "Doesn't he know she doesn't want him?"
"She says she does want him." - (Nick)

This exchange indicates Gatsby's inability to read social cues, suggesting he is inexperienced with people of 'old money' and that he does not truly fit in. He has not mastered the subtle interactions of the social class, and is perhaps too sincere to ever be part of that circle; he is somewhat naive, believing all they say and seeing the best in them, despite them being shallow and careless people.

Whilst Gatsby is preparing to go, Sloane and the lady swiftly leave on horseback. This episode speaks volumes of upper class society at the time. When the group arrive, Gatsby tells them he is "delighted" to see them, and Nick comments to the readers "as though they cared!" Sloane curtly declines Gatsby's offers of drinks and avoids engaging in conversation despite Gatsby's efforts to be friendly. The couple then rudely leave without even saying goodbye, to avoid having to return Gatsby's hospitality. The upper-class are obsessed with manners and social graces, but they are only polite for the sake of appearances; they do not truly care.

The following Saturday night, Gatsby throws another party. Nick describes "arriving at twilight". Twilight is a recurring theme in the novel; it is when Gatsby's parties are thrown. Nick also first met Gatsby at twilight, and in chapter 7 Nick remembers driving "toward death through the cooling twilight" - the night Myrtle is killed. Twilight, being a midway point between day and night, could be used to represent Gatsby himself as he is both light and dark; light, in his love for Daisy, his hopeful ambition, and his good nature, and dark, in his suspicious criminal activity and his somewhat obsessive desire to repeat the past. As twilight represents the end of a day, it could also be synonymous with change in the novel, in the same way that the seasons are; Nick meeting Gatsby and Myrtle being killed are both 'turning points' in the novel that occur at twilight.

Nick's perspective of the party is drastically different in this chapter. In Nick's eyes, the party guests who were previously entertaining have now become "septic" and the party has an "unpleasantness in the air". This could suggest Nick is growing tired of these events and the hollow people who populate them. They are no longer portrayed as merry, comical characters but as embarrassing drunks; for example one woman, who, when drunk, "always starts screaming like that". Daisy does not have a good time and is "appalled by West Egg" and the rowdy behaviour of the party guests. This highlights the distinct divide between 'new money' (Gatsby) and 'old money' (Tom and Daisy). Gatsby throws these parties to impress Daisy, but he does not truly understand how to impress her, as they have such different standards. This once again suggests that, despite his efforts, Gatsby will never fit in with the 'old money' social class. Gatsby senses Daisy's disdain and is hugely disappointed when he tells Nick "she didn't like it." Tension has been taut in this chapter between Tom, Daisy and Gatsby, perhaps foreshadowing the climax in chapter 7 when there is a confrontation between the 'love triangle.'

Nick explains that although he is informing the reader of Gatsby's past at this point in the story, Gatsby actually told him all this "very much later". At the end of the chapter, Nick also includes a 'flashback' to Gatsby and Daisy's past. The reader is reminded at these points that Nick is in control of the narrative and its chronology, and that everything we are told is through Nick's perspective. The retelling of a moment between Gatsby and Daisy "five years before" is detailed, despite the fact Nick was not there. How does Nick know Gatsby's "heart beat faster and faster"? How does he know what Gatsby was thinking and feeling? It can only be assumed that Gatsby told him this, but it is never confirmed; Nick could easily be making this up or embellishing the story. This causes readers to question how much of the story is the complete truth, and how much has been altered or created by Nick.