Chapter 5

So. In this chapter Nick helps Gatsby have a little reunion with Daisy, as they are former lovers. Nick is offended that Gatsby offers him a job in return for his help but has no other issues with assisting him. Gatsby does not like being indebt to anyone (this was also shown when Gatsby bought a new dress for a girl when her other dress was stained at his party) and therefore he is uncomfortable with using Nick. Nick has no problem with potentially ruining Daisy's marriage, whether this is because he respects Gatsby or dislikes Tom, is unclear. It has been depicted throughout the novel that Nick plays the role of the observer and has no strong influence on any of the characters. As for Daisy, when she reunites with Gatsby she seems to be more thrilled by the extent of his wealth and his expensive possessions than in seeing Gatsby himself. I find her to be a shallow character, but Gatsby's youthful love for Daisy blinds him from seeing that she has potentially changed. As Gatsby is exhilarated from meeting Daisy again, he is off his guard and we get a glimpse of his genuinely nervous, awkward self. Gatsby has always been careful of what he says, perhaps this being because he has something to hide, but after spending some time with Daisy he doesn't speak cautiously with Nick. For example he says in reference to his house, "It took me just three years to earn the money that bought it"(90). When Nick replies that he thought he inherited the money, Gatsby quickly says "I did old sport...but I lost most of it in the panic---the panic of the war"(90). Gatsby is usually more conscience of what he says, choosing his words carefully, but as this has been an extremely emotional occasion for him, he speaks with little understanding of what he is saying.