I want to point out some of the last words that Nick says to Gatsby when leaving his house in the morning. "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together"(154) Nick tells Gatsby, referring to Daisy, Tom, and probably Jordan and other "friends". Nick is not a huge fan of the true person that Gatsby is and he tells us this in the first chapter: "Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn"(2). Nick knows that Gatsby lies and is going after the wrong dream with wrong ways. Nick says this line because he feels pity for Gatsby. Daisy went back to Tom and Gatsby is lonely and sad and also his house (in a way symbolizing his life) is getting out of hand so Nick let's him know that he has at least on friend left by saying this to him to make him feel better.....but this compliment has a back meaning. The fact that he said you are "worth" more than them shows an obvious literal meaning that Gatsby is actually wealthier than Daisy, Tom, and all of his other guests. I feel like Nick is saying , "nice job getting all that money and making yourself so happy" in a sarcastic manner. Nick knew that Gatsby was trying to get Daisy with his wealth (go back to the t-shirt scene) and he disapproves. Fitzgerald explains Gatsby's response to this by noting: "First he nodded politely, and then his face broke into that radiant and understanding smile..." (154). Here, it seems that Gatsby appreciated the compliment, but in a way understood what Nick was actually saying. The smile that Gatsby gives Nick is a smile that says he is happy with the fact that he is so rich- the exact reason why he did not have a happy life. Even at this point in the book, Gatsby believes, and Fitzgerald makes it obvious, that to have happiness for most people (Nick an exception?), you need money. That's why Tom, Daisy, Myrtle, and Gatsby have horrible lives. He has the wrong mindset the whole book.

-Chloe