The Great Gatsby: Chapter Five Summary & Imaginary Journal

Summary

Fitzgerald makes five important choices in Chapter Five. These are: Gatsby's disbelief that Daisy will come, Nick's fear that his house is burning and Gatsby's anguish, at seeing Daisy again after many years. For his first choice, Fitzgerald uses the literary device of Gatsby's dialogue with Tom and his outlook. Gatsby says, "Nobody's coming to tea. It's too late!" to show that he is feeling hopeless. Nick shows Gatsby's hopelessness when he says, "He was pale, and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes." Fitzgerald uses fear both for Gatsby and for Nick. Nick's fear is is different from Gatsby's fear. Nick fears that his house "was on fire." Gatsby fears that Daisy will not come. He is shocked when she comes and that is why he gets pale as death. His anguish of not seeing Daisy continued for five years: "Five years next November", he says. This also shows his hope to meet Daisy one day. Fitzgerald uses contrast to show how Gatsby was before and now. These literary elements combine to produce an overall effect of his weakness and love for Daisy Buchanan.

Imaginary Journal(Tom Buchanan)

I don't know what Daisy is doing now and I don't care about her. I am having a good time with Myrtle. I think Daisy is at home now and she is extremely bored. Anyway, there is Nick, her cousin, who can take her to any place she wants. I wonder if Gatsby is interested in her but I can learn it from Nick. Nick can be a good friend as well as a cousin to Daisy. I will ask Gatsby why he wanted to see Daisy alone and also, ask him if he were in love with her. If he does, he is an enemy who cannot give Daisy's loyalty at all.

Key Sentences

1) I am going to call up Daisy tomorrow and invite her over here to tea. (p. 79)
2) He was pale, and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes. (p. 81)
3) Nobody's coming to tea. It's too late! (p.82)
4) Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets... (p. 83)
5) You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.