Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Pgs 61-80

Summary: Nick starts to describe the types of people who attended Gatsby’s parties and talked trash about him. After, Gatsby arrives at Nicks door and picks him up to have lunch in New York. During their drive over, Gatsby explains his past with pictures to use as proof. When arriving at the lunch place, Nick meets Mr. Wolfsheim and they all have lunch, running into Tom after Mr. Wolfsheim leaves. Nick then has tea with Jordan and she explains how Daisy was in love with Gatsby and Gatsby has been trying to get back with her ever since. At the end of the chapter, Nick makes a move on Jordan, kissing for the first time.

Meyer Wolfsheim
Description: “A small, flat-nosed Jew raised his large head and regarded me with two fine growths of hair which luxuriated in either nostril. After a moment I discovered his tiny eyes in the half-darkness.” (Pg. 69)

- Meyer is a gambler who seems to be dangerous, being involved in illegal bets such as rigging the 1919 World Series and also being around murders. He is very fond of Gatsby, telling Nick of all the good attribute of Gatsby while he is away. He seems as not the nicest guy, but not very mean. He is a man who speaks his mind, but not sure if he is very trustworthy considering he is a gambling man who cheats.

- The role of Meyer in this chapter is to explain how Gatsby is the type of man you can take to your family and trust that he won’t try anything on a friends wife or sister. It brings up the idea that Gatsby doesn’t want to be friends or even talk to Tom because he doesn’t want to loose his status of being a gentleman. Meyer also talks about a job briefly, getting off the subject when recognizing that Nick is the wrong man. Perhaps later, Nick takes Meyer up on some sort of job, illegal or not.

Meaningful Quote:
“’ Yeah, Gatsby’s very careful about women. He would never so much as look at a friend’s wife’” (Pg. 72)
- Gatsby has to live up to this status of being a gentleman, almost a set of personal morals that he must live by. If Gatsby becomes friends or even acquaintances with his loves husband, Tom, his guidelines for life would be broken. Therefore, when Tom comes over to talk to Nick, Gatsby suddenly disappears from the scene. It sets up almost a scary event in which wherever Tom will be, Gatsby won’t, perhaps setting up future problems getting in the way of the reunion of Gatsby and Daisy.