Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Pg. 81-96
Summary: Nick is on his way home when he notices that Gatsby’s is lighted to a point where it almost looks as if Nick’s house was on fire from a far. Gatsby comes out to tell Nick that he doesn’t want Nick to struggle too much to make a specific time for the tea between him and Daisy, and also gives Nick a job proposition. After Gatsby’s butlers cleans up Nicks grass, Daisy comes over, but Gatsby hides at first. After coming to see each other, the three of them go over to Gatsby’s house for a tour. Daisy cries at the beauty of Gatsby’s shirts and they all go down to listen to Mr. Klipspringer play the piano. After being forgotten, Nick slips out of the house go back home, leaving Gatsby and Daisy alone.

Character: Ewing Klipspringer

Description: “…an embarrassed, slightly worn young man, with shell-rimmed glasses and scanty blond hair. He was now decently clothed in a sport shirt, open at the neck, sneakers, and duck trousers of a nebulous hue.” (Pg. 94)

- Ewing seems to be not very confident, continuing to repeat the fact that he hasn’t played the piano in a long time and won’t be very good. He also is very upset of the fact that he is working for Gatsby, thinking that he shouldn’t be interrupted because he was sleeping. Judging from the lyrics of his song, he is pessimistic, talking about how the rich get richer but the poor get poorer.

- The importance of this character is to emphasize the love affair between Gatsby and Daisy. His song selection, a love song, is used to amplify the fact that there are strong feelings between the two. Through the lyrics, he suggests that they must use the time they have now to love each other. Ewing also interrupts the two, complaining that he doesn’t play often, perhaps foreshadowing of an interfering person or event, breaking up the affair between Gatsby and Daisy.

Quote: “As I watched him he adjusted himself a little, visibly. His hand took hold of hers, and as she said something low in his ear he turned toward her with a rush of emotion. I think that voice held him most, with its fluctuating, feverish warmth, because it couldn’t be over-dreamed- that voice was a deathless song.” (Pg. 96)

- There is more then Gatsby trying to get with a girl he did before he went to war in this relationship. Throughout the chapter, there are examples that portray the fact that these two are in love, such as the quote here. It is the begging of a strong, loving relationship that through the whisper is deathless. The rush of emotions and holding hands creates a relationship between the two already, the first time they see each other. Although it might cause controversy and problems in the future, a new relationship that would be banned by society has been created.