Chapter 3 Summary and Analysis

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Summer in West Egg is a series of parties for Nick, and perhaps the best of all is one Gatsby invites him to at the beginning of this chapter. Nick has been observing the parties for weeks by this time and knows something of what happens there: the driveway begins to fill with cars, invited and uninvited guests come and go and stay to all hours of the night, listening to music from the orchestra, drinking cocktails mixed with the juice of hundreds of lemons and oranges supplied by a fruiterer on a weekly basis; fights break out; relationships begin and end; guests swim and fall into the pool; these parties are, in short, raucous, and Nick is happy to receive a personal invitation from Gatsby himself, who sends a chauffeur to invite him one Saturday.

Nick arrives to find that none of the guests know where Gatsby is and furthermore that they’re affronted that he would ask. It’s immediately apparent that none of these people are there for Gatsby and that none of them can be considered his friends. Jordan Baker, who appears just as Nick moves toward the bar, has no clue as to Gatsby’s true whereabouts, but doesn’t seem to mind gossiping about him beside the pool with two girls dressed in yellow. One of them tells Nick and Jordan that Gatsby sent her a brand new dress after she tore her old one at another of his parties. No one has any idea who the man really is. Some say he was a German spy in the war. Others think he killed a man. Nick doesn’t know what to think about Gatsby, and this fuels the mystery that Fitzgerald has been building about Gatsby from the start.

After the first supper (there’s a second after midnight), Nick and Jordan attempt to find Gatsby and spend some time exploring his large stately mansion, meeting a man described simply as wearing owl-eyed spectacles and having been drunk for a full week. Owl Eyes points out with some surprise that the books in Gatsby’s library are real. He was expecting them to be fake, which is to say, he thinks Gatsby’s fake and this is all an elaborate façade constructed to hide his true self. Naturally, Nick and Jordan find this all rather absurd and, after shaking Owl Eyes’ hand, leave him to dry out in the library while they continue their search. Downstairs, dancing has started up again, and Nick sits at one of the tables to watch. He strikes up a conversation with another man at the table, bonding with him about fighting in World War I, before the man finally reveals that he’s Gatsby. Their exchange is awkward and unexpected and quickly gets interrupted by an important business call from Chicago. After Gatsby’s sudden departure, the orchestra begins to play a popular (fictional) jazz composition.

Not long after Gatsby leaves, his butler comes to say that he’d like to speak with Jordan. Nick, alone now, heads up to a ballroom above the terrace, where one of the girls in yellow is crying and playing the piano, devastated by a fight she had with her husband. Indeed, every woman there seems to be having a fight with her husband. Nick thinks it’s probably time to leave, and while he’s waiting for a servant to fetch his hat he sees Gatsby and Jordan, who are returning from their private conversation. Jordan refuses to tell Nick what they talked about, at least for the moment, and together they spend some time trying to extricate themselves from the party, which has resulted in a car accident that has trapped many cars in the driveway. It seems old Owl Eyes was in the car when it veered into a ditch, and the driver, too wasted to understand what’s happened, doesn’t realize that the steering wheel has broken off. It’s a strange end to an already over the top party.

Nick then makes a point of saying that life in West Egg isn’t just about parties. He also works and studies investments during the week, eats dinner at the Yale Club, and for a while can be seen around town with Jordan Baker. Unfortunately, Nick sours a little on Jordan because of a story he remembers hearing about her cheating in a golf tournament. This leads Nick to make the statement: “I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.” Nick is completely sincere. Fitzgerald, on the other hand, has already established that Nick can be a very critical and judgmental person, so he may not be the best judge of his own character.

Nick also reveals that there was a girl back home who was getting perhaps too attached, and that he made sure to break it off. He mentions this only in passing, so that it’s easy to miss it. This suggests that there are many aspects of his character that he would like to keep hidden.

Allusions

Belasco. David Belasco, namesake of the Belasco Theatre in New York City, was a theatrical producer, director, and playwright. His theatrical productions were well-known for their acute attention to detail, which included installing a functional laundromat in one production and adding scent to another. Owl Eyes refers to Gatsby as “a regular Belasco,” meaning that his entire house is a kind of set where he’s putting on a performance.

Castile. A powerful kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula in what’s now modern-day Spain. In the Middle Ages, Castile was a rich and imperious state, home to many great families and artists. Their clothing was particularly vibrant, which Fitzgerald alludes to when he says some ladies at the party were wearing “shawls beyond the dreams of Castile,” meaning that they’re even richer and more luxurious than those found in Castile.

Gilda Gray and the Ziegfeld Follies. Gilda Gray, a famous dancer and actress from the 1920s, well-known for the “shimmy,” which became popular during the Jazz Age. In 1922, she appeared in Florenz Ziegfield’s namesake “Follies,” a long-running series of theatrical Broadway productions that included dance, music, vaudeville, and dramatic and comedic performances. Ziegfield’s Follies were world-renowned, and appearing in them was a sign of enormous talent and skill. It’s no wonder that the guests at Gatsby’s party are excited by the prospect of meeting Gilda Gray’s understudy.

“Jazz History of the World” by Vladimir Tostoff. A fictional composition Fitzgerald made up for this novel. “Tostoff” may be a clever bit of word play on Fitzgerald’s part, indicating that he casually “tossed off” the fake name.

John Lawson Stoddard’s Lectures. Stoddard, an American writer, was famous for his “lectures,” or travelogues, in which he wrote about his adventures in various foreign countries. Volume One, which Owl Eyes pulls from the shelf, concerns Stoddard’s time in Norway, Switzerland, Athens, and Venice. Fitzgerald refers to it because it gives Gatsby’s private library both legitimacy and importance, suggesting that, even if Gatsby hasn’t read the books, he has the sense to buy them.

Foreshadowing

False appearances. Fitzgerald uses Owl Eyes’ expectation that the books in Gatsby’s library are fake to prime the reader for the revelation that Gatsby has been keeping secrets from people and might not be who he says he is. For more on Gatsby’s true identity, see Chapter VI.

Car crashes. This chapter marks the first car crash in the novel. It’s notable in that it becomes absurd, was caused by excessive alcohol consumption, and results in no serious injuries. For information about the second car crash, see Chapter VII.

Symbols

Books. Fitzgerald continues to develop books as a symbol in this chapter, once again using books as both tools of character development and symbols of one’s social status. Gatsby’s library, as Owl Eyes points out, is full of books that he expected to be fake, but which turned out to be as real as he is. Fitzgerald uses the owl-eyed man’s astonishment at this to suggest that Gatsby might be a fake and that, if so, he’s a very successful one.

Colors. In this chapter, the color yellow becomes more prominent, appearing in the dresses of the two women in yellow, in the paint of Gatsby’s station wagon, in the turkey skin and “yellow cocktail music” and skinny flutes of champagne that float around the party on ornate silver platters. It’s clear, from these descriptions, that yellow has been associated with opulence and money, the same way gold is associated with riches.

Eyes. In contrast to Doctor T. J. Eckleburg’s eyes, which gaze out over the valley of ashes like those of an all-knowing but altogether indifferent god, the owl eyes of the drunken party guest in this chapter are symbols of blindness or a failure to see the truth of what’s right in front of you. His expectation that the books will be made of cardboard and subsequent astonishment at finding them to be real indicates to the reader that things aren’t always as they appear, and that even God’s eyes can be blind to a person’s true intentions.

Important Theme

Performance. There are many performances in this chapter (the gypsy’s dance number, the orchestra’s jazz numbers, and the woman in yellow’s piano playing), but the most important performances are those from people pretending to be something they’re not. This could be said of all the guests at this party, who, in attempting to have fun and make connections, pretend to be happier and more successful than many of them actually are. Jordan Baker, for instance, cheated at a pro golf tournament once, but acts like a champion. Nick pretends not to think much of the parties he attends, but that’s all he can write about. And Gatsby, too, pretends to be someone greater and richer than he is. For more on Gatsby’s true identity, see Chapter VI.

Expert Q&A

What careless act occurs at the end of the party in chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby?

The careless act which happens at the end of chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby is a car accident caused by a drunk driver. The car veered off the ditch, and the driver was so drunk that he did not realize that the steering wheel had broken off.

What two incidents involving automobiles occur in Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby?

The two automobile incidents in Chapter 3 involve Owl Eyes crashing a car into a ditch and Jordan Baker's reckless driving. Owl Eyes, drunk and confused, crashes Gatsby's car but isn't the driver. Jordan, nearly hitting workmen while driving with Nick, dismisses concerns, claiming others will avoid her. These incidents symbolize the carelessness and entitlement of the wealthy in the 1920s.

Why does Owl-Eyes describe Gatsby as a real Belasco in chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby?

Owl-Eyes describes Gatsby as a "real Belasco" in chapter 3 because he is amazed that Gatsby's books are real and not just for show. The comparison to David Belasco, a famous playwright and producer, suggests that Gatsby is skilled at creating an impressive facade, much like a theatrical production. This highlights the artificiality and theatricality of Gatsby's life.

What is Nick's "cardinal virtue" in Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby?

In Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby, Nick claims his "cardinal virtue" is honesty, stating, "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known." However, this assertion is ironic as Nick is often judgmental and unreliable as a narrator, mirroring the novel's broader theme of the complex layers of truth and deceit among the characters.

What are some symbols in Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby?

Symbols in Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby include Gatsby's Rolls-Royce, symbolizing his wealth and aspirations; crates of oranges and lemons, representing extravagance and the emptiness of his parties; and Gatsby's library, symbolizing his sophisticated artifice. Additionally, the sea imagery connects to earlier events, and Gatsby's smile symbolizes his ability to project an enchanting illusion that ultimately reveals his true nature.

Can you provide examples of personification in chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby?

In chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby, personification is used to attribute human qualities to non-human elements. One example is the description of a car's wheel as "amputated," implying a human-like injury, and the car horns "groaning," which suggests human discomfort. Another instance occurs when the narrative describes the party as having "preserved a dignified homogeneity," and the locations "East Egg" and "West Egg" are portrayed as entities capable of condescending or being on guard, thus giving these settings human characteristics.

In The Great Gatsby chapter 3, who is Owl Eyes and how does he think guests arrive at the party?

Owl Eyes is a guest at Gatsby's parties who Nick and Jordan meet in the library, noting the books' uncut pages. He believes most guests, including himself, are brought to the parties by others, reflecting the chaotic and superficial nature of Gatsby's social gatherings. Owl Eyes stands out for his moral insight, being the only partygoer to attend Gatsby's funeral, highlighting his genuine character amidst the otherwise indifferent crowd.

Why does Nick in Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby believe he's one of the few honest people?

Nick believes he is one of the few honest people because he values personal integrity and traditional morality. Throughout the novel, he demonstrates honesty in his relationships, such as clarifying his breakup with a girl from home and responsibly ending things with Jordan. While he participates in some morally ambiguous situations, like Gatsby and Daisy's meeting, these are narrative necessities rather than reflections of dishonesty, reinforcing his self-perception as fundamentally honest.

What is Fitzgerald conveying about Gatsby in this quote from The Great Gatsby chapter 3?

“I was looking at an elegant young roughneck ... whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. Sometime before he introduced himself I’d got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care.”

Nick says “I was looking at an elegant young rough-neck … I’d got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care” in chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby. Through this description, Fitzgerald is trying to convey Gatsby’s true identity under a calculated and fake façade of class. Nick notices the difficulty that Gatsby has in appearing sophisticated. As readers, we feel suspicious of and a bit sorry for Gatsby as he fails to pull off his intended disguise.

What is the meaning of "wafer" in this excerpt from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, chapter 3?

The caterwauling horns had reached a crescendo and I turned away and cut across the lawn toward home. I glanced back once. A wafer of a moon was shining over Gatsby’s house, making the night fine as before and surviving the laughter and the sound of his still glowing garden.

In this excerpt from The Great Gatsby, "wafer" is a metaphor comparing the moon to a thin, insubstantial piece of pastry, suggesting its fleeting presence. This metaphor reflects the temporary nature of the party's exuberance, which will fade as the night progresses. Additionally, the chapter's use of the color yellow symbolizes opulence and decadence, foreshadowing Gatsby's eventual downfall.

What does "scales" refer to in this excerpt from chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald?

The moon had risen higher, and floating in the Sound was a triangle of silver scales, trembling a little to the stiff, tinny drip of the banjoes on the lawn.

In chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby, "scales" refers to the moonlight reflecting on the slightly choppy water, resembling fish scales or flexible armor. These scales appear to tremble due to the rippling water, not the banjo music. This metaphor highlights Fitzgerald's poetic style, similar to Keats and Shakespeare, using vivid imagery to evoke a sense of motion and light.

How are Nick and Gatsby similar and paradoxical in chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby?

In Chapter 3, Nick and Gatsby share similarities and paradoxes. Both avoid carelessness; Nick is honest and careful about others' feelings, while Gatsby meticulously controls his image and parties to conceal his true identity. They share a fear of confrontation, as seen in Gatsby's willingness to replace a guest's dress. Their shared experience as World War I veterans provides common ground. However, while Nick values honesty, Gatsby conceals his past, highlighting their differing motivations.

In which chapter of "The Great Gatsby" does Nick discover Jordan cheated in a golf tournament?

Nick discovers that Jordan cheated in a golf tournament at the end of Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby. The memory resurfaces after a party at Gatsby's, triggered by Jordan lying about leaving a car top down in the rain. Nick recalls a scandal where she allegedly changed the lie of her ball in her first big tournament, marking her as "incurably dishonest."

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