Editor's Choice
How does Henry Gatz learn about the funeral?
Quick answer:
Henry Gatz learns about his son Jay Gatsby's death through a Chicago newspaper, despite living in Minnesota. Upon reading the news, he immediately travels to New York and sends a telegram to Nick Carraway, requesting to delay the funeral until his arrival. Gatz's deep pride in his son's achievements is evident, as he reminisces about Jay's potential and accomplishments during his visit to Gatsby's mansion.
As was mentioned in the previous posts, Nick Carraway receives a telegram from Henry Gatz telling him to postpone Jay's funeral until he arrives in New York. When Henry arrives in New York, he tells Nick that he learned about Jay's death after reading about it in a Chicago newspaper. As soon as Henry heard about Jay's death, he immediately left for New York. Nick mentions that Henry Gatz is extremely proud of his son's accomplishments and is in awe of Jay's beautiful home. Henry then reminisces about his son and tells Nick that Jay would have been a remarkable man if he would have lived longer. He even shows Nick a book with Jay's schedule and resolves written in the back, which illustrates Jay's determination to become a success. Unfortunately, nobody attends Jay's funeral, and Nick Carraway leaves New York shortly after Jay is buried.
Henry Gatz is Jay
Unlock
This Answer NowStart your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
Henry Gatz is JayGatsby's father. He does not exactly hear about the funeral until he gets to New York. I think what you are really asking is how he found out that his son was dead. The answer to that is that he read about the murder in a newspaper from Chicago (Gatz is living in Minnesota, but apparently saw a Chicago newspaper). Here is the passage where we find this out:
“I saw it in the Chicago newspaper,” he said. “It was all in the Chicago newspaper. I started right away.”
Henry Gatz sends a telegram to Nick Carraway asking him to put the funeral off until he, Gatz, can get there.
In The Great Gatsby, how does Henry Gatz learn about the funeral?
At the end of The Great Gatsby, Henry C. Gatz, Gatsby's father, comes for his son's funeral. Nick receives a telegram announcing his arrival, asking that the funeral be delayed if necessary. He shows up at Gatsby's mansion, "... a solemn old man, very helpless and dismayed..." (Fitzgerald 175). He tells Nick that he read of his son's death in a newspaper in Chicago and that he had immediately set off to New York to be at Gatsby's funeral. He asks Nick where his "Jimmy" (175) is laid out, which is in the drawing room of Gatsby's mansion. Nick takes him and leaves him there to have a private moment to mourn his son. After some period of time, Mr. Gatz emerges, still with some tears in his eyes, and Nick helps him to get upstairs to a bedroom. He is such a sad character, so proud of his son and believing him to have achieved the American dream.