Journal Entry #4

Chapter 4: Pages 61-80

Chapter Summary:

Chapter 4 of The Great Gatsby begins with Nick’s list of all the people who have attended Gatsby’s parties over the summer. One day. Gatsby shows up to Nick’s house in a beautiful car and insists that they go to lunch together. In the car, Gatsby asks Nick what his opinion is of him and then continues on with information about who he is, where he went to school, how he got his money, and where he is from, and even includes that he wished he could have ended his life during the war. At lunch, Gatsby introduces Nick to Meyer Wolfsheim, the man who fixed the World's Series back in 1919, and they all have lunch together. Later that night, Nick plans to have tea with Jordan to talk about what Mr. Gatsby told her. Jordan tells Nick that before Daisy was married, she was dating Gatsby but then he got shipped off to war and when he came back she was married to Tom. Jordan informs Nick that Mr. Gatsby wants Nick to invite to his house for tea and allow Gatsby to come over as a surprise to see her.

Character:

Meyer Wolfsheim

Most Defining Quote:

“ I can’t forget so long as I live the night they shot Rosy Rosenthal there. It was six of us at the table, and Rosy had eat and drunk a lot all evening. When it was almost morning the waiter came up to him with a funny look and says somebody wants to speak to him outside.” “Let the bastards come in here if they want you, Rosy, but don’t you, so help me, move outside this room.”

Characteristics:

Wolfsheim is “a small flat-nosed Jew with a large head and two fine growths of hair which luxuriated in either nostril.” (Nick 69) He has tiny eyes and speaks with a nasally accent.

Role in the Book:

Wolfsheim’s role in the book is as Gatsby’s friend who participates in illegal acts. Because of Wolfsheim, the reader is forced to question whether or not Gatsby is like him and also does dirty deeds to earn money.

Quote:

“Miss Baker’s a great sportswoman, you know, and she’d never do anything that wasn’t alright.” (Gatsby 71)

This quote stood out to me because it is surprising to me that Gatsby would tell such a lie about Jordan. Jordan has no redeeming qualities and I find it strange that Gatsby would say she is a good person that would never do anything wrong. In the book thus far, Gatsby is portrayed as a character the reader can trust, but with chapter 4, the reader is given many circumstances that question how good he actually is.