The Unattainable Grail

The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Pages 147-155

"He was clutching at some last hope and I couldn't bear to shake him free," (Fitzgerald, 148).

Even after a traumatic evening and the soft rejection of his love, Gatsby refuses to leave behind his hopes of Daisy. He even takes the time to tell Nick of their courtship years ago in Louisville. Nick realizes that Gatsby "had committed himself to the following of a grail" because Daisy had become unattainable, and it seemed clear to all except for the man with the strongest feelings. When Gatsby reveals that he and Daisy gave themselves to each other, he also reveals that this is the point in their relationship that he felt the strongest connection to Daisy. Because of this, he has refused to let her go.

When we come back to reality, the weather is lovely and cool, a sharp contrast from the previous day and excellent foreshadowing of another completely unexpected turn in the story. Perhaps a happier one this time. But even the weather could not relieve Nick of his worries involving his friends and the previous night. He even rejects a date with Jordan Baker, a woman for whom he feltly so strongly only the evening beforehand.

I'm really confused as to what Fitzgerald is doing right now. This day seems to be in complete contrast from the day that preceeded it. But, hey, it's only half over...