The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Pages 47-55
"It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey," (Fitzgerald, 48).
Putting a face to the name, Nick finally gets the pleasure, unbeknownst at first to him, of meeting the great Jay Gatsby. Recalling memories of the war they endured together, the two struck up an instant bond. Solidifying the new friendship, Gatsby draws Nick in with a captivating smile full of "eternal reassurance," (Fitzgerald, 48).
But I feel this ivory flash might not be as friendly as it seems. Twice within this section, Gatsby is called away by a servant to receive a phone call that is simply referred to by its city of origin. Shrouded in secrecy, I think these phone calls have to do something with his business, about which nothing is known. The lack of information provided as to the reason behind these covert conversations leads me to believe that Gatsby's business may not be entirely accepted by society; he might be involved in some sort of criminal activity that provides his incredible wealth.
Even more secrets ensue when Gatsby takes Jordan aside to have a private conversation with her. Jordan refuses to tell Nick about the nature of their conversation, but instead, she invites him to come visit her at her aunt's house.
I'm a little confused about the car incident that closes out this section though. Maybe it will connect later, or it might just be thrown in to take up space. We'll see.
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