Analyse af kapitel 5 i 'The Great Gatsby'

Chapter five is quite different from previous chapters in “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald from 1925. The love between Daisy and Gatsby seems to blossom, however the norms of society shakes their love and separates them. In the 20'ies you (women?) married for wealth and social class over the love you would feel for someone. But can wealth compensate for ‘forbidden’ love? And should you listen to your heart, rather than society?

We get a bit of new information about Daisy’s and Gatsby’s relationship throughout the events in this particular chapter. In the beginning of chapter five Mr. Gatsby meets Daisy again after 5 years at a little tea-party at Nick’s. After five long years Gatsby’s dream is realized when reunited with Daisy. Gatsby wants everything to be perfect for Daisy, so he micromanages every detail and dresses to ensure that Daisy doesn't miss the fact that he's rich now: “white flannel suit, silver shirt and gold-colored tie” (P. 90, L. 6) Gatsby reflects control but on a single page he’s also described as “nervous, pale, sleepless, blank, vague, hollow and vacant.” (P. 90, L. 5/7/8/11/14/22/25) It shows Gatsby’s real personality, and that he might not be as calm as he appears. The weather seems to have a symbolic connection to these anxious feelings Gatsby has, but also his and Daisy’s, at first, a bit awkward meeting. “The day agreed upon was pouring rain.” (S. 89, L. 25) The weather is here a clear symbol of Gatsby’s turbulent emotions, but when he and Daisy talk, it seems like the weather changes with their emotions: “It’s stopped raining.’ ‘Has it?’ When he realized what I was talking about, that there were twinkle-bells of sunshine in the room, he smiled like a weatherman” (P. 96, L. 2). The weather has now completely changed along with Gatsby’s feelings, as he and daisy get more comfortable with each other during the meeting.