The Great Gatsby Chapter 5

Nick returns home that evening, and as he approaches, the sky is lit up as though his house was on fire. As he gets closer, he sees that it is simply Gatsby’s house, fully illuminated, in every room and throughout the property. There is not party, though. As Nick pulls into his driveway, Gatsby approaches him, and invites him to go to Coney Island, right now.  

Nick declines, as it is late, and he is tired. They then discussed the talk Nick had with Jordan, and he tells Gatsby that he’ll invite Daisy over for tea in two days. Gatsby appears nervous, and offers to set Nick up with a lucrative business deal, but Nick sees this as little more than a favor done out of gratitude. He declines Gatsby’s offer.  

The next morning, Nick calls Daisy, and invites her for tea. He instructs her not to bring Tom. Daisy playfully pretends to not know who ‘Tom’ is.  

The following day, the rain was pouring. Still, Gatsby set his own gardener over to Nick’s to mow the grass. Gatsby also had a number of flower arrangements delivered to Nick’s house, and, an hour before Daisy’s scheduled arrival, Gatsby arrived, looking haggard from lack of sleep, and apparent stress. He nervously checks to see that everything is in order for the arrival of Nick’s guest.  

Shortly before Daisy’s arrival, Gatsby nervously says he must be going, but Nick instructs him wait. Moments later, Daisy arrives. Nick meets her in the driveway. She jokes with Nick that perhaps he fancies her. Daisy’s chauffeur is instructed to leave, and return in an hour.  

The two enter Nick’s house, but Gatsby has gone. However, a moment later, there is a knock at the door. It is Gatsby.  

Gatsby marches directly into the room where Daisy is. Nick waits, and hears nothing but apparently stunned silence for at least half a minute. Then, the joyful sounds of recognition, followed by more silence. Nick enters the room, to find Gatsby and Daisy both awkwardly trying to adjust to the reunion.  

Nick, feeling uncomfortable, makes an excuse to leave the room, but Gatsby follows. Gatsby follows, and expresses to Nick that this seems to be a disastrous mistake. Nick consoles him, telling him that Daisy is as nervous as Gatsby feels. This helps Gatsby’s comfort level a little. Nick then admonishes him for being rude, and leaving Daisy alone in the room. Gatsby then returns to Daisy. Nick heads to the backyard, where, in spite of the rain, he spends the next 30 minutes. 

Nick returns, making as much noise as possible, so as not to startle the two in his living room. He sees that they have overcome all sense of discomfort, and while Daisy has clear evidence of many tears being shed, both appear to be glowing with happiness.  

The rain has stopped by now, so Jay invites both to come take a tour of his estate. Nick is reluctant, but Jay insists on his presence as well. Daisy goes upstairs to freshen up, while the two men talk. Gatsby seeks reassurance that the house looks great. He also mentions that he earned the money to buy the house. Nick says that he’d thought Gatsby inherited his money, but Gatsby explains that the inherited money was mostly lost, and he had to earn what he had now. However, he never mentions the way that he earned his money.  

Daisy returns from the washroom, and soon finds herself impressed with Gatsby’s mansion. Gatsby boasts as he escorts his guests around, but seeks frequent affirmation from Daisy that his possessions are as wonderful as he believes them to be.  

During the tour, they enter one room, in which a guest of Gatsby’s, Mr. Klipspringer, is exercising. He is a man known for just staying around Gatsby's mansion, for no particular reason. Gatsby does not mind, so the man is sort of a welcome squatter.  

The rain resumes, so plans to tour the yard and the beach are cancelled. Instead, the trio gazes across the sound, when Gatsby mentions that if not for the fog, they’d be able to see the green light at the end of Daisy and Tom’s dock, across the water. Gatsby seems as though the green light had held huge significance to him for so long, but was now reduced to a trivial observation of little import.  

They look at pictures of Gatsby, from his youth, and with significant people. Gatsby reveals a collection of news clippings regarding Daisy that he’d collected over the years. The phone rings, and Gatsby answers. His dismisses his caller, explaining that he simply cannot talk right now.  

Daisy marvels at the colorful sunset, and makes flirty comments to Gatsby. He suggests that they have Mr. Klipspringer come play the piano. Mr. Klipspringer is very reluctant, but complies after some argument.  

Nick gets up to leave, and notices the look of bewilderment on Gatsby’s face. Nick understands that the five year absence followed by this reunion must be overwhelming to Gatsby. Nick exits, leaving the Gatsby and Daisy together, alone with each other.  

Analysis:

Gatsby’s nervousness is clear to Nick. The prospect of meeting the object of his desire, who he has spent every moment of the last five years preparing to meet, is almost too much for Gatsby. However, in due time, his nervousness wanes, and Gatsby is found to be “glowing” over the time he has spent with Daisy.  

Gatsby and Daisy seem well matched. We see Gatsby almost tactlessly boasting of his own possessions, but Daisy has already proven herself to be materialistic. The spark from long ago is successfully reignited.  

Gatsby points out to Daisy that he can see the green light on her dock, and has been looking towards it for quite some time, as some sort of beacon of hope. This revelation is important to Gatsby, but is lost on Daisy. Her shallow nature finds little meaning in Gatsby’s words, which Gatsby finds deflating.