The Great Gatsby Chapter 9

Two years later, the narrator reflects upon the day following Gatsby’s death. Police, reporters, and gawkers swarmed the place, and newspaper stories the following day seemed to be mostly untrue rumors. Even the killer, Wilson, was only described as a man mad from grief over his wife’s death, and not a man seeking revenge on who he had (wrongly) suspected was his wife’s lover.

Nick finds himself frustrated by the lack of anybody who appears to have actually cared about Gatsby. His “friends'' were either nowhere to be found, had more important obligations, or simply did not sincerely care. Even Gatsby's pseudo-permanent house guest Mr. Klipspringer’s only concern was ensuring that he got his shoes back, which he’d left at Gatsby’s house. Gatsby’s father, Mr. Gatz, arrived from Minnesota, though, and he and Nick discussed Gatsby. He mentioned that his son had bought a house for him a couple of years prior.  

For the funeral, only three cars carried all of the attendees, fewer than ten people.  

Nick’s view of the East has become jaded, so he decides to return home. He made his breakup with Jordan official first. She tells him that she’s already engaged to another man, but suggests that she loved him at one time.  

The narrator also reveals that he had spoken to Tom at some time after the murder. Tom reveals that Wilson had confronted him over who had killed his wife, Myrtle. Tom lied, and directed him towards Gatsby.  

The closing scene describes Nick’s last night in West Egg. He muses at Gatsby’s house, now in disrepair, and even vandalized. He reflects upon Gatsby’s dream, and how Gatsby’s must have felt a powerful hope, based upon the distant green light of Daisy’s dock, across the sound.  

Analysis: 

As Nick, Gatsby’s only real friend, prepares Gatsby’s funeral, he is struck by the casual lack of concern or compassion of the people Gatsby had surrounded himself with. It becomes clear that his wealth and generosity had done nothing other than attract greedy and selfish types, who were now in pursuit of other prey. Gatsby’s memory fades quickly from their minds, but we see that he’s had a great impact on Nick.  

Even after his death, however, we continue to learn more about Gatsby. We learn from Gatsby’s father that “Jay Gatsby” was not even his given name. So consumed with following the dream of being with Daisy that Gatsby had given up everything, including his own name. And yet, the pursuit of this dream, with all of its sacrifice, has led nowhere, a fact not lost on Nick. Nick has become disconcerted with the lifestyle of the Eastern members of aristocracy, and has (by the time of narration) returned to his Midwestern home. However, before leaving the East, his discontent is driven home a few more times. Jordan insults him, apparently only for the sake of insult, and a chance encounter with Tom solidifies Nick’s belief that Tom lacks all manner of compassion or depth. In their final parting of ways, Nick sees Tom as little more than a child.  

Finally, Nick reflects upon the importance of the green beacon that had been Gatsby’s emotional beacon for so long. Nick reflects on the futility of chasing certain dreams, but muses that perhaps all people have a certain measure of this tendency to chase dreams, regardless of the possible consequences.