The Great Gatsby Reading Journal - Chapter 9

Chapter 9 - Pages 163-180

Two years passed since Gatsby's murder, and outlandish stories and rumors begin to go around about Gatsby. Nick tries to organize a funeral for Gatsby, but very few people show up, as most only cared about his wealth and parties, rather than him as a person. Nick decides he wants to return to the midwest, and breaks up with Jordan, who reveals her engagement to someone else. After a conversation with Tom, Nick begins to see Tom and Daisy's true colors, and realizes just how immoral and empty they are. The novel ends with Nick returning to Gatsby's mansion for a final farewell, and he begins to fantasize about people's vision of the American Dream, and their success and failures.

Henry Gatz: "His eyes leaked continuously with excitement and when I took the bag and umbrella from his hands he began to pull so increasingly at his sparse grey beard that I had difficulty getting off his coat” (Fitzgerald 167).

Henry Gatz, James Gatz/Jay Gatsby's estranged father, returns for Gatsby's funeral and tells Nick proudly of how his son rose to his high social status. Although Gatsby rose above the rest of his original society, and moved to the East, Gatsby's father never stopped loving his son, and although did not stay with him physically, always stayed with him in spirit.

Gatsby's father, Henry Gatz,  arrives towards the end of the novel to, in a way, "resurrect" Gatsby to life, and provide a full back story to Gatsby's life. Although given small pieces sporadically, many aspects to Gatsby's origins remained anonymous throughout the novel, until the end. Henry's arrival also brings a more redeemable light to Gatsby, rather than his childish fantasies about Daisy, and eventually his affair with her.

“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-they smashed up things and creates and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they made” (179).

Although typically remaining neutral on disputes, Nick lets down his barriers and begins to judge people based on their actions, Tom and Daisy being the most obvious. Throughout most of the book, Nick tried, if not forced himself, to be positive, and reserve his judgment, including at times such as Tom's affair with and abuse of Myrtle, Gatsby's lusting over Daisy, and Jordan's pretentious attitude. After seeing the other characters do extremely immoral and hateful things, Nick decides he no longer should reserve his judgment, and "find his voice," which involves him speaking his mind openly.