“I saw him opening a chest of rubies to ease with their crimson-lighted depths, the gnawing of his broken heart.”
In this quote, Nick is talking about Gatsby’s broken heart. Gatsby has been in love with Daisy for such a long time. Nothing had ever worked out between them because when Gatsby left for the war she married someone else. All along while she had moved on, Gatsby was still in love with her. He spent his money on buying expensive, lavish things for himself… like useless jewels, but as we all know money can’t buy you happiness. Most people would kill to have things as nice as Gatsby, but most people have love which is what he is yearning for. Even after admiring his “chest of rubies” he is still upset because he knows that even though he has all these nice things he still isn’t happy. (Words: 128)
“He hadn’t once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes.”
In this sentence, Fitzgerald immediately points out the fact that when Daisy is around Gatsby he directs all of his attention onto her, all the time. At the beginning of this sentence it is obvious to the reader that Gatsby is head over heels for this girl. Daisy brings out another side of Gatsby. In previous chapters he is referred to as aloof and mysterious, but when Daisy is around he is charming and very sweet to her. In these chapters a new more emotional side of Gatsby is showed. Everything he does revolves around pleasing her. (Words: 97)
“I don’t want you to get the wrong idea of me from all these stories you hear.”
Gatsby says this to Nick because he knows that people are talking about him behind his back. To most of the characters in the book besides for Nick, Jordan and Daisy, Gatsby is a very mysterious man. Gatsby was practically famous before he was formally introduced in the book; he lived a lavish lifestyle and lived the American dream. Gatsby was well aware of all the weird accusations people made about him so he wanted to set things straight once and for all. He told this information to Nick because he wants Nick to spread the “good” word about him to everyone. Gatsby doesn’t specifically say this to Nick but it is inferred. (Words: 113)
“One thing’s for sure and nothing’s surer, the rich get richer and the poor get – children”
This is a very ironic song lyric to be playing in the background while Gatsby, Nick, and Daisy are all together. Fitzgerald is showing how Daisy and Gatsby represent the people who “get richer”. Though they are unhappy with their lives they still have lots of money to blow. On the downside they don’t have the “luxuries” of the people who aren’t as well off, which are having happy families. The word “children” in this quote refers to having a family and being able to act foolish. The upper-class people in society shouldn’t mess around and act childish or else they would be looked down upon. This quote shows how there are both positives and negatives to being rich. (Words: 119)
“If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across the bay… You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.”
This quote represents Gatsby trying to get through to Daisy. Gatsby is talking about the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock that he always seems to be looking at. The “mist” that is in between his house and her dock symbolizes the difficulty that Gatsby has trying to get through to Daisy. He just wants her to be able to accept him and his love for her. Sometimes Gatsby will reach out his arms as if to try and touch the light, this action shows how he longs for her to be with him. Also the green color of the light means that he should now go after her before the “mist” gets too thick and keeps them from being together forever. (Words: 124)
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