Chapter 6-9

池无完船

This part is the only warm and hopeful turning point in the whole novel, focusing on the long-awaited reunion between Gatsby and Daisy after five years of separation. With the careful arrangement of Nick, Gatsby and Daisy meet again in Nick’s small and shabby house. At the beginning of the meeting, Gatsby is extremely nervous and awkward—he even knocks over the clock accidentally, which shows his uneasiness and eagerness for this reunion. As the conversation goes on, the embarrassment fades away quickly, and the old feelings between them are rekindled. Later, Gatsby invites Daisy to visit his magnificent mansion, showing her his luxurious clothes, huge library and gorgeous life, trying to prove that he has already become rich enough to match her. During the visit, Gatsby is full of joy and pride, because he thinks that his dream of being with Daisy is finally within reach. Every smile and every action of him are full of hope, and the distance between him and the green light seems to be shortened all of a sudden. This chapter is full of warm and sweet atmosphere, which is totally different from the depression of the previous part and the tragedy of the later part, becoming a rare bright moment in Gatsby’s tragic life. In terms of writing and implication, this chapter uses many details to show the characters’ inner feelings vividly. The clock that Gatsby knocks over is not only a small accident, but also a symbol of his desire to turn back time and make up for the lost years with Daisy. Gatsby’s behavior of showing off his wealth to Daisy reflects his sincere but naive side—he thinks that material wealth can erase the gap between them and win back Daisy’s heart completely. However, this also foreshadows his tragedy in advance, because he ignores that Daisy has been deeply influenced by the upper-class life and values, and pure love can hardly resist the temptation of material and the pressure of class. The warm atmosphere of this chapter is like a beautiful bubble, which looks bright but is easy to burst, making the later tragedy more heartbreaking. Reading this chapter, my mood is mixed with joy and worry. I am happy for Gatsby that he finally meets his beloved again and their love rekindles, seeing the light of hope in his eyes. His persistence in love for five years is really touching, and he has worked hard to become better just for being worthy of the person he loves, which makes me admire him a lot. But at the same time, I can’t help feeling worried about him. His way of winning love with wealth is too simple and naive, and he seems to overestimate the power of love and underestimate the reality of cruelty. Daisy’s performance in the chapter also makes me feel that her love is not as pure as Gatsby’s, which is mixed with the satisfaction of material enjoyment. I can’t help wondering whether this rekindled love can stand the test of reality, and I feel a little uneasy about Gatsby’s future.