Chapter 5, pages 81-96

Summary 

      Chapter 5 begins with Nick's conversation with Gatsby in the very early hours of the morning. They discuss plans for Daisy's visit and if Nick would join Gatsby in one of his business ventures. Nick declines but throughout the entire conversation Gatsby seems a bit off. The next day, Gatsby sends a man over to trim Nick's lawn and flowers for Daisy's visit. Gatsby arrives early and is miserable until Daisy arrives but that only turns into embarrassment once they begin to talk. Finally Nick makes Gatsby snap out of it and he becomes his confident and glorious self once again. The night continues great as the migrate over to Gatsby's house but Nick constantly finds himself feeling intrusive so in the end, he just leaves them alone in at Gatsby's house and goes home. 

Character Analysis 

• Daisy Buchanan
• "Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget: a singing compulsion, a whispered 'Listen,' a promise that she had done gay, exciting things just a while since and that were gay, exciting things hovering in the next hour." 
• Daisy's Good Qualities
• She's beautiful
• She's well off
• She's very good at pretending to be happy
• Daisy's Bad Qualities
• She's superficial
• She's not independent 
• She's not strong
• Daisy is Nick's cousin and she's married to Tom, who is cheating on her. She exemplifies the women who are rich, beautiful and have security and she would never put any of those things in jeopardy, which is why she is still with Tom when she knows he's having an affair with Myrtle. She's very close friends with Jordan Baker and despite this friendship they are completely different when it comes to life and the way they live it. Jordan is her own person whereas Daisy just hides behind Tom and their money. 

Important Quotes & Significance 

"'My house looks well doesn't it? he demanded. 'See how the whole front catches the light." 

Gatsby's character is given more depth throughout the entire chapter but this quote adds to his and everyone's character in the entire novel. It shows how superficial and self conscious he really is. Like the Tom, he asks for Nick's opinion of his house and Nick being his honest self, agrees but with less adoration than Gatsby of his own house. This quote also lets us know how fake Gatsby is. He is thought to be this very kind and generous man but he is deceptive, creepy and shallow.