Chapter
Five sees Daisy and Jay meeting for the first time after five years apart. Their
meeting occurs accidentally from Daisy's point of view but was actually planned
by Jay and Nick. Jay is very nervous about the meeting. Nick sees a new side
of Gatsby during a talk they have before the tea date with Daisy. Gatsby is
no longer cool and suave but rather tense and awkward. The day of their rendez-vous
is a miserable rainy day. Gatsby goes to great lengths to insure everything
would be perfect for Daisy. He even makes his gardener mow Nick's unkempt lawn
in the pouring rain. Gatsby and Nick are waiting anxiously for Daisy on the
scheduled day. When the door bell rings, Nick goes to answer the door, and Gatsby
sneaks out the back door. Daisy and Nick are exchanging pleasantries when Jay
knocks on the door. The two old "friends" say their hellos, and an awkward silence
follows. Nick leaves the two to talk in private. When Nick returns, Daisy's
eyes are wet and Gatsby looks anxious again. The three decide to go to Gatsby's
house. Daisy is wide-eyed with wonder and awe upon seeing Gatsby's house and
belongings. During their tour of Gatsby's extravagant mansion, the threesome
comes across Gatsby's boarder, Klipspringer. Gatsby implores Klipspringer to
play the piano for everyone. Nick slips out without Jay or Daisy's taking notice
since they are so wrapped up in each other.
Jay Gatsby- Chapter Five reveals a new side of Gatsby. His actions in this chapter are emotionally based. His infatuation with Daisy is made very clear.
Nick Carraway - Nick helps Gatsby by setting up the meeting between Daisy and him. Nick realizes how little he and Jay know about each other.
Daisy Buchanan - Daisy is thrown for a loop upon seeing Jay again. She is very emotional in this chapter.
Klipspringer - Klipspringer plays the piano for Jay, Daisy, and Nick.
Dan Cody - Mr. Cody is mentioned in this chapter when Daisy and Nick inquire about a photo they find of him on their tour of Jay's house.
Fredie and Finn - The servants of Daisy and Nick are mentioned in the chapter, a reflection of the lifestyle of the time.
The setting in Chapter Five, Nick's house and Gatsby's house, shows great contrast in the people of the 1920s. Also, Daisy's reaction to both houses gives insight to her character. It shows how truly shallow she is.
Rain, which is used repeatedly throughout The Great Gatsby is used a lot in Chapter Five. Gatsby with Nick speaks of the rain's stopping. When Daisy comes over to Nick's house, it is raining. Click here to learn more about the use of rain as a symbol.
Another symbol in Chapter Five is Gatsby's shirts. Gatsby's shirts represent his wealth. It is all of his shirts that he is showing Daisy that make her cry. She comes to the realization that she is extremely unhappy with Tom and she wants a life with Gatsby.
Quotations
The shock of seeing Jay again throws Daisy into a whirl of emotion. "Her throat, full of aching, grieving beauty, told only of her unexpected joy" (94).
Gatsby's infatuation with Daisy knew few bounds. He changed anything and everything to please her. "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" (96-97).
Gatsby's image of Daisy which he had been building up for five years was sure to surpass the real Daisy. "There must have been moments in that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion" (101).
Daisy's superficial desires are made vividly clear in this chapter. Her teasing Nick about his house and her state of absolute awe as she enters when touring Gatsby's house are examples of this. Gatsby appeals to her desires for showy, gaudy things by presenting his wealth in a very obvious way. Also, Gatsby's insecurities are made clear. He acts nervous and is very different from his normal calm and collected self when it comes close to the time to meet Daisy.
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