Chapter Six reveals Gatsby's sordid past. James Gatz, Gatsby's legal name, worked as a janitor at the college of St. Olaf for two weeks until he tired of the indifference of manual labor. He then returned to the shores of Lake Superior where he had worked the year before as a clam digger. His new life as Gatsby began on the lake. Dan Cody, a wealthy copper miner from Montana, dropped anchor for a few days near Gatsby's residence. Gatsby then seized the opportunity to escape his mundane life on the yacht, the Tuolomee,with Cody.
Courtesy of Hinckley yachts

Cody and Gatsby sailed around the world three times over the next five years. During this time, Gatsby served as steward, mate, skipper, and secretary for Dan. Gatsby chose then to abstain from alcohol forever after witnessing the destructive behaviors of Cody during his periods of drunkenness. Gatsby even had to jail Cody on occasion to prevent him from committing dangerous acts. When the Tuolomee dropped anchor in Boston, Ella Kaye, one of Cody's lovers, joined the crew. Unfortunately, Cody died a week after she had boarded the yacht of mysterious and unknown causes. Although Cody willed twenty-five thousand dollars to Gatsby, Ella Kaye swindled him out of it in court.

After Gatsby's history unfurls, Carraway proceeds with the current situations. Tom Buchanan, his friend Sloane, and a beautiful woman ride on horseback to Gatsby's mansion. Small talk is exchanged, and Gatsby invites the party of three to attend his next roaring gala. The woman politely invites Gatsby and Nick to dinner. However, the invitation was more of a courtesy than an actual invitation. Gatsby, unaware that it was not a genuine invitation, politely agrees to attend, wherewith Tom remarks, "I believe the man's coming, doesn't he know she (Sloane's wife) doesn't want him?" (109)

Tom and Daisy attend Gatsby's next party, and Tom's irritations toward Gatsby increase. Gatsby refers to Tom constantly as the "polo player," much to Tom's objection of any reference. He tries to remain anonymous and view the party in "oblivion" (112). Although Daisy appears to enjoy the party, she is also uncomfortable around the lower classes of the West Eggers. Tom tries to find how Gatsby made his fortune, and speculates that he is a bootlegger.

Gatsby thinks of nothing except Daisy. His greatest achievement, he believes, would be to have her tell Tom that she never loved him. Gatsby even plans the events that would follow her obliteration of her marriage to Tom, the first of which would be their marriage at her house in Louisville, a repeat of what would have occurred five years ago if Gatsby had been rich and Daisy would have accepted his proposal.

James Gatsby relates to Nick how he sealed his love to Daisy with a kiss five years ago. Gatsby remembers every detail perfectly, and although he believes the kiss is the beginning of their true love and life together, it is actually the end of their romance. The kiss, while not meant to be the end, terminates their relationship forever. Nick argues that the past cannot be repeated, and Gatsby tries desperately to disprove Nick's claim. Gatsby lives in the past and his whole life centers around a return to the way things were before, so that he and Daisy can live together for the rest of their lives.