Chapter 6 reveals much about both Gatsby and Daisy. At the
beginning of the chapter, Nick discusses Gastby's humble beginnings as James Gatz and
his determination to make a name for himself. Then, the novel flashes to present day,
and Tom and Daisy are attending their first Gatsby party. While Daisy seems to be
excited to be at the party to see Gatsby, she is, of course, less thrilled about Tom
being there. Both she and Tom look condescendingly upon most of the partiers. Tom makes
snide remarks about the host and his guest, and though Daisy argues with him about the
party, Nick observes that she, too, feels that she is superior to all who are there. He
perceives that Daisy
was appalled by West Egg, this unprecedented
"place." . . . she saw something awful in the very simplicity she failed to
understand.
What Gatsby fails
to realize is that Tom and Daisy simply do not view themselves as equals with West Egg's
inhabitants who earned their money, whether they be celebrities or entrepreneurs like
Gatsby. Fitzgerald pairs this information about Daisy's elitism with Gatsby's statements
at the end of the chapter about the past so that readers can see that Gatsby's dream to
win Daisy from Tom and to erase him from her mind is futile, for she and Tom are from
the same mold.
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