Practice exam question: Section A q1

How is the story told in chapter 5?

Chapter 5 is part of the complication within the novel, the reason is that Nick has arranged a meeting between Nick and Daisy and although Daisy is still is in a relationship with Tom they both fall for each other. One main technique used to tell the story in chapter 5 is the use of pathetic fallecy.

The use of pathetic fallacy in this chapter allows the reader to understand the emotions felt by both Nick and Daisy during their meeting. At the start of the chapter Nick says "the day agreed upon was pouring rain" I beleive Fritzgald used the weather to foreshadow the type of response Gatsby and Daisy have on each other when they meet because once they do it is really awkward. Another intepretation of the rain would be that it symbolises the emotion felt by Gatsby because at the time Nick says this. Gatsby is showing that he is obviously nervous as he offers to send a gardner to cut Nicks grass. After Nick leaves both Daisy and Gatsby to talk, he returns 30 minutes later to find that the shower of rain had dissapareared and has been replaced by the sun. When Nick walks into the room, he describes the room as "the room is filled with twinkle bells of sunlight" the use of the language twinkle bells could be used to reflect Gatsby's mood. Another intepretation of the word 'twinkle bells' is that the use of language sounds quite magical which Fritzgald may be showing that their relationship is much more magical compared to Daisy's with Tom.

Another narrative technique used by Fritzlgald is the use of symbolism. Before the meeting with Daisy, Gatsby is really feeling uncomftertable and nervous, whilst talking to Nick for advice, he accidently knocks over Nicks clock. When Gatsby knocks over Nicks clock this symbolises that Gatsby wants to try and stop time because he is feeling too nervous and doesn't want to face Daisy, another interpretation would be that Gatsby wants to stop time to try and reverse time so he can go back to when himself and Daisy were in a relationship.

Whilst Gatsby is incredibly nervous before his meeting with Daisy, Nick repeatedly descibes how Gatsby is using his money to try and cover the fact that he is an normal guy, for example Gatsby says to Nick (QUOTE WHEN GATSBY OFFERS NICK TO GET SOMEBODY TO CUT HIS LAWN). I believe that Gatsby offers this Nick because he feels that he's under a situation he hasn't been under before because usually he would use his money to fix those problems, another intepretation would be that Nick wants to tell the audience through dialouge that Gatsby is actually an ordinary man although he lives such a decident lifestlye, Fritzgald shows this by using Nick to express Gatsby's nervousness and how he's trying to cover up the fact he's nervous by offering money to Nick.

In conclusion I believe that Fritzgald tells the story using pathetic fallacy to show the emotion felt between Gatsby and Daisy during their meeting, this allows the audience to percieve their relationship as being slowly repaired. Fritzgald also uses symbolism to also dig deeper into what Gatsby may be feeling during the time of the meeting as this allows the audience to understand how nervous Gatsby is as a character although he puts on such a heroic lifestlye. Finally Fritzgald uses the narrator (Nick) to help show that Gatsby is a normal man although he tries to hide it by using he wealth.