Chapter+6

Chapter 6 begins with a reporter asking Gatsby about wild accusations having to do with his past. Shortly after wards, Nick reveals the truth about Gatsby's past. Jay Gatsby was born as James Gatz on a North Dakota farm. After dropping out of college, Gatsby, or Gatz, resorted to fishing and clamming as a living. Gatsby got his first taste of wealthy lifestyle when he warned a rich yacht owner of an incoming storm. The grateful owner made Gatsby his personal assistant. While Gatsby lived on board the yacht he must care for the owner, who is a heavy alcoholic. This explains why Gatsby does not drink alcohol during his parties, as he has seen the harmful effects firsthand. After the owner died, Gatsby was left $25,000 that he would never see, because of the mans mistress. Being so close to wealth is what pushed Gatsby to become successful and even richer than the yacht owner. Back at the present time in the novel, Nick has not seen Daisy or Gatsby for a few weeks since their reunion. The next time Nick meets up with the two is during a party thrown at Gastby's house. Daisy, however, is having a bad time at the party, partially because of her guilty conscience and partly due to Tom's rude comments directed at Gatsby. Gatsby confides in Nick that all he wants is for things between him and Daisy to be like they once were; with each madly in love with each other and none of the drama now surrounding each other. Nick then tells Gatsby that he cannot change the past. The chapter ends when Gatsby insists to Nick that it IS possible to change the past.

** Unfamiliar Vocabulary: **

 * __Ambitious__ - eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining success, power, wealth, a specific goal, etc
 * __Persistent__ - lasting or enduring tenaciously
 * __Legally__ - permitted by law

Feminist Perspective:
In this chapter, there is an actress at Gatsby's party. Her presence only emphasizes the fact that most of the men objectify women.

Marxist Perspective:
When Gatsby reveals his true past, we discover that young Gatz had only dreamed about being wealthy. Through this perspective readers can figure that the author was trying to say that lower classes are oppressed and aren't allowed the same opportunities as those in the upper class.

Themes:
Dissatisfaction presents itself again in chapter six. Jay Gatsby is unhappy with his current situation with Daisy, and just wants things to be the way they were before; when they were madly in love with each other. Gatsby is very nostalgic for these times and wants to do everything in his power to change things to the way they were.

Colors:
An actress is seen at Jay Gatsby's party, sitting under a white tree, which alludes to her innocence. Tom is given a "little gold pencil" from a woman, whom he is likely to have an affair with. Since gold symbolizes perfection, this could mean that Tom thinks that the woman will be wonderful.