Chapter 9

In the final chapter of “The Great Gatsby”, Nick Carraway starts off by describing the events that unfold after Gatsby’s tragic death. Nick tries to plan a large funeral for Gatsby hoping to commemorate his death in an honorable fashion, but is instead bombarded by people who merely knew Gatsby from the parties he hosted. Gatsby’s house is swarmed with reporters and investigators, but no one of any importance to him. Nick tries to invite people he thinks might have been close to Gatsby, but it seems as though everyone has fled the scene including Tom and Daisy. The only people that show up at the funeral are Nick, Owl Eyes, a few of Gatsby’s servants, and Gatsby’s father, Henry Gatz. Mr. Gatz shares some more information with Nick about Gatsby’s early life and even shows him a journal from his childhood that emphasizes on Gatsby’s work ethic and drive for success.

After Gatsby’s funeral, Nick soon realizes that the life style of the east has lost all value to him and that he wants to move back to the Midwest. Nick finds the face paced New York City and its residents revolting and immediately begins his departure. He then breaks off his relationship with Jordan Baker and quits his job. Before Nick leaves, he runs into Tom in the streets of the city. Tom and Daisy had earlier left without a trace not even leaving a new address for Nick. Nick is repulsed to see Tom at first, and is even more unsettled when he learns that Tom is the one who told Wilson that the car was Gatsby’s. After listening to Tom complain about giving up the apartment he used  for his affair and how he believed Gatsby deserved his fate, Nick comes to the conclusion that Tom and Daisy are reckless for people and care for nothing and no one but themselves. They are shielded by their money, and will forever live carelessly in their wealth.

Before Nick leaves for Minnesota, he visits Gatsby’s home one last time. He walks around his mansion and eventually lays on the beach and looks up at the moon. As he starts to think of Gatsby he realizes that Gatsby’s ambition was in some form like the American Dream. He thinks that Daisy was an impossible goal for Gatsby to achieve and that no matter how hard he tried she was attainable. He concludes that many people have dreams and desires of success like Gatsby, but that not every dream is possible.

In class I would like to talk about Tom and Daisy’s relationship and how after all their troubles they still stay together and escape instead of leaving each other. I would also like to talk about the significance of the green lantern.