The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

“He’s a bootlegger,” said the young ladies, moving somewhere between his cocktails and his flowers. “One time he killed a man who had found out that he was nephew to Von Hindenburg and second cousin to the devil (61)…”

Gatsby shrouds himself in mystery at this point. Although his estate neighbors the Caraway house, Nick has only seen him once looking across the Sound. However, rumors of his neighbor run rampant. Without ever meeting the man, how could Caraway believe or disprove this gossip. At the party, he meets a man that is entirely different from what he expected. He anticipates a quasi-sinister, bootlegging partier. Contrary to the expectations, Gatsby seemed to defy the rumors. He did not partake in the merriment and drink but watched his guests. While he may not compare to the hefty stories, Gatsby’s ambiguity leaves some questions. He still seems like a shifty character with a mysterious past filled with devious acquaintances. As Nick hears Gatsby’s background from Jordan Baker, he agrees to entangle himself into a bad romance. He allows his house to be used so that Gatsby can see his love of his life Daisy.