The Great Gatsby: Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Key Quotes

Depictions of Setting:

“Gatsby’s gorgeous car lurched up the rocky drive to his door…“: The grandeur of Gatsby’s car symbolises his wealth and success. The car’s vivid description serves to emphasise the lavishness of Gatsby’s lifestyle.
“…his hands now splashed over his eyes, shielding them from the sunlight. He shook his head slowly from side to side.”: In this scene, Gatsby’s mansion is portrayed as a place of discomfort for him, almost alien in its opulence, furthering the idea of the hollowness of wealth.

Development of Characters:

“Gatsby, whose eyes widened in joyful surprise… watched for a moment through the suspicious tears.”: This quote gives a significant insight into Gatsby’s complexity as a character. His joyful surprise juxtaposed with suspicious tears indicates his vulnerability and hope, yet also his fear.
“No amount of money could make Gatsby into a gentleman. He was never quite still; there was always a tapping foot somewhere… and occasionally he would toss himself about and mutter a little.”: This passage provides a clear critique of Gatsby’s character, showcasing him as a self-made man whose discomfort in his newfound wealth is evident in his actions.

Emerging Themes:

“With an effort he got up and walked back to the beach.”: This hints at the theme of disillusionment, the tarnishing of the American Dream, a dream that Gatsby has relentlessly pursued.
“It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such—such beautiful shirts before.”: Daisy’s line, crying over Gatsby’s shirts, emphasizes one of the novel’s key themes: materialism. The shirts are a symbol of wealth and opulence.

Employment of Symbolism:

“He stretched next to her also, with his arms tightly around her as though he would never let go.”: This symbolises Gatsby’s clinging to the dream of a future with Daisy. His grip signifies his desperation and refusal to let go of his dream, the past and the illusion of love.
“There are the composed, the beach-ridden and the still-watered harbour beyond the seafaring eyes.” This imagery of the sea is a metaphor for Gatsby’s relentless chase of his American dream and his illusory quest for a lost romantic past with Daisy, which remains forever out of reach, just like the sea recedes from the shore.