The Great Gatsby: Key Quotes Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Key Quotes

Descriptions of the Setting:

“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” The use of colour and imagery sets the stage for the legendary parties thrown by Jay Gatsby, whilst also highlighting the transience and superficiality of the partygoers, who are compared to moths, drawn to the attractiveness of impressive wealth and the elusive promise of the American Dream.
“The lights grow brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun, and now the orchestra is playing yellow cocktail music.” This quote further intensifies the vivid, almost other-worldly atmosphere of these parties, again employing the use of colour (‘yellow’) to suggests wealth and prosperity, while the ‘earth lurching away from the sun’ emphasises the escapism the parties represent.

Character Portrayal:

“At the very moment when women were his best friends, Gatsby, who was not even present, has his vagueness discuss.” F. Scott Fitzgerald uses this quote to introduce the enigmatic character of Gatsby, the eponymous character who somehow remains an enigma, creating an intrigue that permeates throughout the novel.
“A sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the windows and the great doors, endowing with complete isolation the figure of the host.” In this portrayal of Gatsby, his mysterious and lonely nature is emphasised, setting him apart from his glamorous party guests.

Introduction to Themes:

“Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruitier in New York—every Monday these same oranges and lemons left his back door in a pyramid of pulpless halves.” This quote speaks to the idea of the excess and waste that characterises the materialistic culture of the 1920s, a theme Fitzgerald continuously explores throughout the novel.
“I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited.” This line from Nick sheds light on the theme of alienation and superficial relationships that prevails in the novel, where Gatsby’s guests are largely uninvited, merely attracted to his wealth and the spectacle of his parties.

Use of Symbolism:

“A celebrated tenor had sung in Italian, and a notorious contralto had sung in jazz.” The contrasting styles of music at Gatsby’s parties symbolise the cultural dichotomy of the time, reflecting the tension between old and new, traditional and modern.
“The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter.” The free-flowing alcohol is symbolic of the rampant hedonism and recklessness of this era, devoid of concern for consequences.