The Great Gatsby: Chapter 9 Notes

Overview

• The chapter takes place after Gatsby's death and focuses on the aftermath, including the funeral and reactions from various characters.
• Nick Carraway, the narrator, deals with the responsibility of Gatsby's funeral arrangements and reflects on the events that transpired.

Key Events and Characters

Aftermath of Gatsby's Death

• Police, photographers, and journalists swarm Gatsby's home, creating a chaotic scene.
• The media depicts the incident as a "mad act," particularly labeling Wilson as a madman driven by grief.
• Catherine, Myrtle’s sister, maintains that Myrtle was loyal to her husband, protecting Gatsby’s reputation during the inquest.

Nick's Responsibility

• Nick feels alone and responsible for Gatsby’s affairs after his death.
• He unsuccessfully attempts to reach out to Daisy and Tom, who have left without leaving an address.
• Nick also tries to contact Meyer Wolfsheim, Gatsby's business associate, but Wolfsheim refuses to get involved.
• Gatsby's father, Henry C. Gatz, arrives from Minnesota, filled with pride for his son despite his grief.

The Funeral

• Gatsby's funeral is sparsely attended, highlighting his isolation in death.
• Owl Eyes, a character previously seen admiring Gatsby’s library, attends the funeral.
• Nick is struck by the absence of Daisy, Tom, and many of Gatsby’s "friends" from his extravagant parties.

Reflections and Farewells

• Nick sees Jordan Baker and learns she is engaged; they part ways after a conversation about their past.
• Nick encounters Tom Buchanan, who justifies his role in the chain of events leading to Gatsby's death.
• Tom and Daisy are described as careless people who continue their lives without regard for the damage they've caused.

Return to the Midwest

• Nick reflects on the corrupting influence of the East and decides to return to the Midwest.
• He cleans up Gatsby’s estate, erasing vandalism and contemplating the unreachable nature of the American Dream.

Themes

Isolation and Loneliness

• Gatsby's death and the lack of genuine mourners at his funeral underscore his isolation despite his wealth and social status.

The Illusion of the American Dream

• The green light at Daisy’s dock symbolizes the elusive American Dream that Gatsby pursued.
• Gatsby's life and death reflect the unattainable nature of his dreams and aspirations.

The Corruption of the East

• Nick contrasts the lifestyle of the East with the innocence of the Midwest, ultimately choosing to leave.
• The Buchanans’ carelessness is emblematic of the moral decay Nick perceives in the East.

Memory and the Passage of Time

• Nick reflects on past memories and the passage of time, noting how Gatsby’s dream was always just out of reach.
• The notion of being "borne back ceaselessly into the past" suggests the inescapability of history and memory.

Symbolism

• Green Light: Represents Gatsby's unreachable dream and the broader American Dream.
• Weather: The rain during the funeral symbolizes sadness and the bleak reality of Gatsby’s situation.
• The Midwest: Symbolizes stability and moral integrity, contrasting with the corrupt East.

Important Quotes

• "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy."
• "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us."
• "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."