"The Great Gatsby": Three Parties

 

    The “Roaring 20’s” was a very consumer-oriented economy and it heavily included mass entertainment. This meant that partying was a vital part of the culture during the 1920’s. In The Great Gatsby the reader is able to go to three different parties, all from Nick Caraway's perspective. From the beginning Nick confirms with the reader that he is a non-biased source, and this causes the reader to feel that they would have similar thoughts to Nick, as he narrates the novel. These three parties include Daisy’s, Myrtle’s and Gatsby’s. It is easy for me to say that I would prefer going to Gatsby’s party over the other two. 

The first party Nick was invited to was Daisy’s party. Nick described the house as being a red and white Georgian colonial mansion. It was on the water, with French windows and the entire mansion was gold and white. It also had a great Italian garden. As Nick approached the gorgeous mansion, his college friend Tom abruptly greeted him. Tom was a football player from New Haven, who still liked to live in his “glory days”. This all contributed to his arrogant persona. Nick walked in with Tom and he saw two women sitting on the coach. Daisy was introduced first as Nick’s second cousin once removed. Daisy is described as charming and she was the typical image of a married woman during the 1920’s. Finally, Jordan was introduced as a younger friend of Daisy’s. She proves to be charming and independent. She was also a pro golfer. Her image wasn’t as typical for a woman in the 1920’s. (Being the independent woman she was)  In the beginning of the party Nick described it as a “polite pleasant effort to be entertained.” As the end neared the tone switched. Nick described it as “my own instinct was to telephone immediately for the police.” This quote followed shortly after Tom and Daisy’s affair was discussed between Jordan and Nick. It caused the whole party to leave Nick feeling uncomfortable. 

The second party Nick attended was Myrtle’s party. Myrtle is Nick’s mistress. As far as appearance she is described as having a thickish figure with no gleam of beauty. With Myrtle’s interactions with Tom, it can easily be noticed that Myrtle seems to be subject to Tom easily. Myrtle is first introduced to Nick in the Wilson’s garage. (George Wilson is Myrtle’s husband.) Nick stated that the garage was prosperous and bare with a dirty ford in the corner. Shortly following this interaction Nick was invited to Myrtle’s party in her apartment. Nick said that Myrtle’s apartment was on the top floor and it was very small. The furniture took up most of the space. During the party many got drunk, this meant that many didn’t have much of a filter. The key conversation of the party was Myrtle speaking of how unhappy she is in her marriage and how she’s happier in her affair with Tom. This is a bit awkward for Nick, considering he is Daisy’s cousin. Later into the party Nick stated, “... each time I tried to go I became entangled in some wild strident argument which pulled me back, as if roped into my chair.” I view arguments as being draining, and it was obvious Nick wanted to leave the party. The night continued to go downhill. Myrtle’s sister Catherine mocked Daisy and “Tom Buchannan broke her nose with his open hand.” Anything ending with violence causes discomfort.

Shortly after Myrtle’s party followed Gatsby’s party. Nick is neighbor’s with Gatsby so he described Gatsby’s mansion in the beginning of the novel as a tower with ivy lining it. It had a marble swimming pool with forty acres of lawn and garden. Before Nick was able to meet Gatsby at his party, almost everything said about Gatsby was hearsay. He was seen by the majority with a Godly complex. Thus, his party was as grand as he is. Guests dove from the tower of his raft and some were at his beach and used his motor moat. He had buffet tables with baked hams, pastry pigs and turkeys. There was also a grand orchestra with a great bar in full swing. Nick described the party as the “air (being) alive with chatter and laughter” and “enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names.” Nick makes the party seem like such a comfortable and fun setting to be a part of. Nick later sat with Jordan Baker and has great conversations with her. Then Nick talks with a man about being involved in the war. Little did Nick know that this man was Gatsby himself. Nick apologized for not knowing that the man was Gatsby, but Gatsby gave him a comforting look and response. 

The three parties were all very versatile. Gatsby’s party stood out the most because it was the biggest party. I believe I would have enjoyed myself more at this party because of exactly what Jordan stated, “They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.” Gatsby’s party was just so grandiose, and it was described as an honor to be a part of such a party.