Throughout The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts Jay Gatsby, a farm boy turned businessman who wants to reclaim the past, especially his time with Daisy Buchanan. Daisy, a beautiful, wealthy, Southern-born socialite, becomes both a personal love and an aspiration of financial success for Gatsby. He purchases a house across from hers on the bay of Long Island and throws lavish parties to attract her. In a key moment in the novel, Gatsby has arranged an opportunity to reunite with Daisy over tea at the home of Nick Carraway, Daisy’s cousin and Gatsby’s neighbor. Nick describes Gatsby’s behavior at this tense encounter: “We’ve met before,” muttered Gatsby. His eyes glanced momentarily at me, and his lips parted with an abortive attempt …show more content…
When Gatsby sees Daisy, whom he dreams of and attempts to woo for nearly five full years, he remarks only that they have “met before”, instead of more revealing language, most likely because he does not want to seem desperate to Daisy by highlighting the planning he has put into their reunion. He “muttered” and mumbled through his speech, lacking the confidence to speak clearly. Gatsby attempts to receive comfort from Nick by glancing at him, but can manage to do so only “momentarily.” Even when he tries to laugh, usually a show of carefree joy, it is merely “an abortive attempt,” unsuccessful at producing its desired effect of lightening the mood. The “pressure of [Gatsby’s] head” then causes Nick’s clock to “tilt dangerously.” Gatsby reaches out to catch it with “trembling fingers,” evincing his anxiety to be meeting Daisy after five years. When he sits down afterward, he only does so “rigidly...his chin in his hand.” Fitzgerald’s rich description of Gatsby’s physical and mental state underscores Gatsby’s anxiety at the moment as well as the anticipation and careful planning that have occurred before the