The Great Gatsby Time Analysis

Fitzgerald’s use of time, a measurement of both past, present, and future events, reveals the reality of the situation as it begins to transition into an illusion. Throughout the beginning of the chapter, Gatsby’s hypersensitive towards time, using specifics as he waits for Daisy’s arrival. Nick writes, “the day agreed upon was pouring rain” (83), at “two o’clock a greenhouse arrived from Gatsby’s” (84), “an hour later” Gatsby arrived, and “about half-past three” the rain ceased. Everything about Gatsby’s arrival is meticulously planned, “two o’clock,” the flowers arrive, “an hour later” Gatsby arrives, it’s almost like clockwork. Further, Gatsby “looked at his watch as if there was some pressing demand on his time elsewhere” (85) finally declaring, “I can’t wait all day” (85) to which Nick replies “it’s just two minutes to four” (85).

Although after Daisy’s arrival, time details begin to fade until time is just a generalized mention. In response to Daisy, Gatsby states it’s been “five years next November” (87) since the two have seen each other, “the automatic quality of Gatsby’s answer set[ting] [them] back at least another minute” (87). There’s an “automatic quality” to Gatsby’s answer, he knows the answer so well, as if it’s been rehearsed before, counting through the years, waiting for this day to arrive. The response sets them back “at least another minute,” the use of “another” demonstrates that this isn’t the first time, every second seems to be another minute going back into time to when Gatsby and Daisy were