Question

write a paragraph of 5-6 sentences explaining how Gatsby values first impressions and is scared to meet daisy again using text evidence only of chapter 1-4 of the great gatsby

Answer 1

Gatsby’s need to control how others see him is shown by the way he stages his life to attract attention: his parties draw crowds without formal invitation—“People were not invited—they went there” (Ch. 3)—and his persona is carefully polished, as Nick notes that Gatsby “smiled understandingly—much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it” (Ch. 3). He even positions himself physically to be noticed by Daisy, for Jordan reports that “he bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay” (Ch. 4). At the same time Gatsby’s longing makes him anxious about reunion; when Nick first sees him reaching across the water he remarks that Gatsby “stretched out his arm toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling” (Ch. 1). Taken together, these passages from Chapters 1–4 show Gatsby’s obsession with making a perfect first impression and the deep nervousness he feels at the thought of meeting Daisy again.