Gatsby's Golden Goal

 

Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;

If you can bounce high, bounce high for her too,

Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,

I must have you!"

- Thomas Parke D'Invilliers

    That quote by a character in one of F. Scott Fitzgerald's other books, This Side of Paradise, was one of the very first things that were brought to our attention prior to reading The Great Gatsby. From that moment on, it was tossing itself around in the back of my head - until I read chapters 4 through 6.

Jay Gatsby was first introduced to us at the end of Chapter 1. Nick stated that he was “standing with his hands in his pockets” and exhibiting “leisurely movements.” This mystery man finally came to light in Chapter 3, at his own party where Nick and Jordan both had the pleasure of speaking to him. It was also here at this party that many rumors spread about Gatsby. Some said he was a German spy while others said he was a graduate of Oxford University. The reality, however, is the polar opposite.

What does this epigraph have to do with Gatsby though? Let’s go line by line.

Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her

It is revealed in Chapter 4 that in 1917, Gatsby had been stationed in Louisville, Kentucky - right near Daisy’s home. At the time, Jay Gatsby was not a very wealthy man as he is in the present time of the novel. However, Gatsby was madly in love with Daisy and that love continued. Sadly, Gatsby was sent overseas to fight in the war, leaving Daisy behind which eventually led to her marriage to Tom Buchanan. Now, Gatsby has asked Jordan to ask Nick to “invite [Daisy] to tea” so that she can “see [Gatsby’s] house.” It is clear that Gatsby wants to win back his love. The one thing different about it this time is that Gatsby now has the ‘Gold Hat,’ which symbolizes his newfound wealth and possessions. With this, he hopes to win Daisy back.

If you can bounce high, bounce high for her too,

When I think of ‘bouncing high,’ I think of it as going the extra mile, or putting in that extra effort. For example, Gatsby asking Jordan to ask Nick to arrange a tea gathering that would result in both Gatsby and Daisy being in the same room with a view of Gatsby’s mansion. That is bouncing high, maybe even a little too high. Oh and did I mention the flowers that were delivered to Nick’s house after his lawn had received a fresh cut and practically an entire overhaul? Yeah, Gatsby’s really bounced high on this one.

Till she cry, “Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover, I must have you!”

With all these heights that Gatsby is reaching in an effort to impress his sweet Daisy, he becomes overwhelmed when it comes time for her to arrive. It seems like embarrassment engulfs Gatsby as he tells Nick, “This is a terrible mistake, a terrible, terrible mistake.” Nick basically tells him to man up after this childish incident and then leaves the house to allow Daisy and Gatsby to catch up. 

Upon his return, he is met with a completely different Gatsby in a more relaxed environment. “He literally glowed,” Nick said about Gatsby. It was then that Gatsby invited Nick and Daisy to his mansion next door. In the grand tour of Gatsby’s mansion, Daisy is brought to tears after seeing “such beautiful shirts” that Gatsby has sent to him by a man in England. The tour continues, with Daisy marveling over Gatsby’s collection of luxury. Unfortunately in the end, however, poor Nick is rendered a ‘nobody’ as he says that they had forgotten him. He leaves them alone.

.   .   .

This epigraph is the epitome of Jay Gatsby. It symbolizes his wealth, his effort, and his ultimate goal; Daisy. We haven’t read far enough along to see whether Gatsby truly does get the girl of his dreams, but with what I have seen so far, I don’t doubt that something will happen. Until then, we wait for the upcoming blog prompt.