The Great Gatsby: Chapter IX (pages 163-174)

The end is finally coming to F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby when plans for the funeral are taking place. Although Gatsby's character is technically no longer in the book, the reader may still learn a great deal about him. First, the reader is able to learn from Gatsby's father that, "'Jimmy was bound to go ahead... Do you notice what he's got about improving his mind'" (Fitzgerald, 173)? After learning of this observation that Henry Gatz made about Gatsby, the reader can infer that Gatsby always strove to improve and better himself. This is the reason behind Gatsby's success. Gatsby worked everyday to make himself greater just the slightest bit more. Second, the reader is able to learn from this chapter that although Gatsby threw massive house parties, he had very few true friends. When it actually came time for the funeral it was delayed for a period of time because they were waiting on friends to show up, "But it wasn't any use. Nobody came" (Fitzgerald, 174). Gatsby strove to please people by entertaining them with parties, but he never became close friends with any of them. Nick was his only true friend who stuck around even after he was murdered.