The Great Gatsby: Chapter VI (pages 97-101)

In this section of  The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald we learn the truth about Gatsby's past and how he became wealthy. Gatsby actually had very little education and began working just to survive. I do not understand how he is so wealthy he received such little legacy money from his friend Dan Cody. Another big piece of information that can be taken from this chapter is, "The most grotesque and fantastic conceits haunted [Gatsby] in his bed at night" (Fitzgerald, 99). Fitzgerald now makes it clear that something occurred in Gatsby's past that disturbs him. These details of Gatsby reminds me a lot of Miss Bart in The House of Mirth. Both Gatsby and Miss Bart have made mistakes in their past that cause them to lay awake at night fearing their dreams. They both went through times of poverty and both received less money than they would have expected from legacies. Another aspect that brings them together is that they both struggle to obtain love. While Gatsby is trying to get the love of his life back, Miss Bart had to figure out that love was happiness. It is strange how closely related Gatsby and Miss Bart are through their money issues, sleeping habits, and love life.