Reflection on the Third Chapter of the Great Gatsby

One thing I found interesting was how Gatsby seemed to prefer to watch the party, rather than be a part of it. The narrator talks about how he was “looking from one group to another with approving eyes”. It also mentions “the fact that he was not drinking”. This gives him a pretty mysterious image. Why would someone who throws such large parties want no real participation in the partying?

Another thing I found interesting was how the drunken man in the library was so interested in Gatsby’s books. Fist of all, he is impressed that “They’re real”. He is sure that no one believes him. To convince them he shows them how they “have pages”. The intoxicated are so easily entertained.

The third chapter of the Great Gatsby demonstrates aspects of the Jazz Age very well. One would be the bootlegging and illegal drinking. Gatsby had a bar in his house. When referring to it the narrator says “The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden”. It also talks about the serving of champagne on a few occasions. It says that “champagne was served in glasses the size of finger bowls”.

One thing that could be considered an aspect of the Jazz Age is materialism. People come to Gatsby’s parties because they know that he has great things. He has excessive amounts of alcohol, which was something that most people in this period craved. He also had great food and an orchestra that would perform at his parties.