The Great Gatsby

During a Sunday morning party at Gatsby’s, church bells ring in the distance. The attendees hear the usual rumors about Gatsby’s origins. Nick pauses to list the colorful regulars at Gatsby’s parties, which include a heterogeneous array of wealthy and successful individuals.

In late July, Gatsby drives to Nick’s house and takes him to lunch. On the drive, Nick is struck by Gatsby’s efforts to gauge whether or not Nick thinks highly of him. Eventually, he asks Nick’s opinion of him outright. He also asks what Nick thinks of Gatsby’s car, which is extremely luxurious and large.

Gatsby confronts the rumors about his origins directly by saying that he is the son of deceased wealthy parents from the Midwest. However, when asked where in the Midwest, he replies San Francisco. Gatsby goes on to explain that, after inheriting his deceased parents’ wealth, he spent years living lavishly in Europe. After Europe, he tells Nick, he showed great valor in World War I in the Ardennes, receiving medals of honor from multiple countries.

To corroborate his stories, Gatsby shows Nick a picture of him at Oxford and a medal given to him for heroism in Montenegro. To Nick, these stories prove that virtually everything that Gatsby says is true.