The Three Parties - Andrew Meyers

 In the first three chapters of The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway describes three different parties.  These parties are different from each other in their settings and guests.  Each party takes place at a different location and has drama associated with it.

In chapter one, Nick goes to Tom and Daisy’s (Nick’s second cousin) Buchanan’s house for dinner.  The Buchanan’s home is located on the East Egg on Long Island Sound, in New York.  Nick describes the Buchanan’s home on page 6, “Their house was even more elaborate than I expected, a cheerful red-and-white Georgian Colonial mansion, overlooking the bay.”  Nick graduated from Yale and is familiar with the wealth and prestige found in the East Egg.  When he arrives he is greeted by Tom who is described as being physically fit and clearly he comes from money.  Daisy seems to welcome Nick and is cheerful and happy when she sees him.  Nick is introduced to Miss Jordan Baker at this party; she is reserved and at first did not make an effort to greet him.  They all have dinner together, talking about different topics.  At one point during the dinner Tom gets up to take a phone call and Miss Baker tells Nick that Tom is speaking to his mistress (this is news to Nick).  Tom and Daisy talk after dinner; Daisy seems unsettled.  Before Miss Baker goes to bed, the Buchanan’s appear to want Tom and Daisy to date.  Overall, the dinner seems a bit awkward.

In Chapter two, Nick goes to Myrtle Wilson’s (Tom’s mistress) apartment in New York City.  On page 29, Nick describes that “The apartment was on the top floor---a small living room, a small dining room, a small bedroom, and a bath.  The living-room was crowded to the doors with a set of tapestried furniture entirely too large for it.  Tom and Myrtle appear to use this apartment for their affair.  Myrtle changes her clothes and with it her personality.  Myrtle becomes loud and takes over the room.  Myrtle’s sister, Catherine, and Mr. and Mrs. Mckee are also at this party.  Catherine was comfortable at the apartment; in fact Tom asked her if she lived there. Mr. Mckee talked about his photography and ultimately falls asleep;  Mrs. Mckee visits with the ladies and seems loud .”  There is a lot of alcohol being consumed at this party.  On page 29, Nick says, “I’ve been drunk just twice in my life, and the second time was that afternoon.”  The party ultimately gets out of control and becomes violent.   Tom and his mistress Myrtle argue (because Myrtle keeps bringing up Daisy’s name) and on page 37, “Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her (Myrtle) nose with his open hand.”  Overall, the party is a disaster.

In chapter three, Nick is invited by Gatsby to Gatsby’s large and elaborate party.  Nick is Gatsby’s neighbor on the West Egg on the Long Island Sound, in New York.  On page 5, Nick describes Gatsby’s mansion as, “A colossal affair by any standard-it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming-pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden.” Among the many spectacles, there is an orchestra playing.  Nick believes that he is one of few that got an invitation; there are many people that just show up uninvited.  Nick sees Miss Jordan Baker at the party and spends most of his time with her.    They talked to some people who gossiped about Gatsby, that Gatsby had “killed a man once” (page 44). Nick and Jordan spent time looking for Gatsby, as Nick had never met him before.  Nick Finally meets Gatsby, not realizing at first he was even talking to Gatsby.  Later, Nick sees Gatsby standing alone and comments that Gatsby wasn’t drinking at his own party.  Gatsby calls for Miss Baker and they speak to each other alone and whatever is said is supposed to be confidential between them.  The crowd drinks too much and people start arguing.  On page 52, wives did not want to leave the party, “both wives were lifted, kicking, into the night” by their husbands.  As Nick leaves the party, he sees that there has been a car accident, that the cars leaving Gatsby’s house are backed up on the road, and that they are all honking.  Overall, the party was a glamorous event, people mingled, and they appeared to enjoy themselves. 

The three parties that Nick Carraway describes in the first three chapters of The Great Gatsby are very different, but each has some drama.  Of all the parties, I would like to go to Gatsby’s party because there were a lot of people to talk to and exciting things to see (the orchestra, etc.).  I choose Gatsby’s party because the first two parties had too much drama and dysfunction (they were also smaller and more intimate, and therefore I would not be able to avoid the drama).  At the party in chapter one, it is revealed that Tom has a mistress.  This carries over to the party in chapter two, where the party is a drunken affair and a Tom breaks Myrtle’s (the mistress) nose.  Although there is some drama at Gatsby’s party, there were so many people there, that I could avoid it.  I would rather attend Gatsby’s grand affair, speak to different people socially, and avoid the drama/dysfunction of the other two parties.