The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The beginning of chapter 4 offers a very long and poignant list of the many characters who have visited Gatsby's house parties. I found it interesting that at several occasions, Fitzgerald will mention some kind of dramatic event that happened to the person later on. Phrases such as: "before he went to the penitentiary", "who afterward strangled his wife", "divorced now", or "who killed himself by jumping in front of a subway train in Times Square" (Fitzgerald 62) (Fitzgerald 63). I believe Fitzgerald does this to show the real mortality that these rich socialites hide behind the facade of glamour and material happiness. This may turn out to be a heavy theme throughout the book.
On another one of Nick's outings with Gatsby, he is offered some irrefutable evidence from pictures of Gatsby's past that confirm that he did attend to Oxford and he really is a war hero. Although the chances of him being a bootlegger or being involved in any other vices now seem much slimmer, I will not complete reject the idea. Following their car-ride to the city, Carraway and Gatsby sit down for lunch with a new character named Mr. Wolfsheim. Wolfsheim proves to be a very sketchy character with a questionable background. He talks about the night when one of his old associates was killed, "I can't forget so long as I live the night they shot Rosy Rosenthal", giving the impression that Wolfsheim is involved in shady business (Fitzgerald 70). The most shocking news comes from Gatsby when he explains to Nick after Wolfshein's departure that he was the man who had fixed the 1919 World's Series. Of course, in lines with his mysterious aurora, Gatsby does not go as far to explain how Wolfshein executed such a feet but this statement does suggest two things: that he is beginning to trust Nick, and that he is involved with some not so honest people.
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