Significant Quotes in Chapter 9
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy--they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made…” (179)
- This quote was said by Nick after running into Tom.
- It is significant because it further emphasizes the theme of moral decay of the upper class.
- Daisy and Tom don’t have to worry about the consequences of their actions because they have money to fall back to. This carelessness and lack of concern for other people clearly illustrates the dehumanization and apathy of the upper class.
Two other quotes that relate to this theme are:
“Nobody came.” (172) - Nick Carraway on the topic of Gatsby’s funeral.
"Why, my God!" They used to go there by the hundreds!" (175) - Owl Eyes on the topic of Gatsby's funeral.
- People are content with attending Gatsby’s parties, but when he passes away, none can be bothered to show up to his funeral.
- Reinforces the idea of dehumanization and apathy. They were content with ‘using’ Gatsby and were so self-absorbed with their own reckless lives they couldn’t be bothered to come to the funeral of the man who threw the parties they so often attended.
- Also displays irony
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but thats no matter--to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther...And one fine morning----
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” (180)
- Nick says this quote on the last page of the novel, thinking about Gatsby and the pursuit for a new future or American Dream.
- This quote describes both Gatsby and the American Dream as a whole
- American Dream is “receding” and “eluding”. The American Dream is a bluff, made impossible by the emptiness and corruption of the upper class, even though people want to believe otherwise.
- Also reflects Gatsby’s own pursuit of the American Dream, and how he believed in the green light and his unwavering belief that he could achieve it ("tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther")(180) despite the reality.
- “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (180), even though we try to make a future for ourselves, we are ultimately “boats against the current”, battling the waves of the past. This is comparable to Gatsby who wanted to focus on a new future with Daisy, but was still rooted in the past and as a result did not see her for who she was.