The Great Gatsby
Chapter 4
JESSICA PERSONS
AND
KEARA LAESSIG
Vocab
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Knickerbocker: (N) –short baggy pants.
Fluctuate: (V) -to change continually; shift back and forth.
Sporadic: (Adj.) -appearing or happening at irregular intervals in time; occasional.
Divine retribution: (N) -punishment from a higher being for bad deeds or
transgressions.
Rajah: (N) -a king or prince in India; a minor chief or dignitary.
Elicit: (V) -to draw or bring out or forth; educe; evoke.
Valor: (N) -heroic courage; bravery.
Somber: (Adj.) –sad and serious.
Denizen: (N) -an inhabitant; a resident; one that frequents a particular place.
Jaunty: (Adj.) -easy and sprightly in manner or bearing.
Modish: (Adj.) - Fashionable.
Rove: (Adj.) - To wander.
Juxtaposition: (N)- and act or instance of placing close together for comparison or
contrast.
Evasions: a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant
truth
Frankly: If someone is frank, they state or express things in an open and honest way.
Summary of Chapter 4
Chapter four begins with a car drive to lunch in Gatsby’s “gorgeous car”
which represents one of the material objects involved in the American Dream.
Gatsby bombards Nick with overwhelming questions referring to his opinion on
him. Once he began “the generalized evasions” the question deserved, Gatsby begins
to tell his apparent life story. He talks about a “sad thing” that happened to him
many years ago, his accomplishments in the war, Oxford, and his many travels. Nick
doubts his story more then ever at that point because “the very phrases were worn”
and “threadbare,” as if Gatsby had told his life story so many times, it was merely a
story. When they got to the restaurant they were joined by Mr. Wolfsheim, “a small
flat-nosed Jew.” Once Wolfsheim mysteriously asks Nick if he is looking for a
“business gonnegtion,” and mentions his friend Rosy who was shot down at the
Metropole, Gatsby abruptly exits the room to make a call. When he returns,
Wolfsheim decides to leave and Nick curiously asks Gatsby about Wolfsheim’s
occupation. He discovers Wolfsheim is a gambler and is the man who fixed the 1919
World Series. Nick soon spots Tom and brings Gatsby along to say hello, but in
seconds disappears.
Later, Jordan Baker meets with Nick to tell him all about Gatsby’s desire to
meet Daisy all over again through a tea at Nick’s house. Nick agrees to the
proposition and the night ends in an intimate moment between himself and Jordan.
“He’s a bootlegger…..One time he killed a man who had
found out that he was nephew to Von Hindenburg and
second cousin to the devil.”
 Gossip stirs Nick’s suspicion of Gatsby’s true
whereabouts.
 Allusion to the famous Von Hindenburg

Von Hindenburg
Second president of Germany
 Ran against Adolph Hitler in his re-election. Played an
important role in the Nazi party .

Gatsby’s Life Story
“I’ll tell you God’s truth.”
 “I was brought up in America but educated at
Oxford, because all my ancestors have been educated
there for many years. It is a family tradition.”
 “My family all died and I came into a good deal of
money.”
 “Then came the war, old sport. It was a great relief,
and I tried very hard to die, but I seemed to bear an
enchanted life. I accepted a commission as first
lieutenant when it began.”
Cover It Live-Why is Gatsby’s story not believable?
Mr. Wolfsheim
 Mr. Wolfsheim is introduced as a “small, flat nosed
Jew.” The Imagery is used in a way which shows a
little bit of the racism present in the 1920’s, when the
Jewish were blamed for the economic troubles and
corruption of the nation.
 Mr. Wolfsheim’s character is modeled after Arnold
Rothstein, a Jewish businessman.
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Jewish mafia
The “Moses of Jewish Gangsters”
Rosy Rosenthal (Anecdote)
 “I can’t forget so long as I live the night they shot Rosy
Rosenthal there.”
 Rosy Rosenthal, who Wolfsheim mentions as his friend, was a
mobster who owed money to his political boss. When he
refused to pay, the head of the police, Charles Becker, came
after him for the money. When Rosy complained to a reporter
about Charles, Becker and his men murdered Rosy on the
steps of the Metropole, exposing the corruption of the New
York police force and Tammany Hall.
 Tammany Hall- Democratic party political machine that
played a major role in controlling New York city politics and
helped immigrants rise up in American politics. (1790-1960)
 Yet another connection to the mafia.
The 1919 World Series Fix
 “He’s the man who fixed the World’s Series back in 1919.”
 During the “Black Sox Scandal” eight white sox were
bribed with 100,000$ by Arnold Rothstein, Attel, and
many other “cheap gamblers.” By paying the black sox to
throw the game, he could bet a large sum of money on
the other team.
 “Shoeless Jackson” was the star pitcher of the White sox
and one of the players who was bribed. The Grand Jury
proved him guilty although they could only prove him
charge him with taking 5,000$ of the 20,000$ and
banned him and seven other teammates from playing
baseball forever.
Meyer Wolfsheim’s Cuff Links
Molar Cufflinks
Symbolism
 “Finest specimens of
human molars.”
 Experts say that these cuff
links symbolize “an
increasingly materialistic
and unfeeling society.”
 Cufflinks represent wealth
and sophistication, but the
molars symbolize a certain
barbaric behavior about
Wolfsheim.
“This is Mr. Gatsby, Mr. Buchanan.”
 The first hint of Gatsby’s life obsession shows during
this encounter.
 “They shook hands briefly, and a strained, unfamiliar
look of embarrassment came over Gatsby’s face.”
 After a quick greet Gatsby makes a run for it and
disappears while Nick is speaking with Tom.
(First Tension build between Gatsby and Tom)
Jordan Baker's Story
 In chapter 4 Jordan reveals the Gatsby and Daisy she knew
once when she was a mere 16 years of age.
 Her interpretation of the young Gatsby was
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Brave
Handsome
Pure
Romantic
 Gatsby’s house was bought in order to be close to Daisy, and
parties were thrown as way to sort of lure Daisy to his home.
 After promising to wait for Gatsby’s return from the war,
Daisy had accepted Tom Buchanan’s marriage proposal.
 From the beginning Tom was spotted with mistress after
mistress.
 Following the story, Jordan asks Nick to invite Daisy to tea as
a way for Gatsby and Daisy to meet.
 After Jordan Baker finished telling
The Sheik of
Araby
Well I'm the Sheik of Araby
Your love belongs to me
Well at nights when you're asleep
Into your tent I creep
a-ha
The stars that shine above
will light our way to love
You rule this world with me
I'm the Sheik of Araby
Well I'm the Sheik of Araby
Your love belongs to me
Oh, at nights when you're asleep
Into your tent I creep
a-ha
The stars that shine above
will light our way to love
You rule this world with me
I'm the Sheik of Araby
well, I'm the Sheik of Araby
well, I'm the Sheik of Araby
Nick the information she was asked
to this chorus was heard,

“Well I'm the Sheik of Araby
Your love belongs to me
Well at nights when you're asleep
Into your tent I creep”
 This chorus relates Gatsby’s love for
Daisy. Although Daisy is married to
Tom, Gatsby continues to believe
that she loves Gatsby years after
their last encounter.
 The song was also a very popular
song of the 1920’s, giving an
indication of the time period.
“There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the
busy, and the tired.” –Nick Carraway
Cover It Live- Which
character(s) are the pursued,
the pursuing, the busy, and
the tired?
The Corruption of the American Dream
 Though the American dream was originally characterized by
the pursuit of happiness, the 1920’s indicated a new, sort of
corrupted American dream.
 Gatsby’s dream for instance, is made up entirely of pure
corruption.
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Gatsby builds his life around the obtainment of his long lost lover which
ultimately results in his own corruption.
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Daisy, although built up into some kind of idealized woman, is really empty
and lacking morals.
The necessary possessions and social status needed in order to achieve his
dream quickly are only possible through criminal behavior linked to none
other then Meyer Wolfsheim, the main criminal character of the novel.
 Gatsby’s corrupted American dream therefore represents the
corruption that has befallen American society during the
1920’s.
“Then it had not been merely the stars to which he had
aspired on that June night.”
This conversation is the beginning of the conflict involving
each of the main characters.
 In chapter one Gatsby is
seen reaching out towards
a green light across the bay,
the green light,
representing his
unrequited love for Daisy.
 In chapter four Nick makes
the connection between
that night, and Gatsby’s
impossible love for Daisy.
Vocab. Jeopardy!
10
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Points Points Points Points Points
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Points Points Points Points Points
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30
Points Points Points Points Points
Define the Underlined Word
“He came only once, in white
knickerbockers, and had a
fight with a bum named Etty
in the garden.
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 “…and when Ferret wandered into
the garden it meant he was cleaned
out and Associated Traction would
have to fluctuate profitably next
day.”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
“He was balancing himself on the dashboard
of his car with that resourcefulness of
movement that is so peculiarly American—
that comes, I suppose, with the absence of
lifting work or rigid sitting in youth and,
even more, with the formless grace of our
nervous, sporadic games.”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
“I’ll tell you God’s truth.” His
right hand suddenly ordered
divine retribution to stand
by.”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
“After that I lived like a young
rajah in all the capitals of
Europe—Paris, Venice, Rome…”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 “…I was glad that the sight of Gatsby’s
splendid car was included in their
somber holiday”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 “This is one of his sentimental days.
He’s quite a character around New
York—a denizen of Broadway.”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 “Suddenly I wasn’t thinking of Daisy
and Gatsby any more, but of this clean,
hard, limited person, who dealt in
universal skepticism, and who leaned
back jauntily just within the circle of
my arm.”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 “His eyes, meanwhile, roved very slowly all
around the room.”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 “A little overwhelmed, I began the
generalized evasions which that question
deserves.”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 “I don’t like mysteries,” I answered. “And I don’t
understand why you won’t come out frankly and
tell me what you want.
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 It appreciated fully the chain of national
circumstances which had elicited this tribute from
Montenegro’s warm little heart.
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 “Major Jay Gatsby,” I read, “For Valor
Extraordinary.”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 “As we crossed Blackwell’s Island a limousine passed
us, driven by a white chauffeur, in which sat three
modish negroes, two bucks and a girl.”
Answer
Define the Underlined Word
 “Four of them were electrocuted,” I said,
remembering.
“Five, with Becker.” His nostrils turned to me in an
interested way. “I understand you’re looking for a
business gonnegtion.”
The juxtaposition of these two remarks was
startling.”
Answer
Answer
Knickerbockers: (N) – short baggy pants.
Back to the Questions
Answer
Fluctuate: (V) -to change
continually; shift back and
forth.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Sporadic: (Adj.) -appearing or
happening at irregular intervals in
time; occasional.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Divine retribution: (N) -punishment
from a higher being for bad deeds or
transgressions.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Rajah: (N) -a king or prince in
India; a minor chief or dignitary.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Somber: (Adj.) –sad and serious.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Denizen: (N) -an inhabitant; a
resident; one that frequents a particular
place.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Jaunty: (Adj.) -easy and sprightly in manner or
bearing.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Rove: (Adj.) - To wander.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Evasions: a statement that is not literally false but
that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth .
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Frankly: If someone is frank, they state or express
things in an open and honest way.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Elicit: (V) -to draw or bring out or forth; educe;
evoke.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Valor: (N) -heroic courage; bravery.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Modish: (Adj.) - Fashionable.
Back to the Questions
Answer
 Juxtaposition: (N)- and act or instance of placing
close together for comparison or contrast.
Back to the Questions