Circus Party

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Chapter 3 pages 39-46

"The groups change more swiftly, swell with new arrivals, dissolve and form in the same breath; and already there are wanderers, confident girls who weave here and there among the stouter and more stable, become for a sharp, joyous moment the center of the group, and then, excited with triumph, glide on through the sea-change of faces and voices and color under the constantly changing light" (Fitzgerald, pages 40-41).

The entirety of this section of the novel is consumed in Gatsby's party. The descriptions of Fitzgerald seem to fit the elaborate party that Nick was taking in slowly. The descriptions allowed for the text to not only flow, but to describe every little detail of the environment that Nick seemed to be thrown into. From the little details, I was able to conclude that I believe the party seemed to reflect an almost circus-like atmosphere where the elaborate elements seemed to mix oddly together to create this atmosphere. 

Furthermore, this part of the also brought a heightened mystery to the character of Gatsby. Everyone seems to have their own story of why Gatsby acted as he did. Gatsby seems to be a mostly faceless party host that goes unnoticed at his own party or hides from his own party. Along with the mystery of Gatsby, Jordan Baker seems to bring her own mystery to the party. After she tells Nick that she came to the party to see him, she meets up with her own group as if she needed an excuse to tell Nick previously. I was fully confused with Jordan at this point and was further confused when she seemed to know where Gatsby could possibly be. It appeared almost as if Jordan has a hidden relationship with Gatsby the brought a heightened mystery to Gatsby and Jordan. I am curious to find out Jordan's true reason for being at the party and if they have much to do with Gatsby.

Random drunk man?! I am fully confused as well with this snippet of this section. What was the purpose of the drunk man and the bookshelves. Is this somehow describing the nature of the alcohol in this 1920s society? Everyone seems drunk and really drunk. From the previous chapter where Fitzgerald wrote as a drunk Nick with confusing passages almost simulating the thoughts of Nick to this  section where everyone else seems to be overly drunk like this man. Not sure if this type of style of writing will continue in the book to where the reader is in the more intimate thoughts of Nick that the writing reflects his train of thoughts and mindset.