IMPORTANT QUOTES

 “I called up Daisy half an hour after we found him, called her instinctively and without hesitation. But she and Tom had gone away early that afternoon, taken baggage with them. ‘Left no address?’ ‘No.’ ‘Say when they’d be back?’ ‘No.’” (164) 

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As we know, Gatsby was killed while trying to call his secret lover, Daisy. In chapter 9 though, a terrible irony is revealed- not only did she not pick up the phone, but it was because she and Tom had moved away together. Waiting for Daisy got him killed, but it was in vain as she was never even there. Tom and Daisy had instead chosen to leave West Egg and moved away (the location remains unknown), leaving behind all of the other characters and starting a new life. This shows how the true nature of many characters from The Great Gatsby comes to light during the final chapter.

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“The minister glanced several times at his watch, so I took him aside and asked him to wait for half an hour. But it wasn’t any use. Nobody came.” (174) 

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Nick, waiting with the minister, realizes that nobody is coming to Gatsby’s funeral. This shows a sharp contrast with how the characters usually act- earlier in the book, Gatsby’s friends and acquaintances were quick to attend any party he hosted, but would not even show up to his funeral. It shows how much of what we hear about the characters seems to be a facade, and they aren’t really friends, as who wouldn’t attend their friend’s funeral. Looking back on the rest of the book, it’s interesting to think about how all of the characters we meet seem to be acting happy around one another, but really nobody is actually friends. It’s a commentary on the super-wealthy people of America; attending parties, and living carefree, while not actually forming meaningful relationships with those around them.

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“Gatsby’s house was still empty when I left- the grass in his lawn had grown as long as mine.” (179)

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Following his death, the great parties once held and the general hubbub surrounding Gatsby’s house had all but ceased. His house fell silent and unchecked, noted by the length of the uncut grass. Nick laments the state of the house, remembering the splendor it was once home to. The length of the grass is an interesting detail to add here- it shows that after his death, nobody has tended to the house or the grounds, showing again that none of the people who once surrounded Gatsby, save for Nick, truly cared for who he was.