logo

53 pages 1 hour read

The Great Gatsby

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1925

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter 6Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 6 Summary

A reporter arrives at Gatsby’s and asks if he has any statement to give. Gatsby has no idea what he means. The reporter seems to be simply following up on vague rumors attached to Gatsby that even the reporter himself does not understand.

After recounting this “fishing expedition” by the reporter, Nick relates a story told to him by Gatsby about his origins. He says that Jay Gatsby’s real name is James Gatz. He took on the name Gatsby upon meeting Dan Cody on a yacht in Lake Superior.

Gatsby is originally from a good but unremarkable family in South Dakota. He always felt out of place there and left as soon as he could to seek a better future for himself. He wandered to Lake Superior and rowed his boat out on the pretense of giving boating advice to the captain of Cody’s magnificent yacht. He managed to ingratiate himself with Cody, even becoming a partial heir to the man’s fortune. As a self-made gold and silver magnate, Cody turned Gatsby into his unofficial assistant. Unfortunately, when Cody died, his mistress Ella Kaye prevents Gatsby from receiving his inheritance.

Several weeks after facilitating the meetings between Gatsby and Daisy, Nick walks to Gatsby’s on a whim.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 53 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools