The Great Gatsby

After the murder-suicide, the newspapers are full of accounts that Nick describes as distorted and distasteful. Despite his dislike of Gatsby, Nick is the only one who takes his side.

Nick tries to see Daisy and Tom, but they left town without leaving any indication of where they went or how to get in touch.

He also tries to track down friends of Gatsby’s, including Meyer Wolfsheim. Wolfsheim sends a letter expressing his sorrow at Gatsby’s death while implying that he cannot attend the funeral.

A telegram arrives from a man named Henry Gatz in Minnesota, requesting the delay of the funeral until he arrives. Gatz, Gatsby’s father, arrives and explains that he read about the tragedy in a Chicago newspaper. Gatz is affected less with sorrow than with pride and awe regarding his son’s accomplishments. He compares his son to James J. Hill, the railroad magnate.

Later, Gatsby’s former “boarder,” Klipspringer, calls. From the address he gives, it is clear he is a parasite to another wealthy person now. Rather than asking the details of Gatsby’s funeral, Klipspringer merely wants to recover a pair of shoes left at the deceased’s home. Nick hangs up on him.

The day of the funeral, Nick visits Wolfsheim.