CHAPTER III

Nick describes watching endless parties going on in Gatsby’s house every weekend. Guests party day and night and then on Monday servants clean up the mess. Every Saturday night, Gatsby throws incredibly luxurious parties at his mansion. After seeing these parties from afar, Nick is invited by Gatsby by a handwritten note to join in the festivities (events). Nick is one of the few to have actually been invited. The others simply arrive, knowing only that there will be a party and they won't be turned away. At the party, Nick tries to find Gatsby, but has no luck. No one can tell him where Gatsby is, suggesting that they, themselves, didn't know the host.

The main topic of conversation is rumours about Gatsby. Nick hears from various people that Gatsby is a German spy, an Oxford graduate, and someone even claims Gatsby once killed a man. As Nick mills around the party, he encounters Jordan Baker and the two of them two mingle (socialize/mix) around. While spending time with her, he observes all the amazing luxuries of the party: a live orchestra, a cornucopia (excess/wealth) of food and imported fruits, and endless reserves of alcohol. Nick and Jordan decide to find their mysterious host, and wander into Gatsby's library. There they meet a short, somewhat drunk man who wears owl-like glasses (and whom Nick refers to as Owl-Eyes). Owl Eyes is amazed by Gatsby's books: the vastness and "realism" of Gatsby's book collection surprises him.

Later, as Nick and Jordan sit outside watching the party, Nick strikes up a conversation with the man sitting next to him. The man thinks Nick looks familiar. They realize they may have crossed paths during World War I. The man introduces himself: he's Jay Gatsby. Gatsby has a dazzling (stunning/alluring) smile, and refers to everyone as "old sport." The orchestra strikes up the latest number one hit. Nick notices Gatsby looking over his guests with approval. Gatsby neither drinks, nor dances, nor flirts with anyone at the party. Gatsby also interests Nick because he remains apart from the party, as if his pleasure derives from observing the spectacle (scene), not participating in it.

At almost two in the morning, a butler (manservant/houseboy) approaches Jordan and asks her to come meet with Gatsby. She returns a while later from this meeting and tells Nick that she has just heard a story that is "the most amazing thing." After saying goodbye to Gatsby (who has to run off to receive a phone call from Philadelphia), Nick leaves the party. As he walks home, he sees a crowd gathered around an automobile accident. The drunken Owl Eyes has driven his car into a ditch and is trying to get it out. After very little effort, Owl Eyes gives up and walks away, leaving the car where it is.

Nick then describes his everyday life that summer to the reader and ends the chapter by describing some of the other things he's done in the summer: he wants to make it clear that he does more than just going to parties. He works each day in the city, has a brief relationship with a woman at work from New Jersey until her brother started giving him dirty looks, and then begins to date Jordan Baker. He spent time at the Yale Club and at the library. Yet though he's attracted to Jordan, he doesn't like her because he discovered that she had been accused of cheating at golf, and that she was actually quite dishonest. Nick then says that he is one of the only honest people he's ever known.

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