mes the motivating question of the book, and the unraveling of Gatsby's character becomes one of its central mechanisms. One early clue to Gatsby's character in this chapter is his mysterious conversation with Jordan Baker. Though Nick does not know what Gatsby says to her, the fact that Jordan now knows something "remarkable" about Gatsby means that a part of the solution to the enigma of Gatsby is now loose among Nick's circle of acquaintances.Chapter III also focuses on the gap between perception and reality. At the party, as he looks through Gatsby's books, Owl Eyes states that Gatsby has captured the effect of theater, a kind of mingling of honesty and dishonesty that characterizes Gatsby's approach to this dimension of his life. The party itself is a kind of elaborate theatrical presentation, and Owl Eyes suggests that Gatsby's whole life is merely a show, believing that even his books might not be real. The novel's title itself—The Great Gatsby—is suggestive of the sort of vaudeville billing for a performer or magician like "The Great Houdini," subtly emphasizing the theatrical and perhaps illusory quality of Gatsby's life.Nick's description of his life in New York likewise calls attention to the difference between substance and appearance, as it emphasizes both the colorful allure of the city and its dangerous lack of balance: he says that the city has an "adventurous feel," but he also calls it "racy," a word with negative moral connotations. Nick feels similarly conflicted about Jordan. He realizes that she is dishonest, selfish, and cynical, but he is attracted to her vitality nevertheless. Their budding relationship emphasizes the extent to which Nick becomes acclimated to life in the East, abandoning his Midwestern values and concerns in order to take advantage of the excitement of his new surroundings. Chapter IV Summary Nick lists all of the people who attended Gatsby's parties that summer, a roll call of the...
