Interestingly, Jay Gatsby's personal attributes and idiosyncrasies are revealed not at once, nor in a continuum. Thus, there is a certain aura of mystery and allure that surrounds Gatsby. He stands on his "blue lawn" in the night and watches the green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan's pier; he gives lavish parties, but no one is really invited, Gatsby himself is rarely seen, and rumors abound about his background and past.
When Nick is invited to one of Gatsby's parties by the chauffeur, he moves among the crowd, realizing that, perhaps, he is the only one who has actually been invited. When Nick turns to a new acquaintance, he remarks that the party is "unusual" for him as he does not even know the host, Gatsby.
"I'm Gatsby," he said suddenly.
"What!" I exclaimed. "Oh, I beg your pardon."
"I thought you knew, old sport. I'm afraid I'm not a very good host."
He smiled understandingly--much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it that you may come across four or five times in life.
Nick feels that Gatsby has focused entirely upon him and then feels favorably toward him, somehow understanding him, believing in him as he would like to believe in himself, assuring him that Gatsby has the impression of Nick that he wishes him to have. It is a sparkling moment, a moment when trumpets herald the arrival of someone important--then, just a quickly as a spark, this moment ends. And Nick is brought back to earth, finding Gatsby's "formality of speech just missed being absurd."
Curious now as to who Gatsby really is, Nick turns to Jordan and she expresses her doubts about him, saying he has told her he attended Oxford, but she does not think that Gatsby has gone there. Nick begins to realize that Gatsby has no one really knows who Gatsby is and, suddenly, Nick's curiosity is stimulated.
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