Answer and Explanation:
1. We learn about Gatsby's past as James Gatz. Explain his relationship with Dan Cody.
When Gatsby was still a teenager, he met Dan Cody, an old millionaire who came to trust Gatsby more and more over the course of a few years. They met as Dan Cody dangerously sailed in his yatch. Gatsby borrowed a boat and rowed to the yatch to warn Cody about the wind and how perilous his situation was.
Cody hired Gatsby as a type of personal assistant. But, as Gatsby proved himself reliable and ambitious, the old man grew fond of him. He left Gatsby $25,000 when he died, but Cody's woman, using some legal device, prevented Gatsby from ever receiving the money.
2. How do the Sloanes and Tom represent old money vs new money when they are rude to Gatsby? How did you feel during that part of the novel?
The Sloanes and Tom Buchanan appear at Gatsby's mansion one day while horseback riding. They are old money, which means their wealth has been in their families for generations. Gatsby, on the other hand, is new money, meaning there is no fame or tradition behind his wealth.
Their visit shows the open disposition of new money. Gatsby is excited about their visit. He is even more eager upon being invited to dine with the Sloanes. New money is ready to engage, to accept, to invite and be invited. What Gatsby doesn't notice is that old money is ready to despise and to judge. They are there to have a couple of drinks, and that is it. They do not care about Gatsby, since they find him inferior to them. The invitation to dine is not serious, and they all know it, which makes it distastefully surprising when Gatsby accepts it. Simply put, old money will never see new money as their equal.
This part of the novel feels uncomfortable, even irksome. As we read it, we wish Gatsby would know what we know; we wish he would see those people for who they really are and despise them for being shallow snobs. Yet, his eagerness and trust in others makes his character even more likable. Gatsby is not the type of hero we are used to seeing in stories nowadays. It is this mixture of cleverness and innocence that makes him special.
