Chapter 5
Nick returns home to West Egg and, fearing his house might be on fire, discovers Gatsby’s mansion brilliantly lit from tower to cellar. He meets Gatsby on the lawn; they discuss a possible tea meeting with Daisy, and Gatsby reluctantly agrees to cut Nick’s grass, hinting at a hidden business proposal that Nick declines. The next morning, Nick calls Daisy and invites her to tea, warning her not to bring Tom. A rain‑soaked day sees a gardener sent by Gatsby arrive to cut the grass, and Nick rushes to prepare lemon cakes, tea, and flowers. Gatsby arrives in a white flannel suit, pale and sleepless, and inspects the preparations with vague comments. As the rain eases, a car pulls up: Daisy, in a three‑cornered lavender hat, steps out and asks if Nick’s house is really the place she lives. She enters, wet and emotional, and the meeting begins. Daisy’s arrival is dramatic; she questions Nick privately before joining the tea. The house is empty except for a brief, noisy knock at the front door, after which Gatsby re‑enters, hands in coat pockets, and takes a seat by the mantel. He appears uneasy, knocks over a mantel‑clock, catches it, and apologizes. Daisy remarks that they have not seen each other for five years. The tea proceeds amid nervous small talk; Gatsby repeatedly whispers “old sport” and appears conflicted. After the tea, Nick excuses himself, and Gatsby follows, pleading “Oh, God!” and calling the encounter a “terrible mistake.” Daisy and Gatsby exchange embarrassed glances, and Gatsby frantically retreats to the garden where he watches the rain from under a large black tree, contemplating his mansion’s grandeur. Nick observes Gatsby’s house and reflects on its opulent construction and the past promises tied to it. Later, the rain stops; Gatsby and Nick walk the grounds, and Gatsby boasts that it took him three years to earn the money for the house, denying inheritance rumors and mentioning a past “big panic” of war. Gatsby reveals a vague, secretive line of work, then shifts to discussing Daisy’s reaction to his wealth. He shows her his extensive collection of shirts, throwing them onto a table in a chaotic display; Daisy becomes overwhelmed and weeps, saying she has never seen such beautiful shirts. The tour continues through marble steps, music rooms, and a library, where an “Owl Eyes” figure is heard laughing. The group proceeds to the swimming‑pool area, but rain resumes, prompting them to watch the Sound from the dock. Gatsby points out a green light at the end of his dock, a symbol of his longing for Daisy. The evening ends with Gatsby and Daisy sitting together, holding hands, while Nick watches them from a distance before leaving the house into the rain.