What Was The Simplest Room In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby, Ch, V. Find para beginning ‘His bedroom was the simplest room of all’ and read from there until ‘…such beautiful shirts before’.
How does this passage relate to the novel as a whole?

In this paragraph Gatsby has recently been reunited with Daisy and is leading her through his mansion. This ultimately results in Daisy breaking down and crying. The concept of materialism is encapsulated in this passage specifically, a theme which is recurrent throughout the novel. The extent of Gatsby's new wealth is emphasised by the description of his bedroom. It is stated it 'was the simplest room of all' evoking a sense of normality. Yet his on top of his dresser there is a 'toilet set of pure dull gold'. This presents us with the idea that Gatsby has so much money he does not know what to do with it. To have a toilet set made of gold seems not only pointless, but ludicrously indulgent. He believes spending all his money will help him win back Daisy, a hopeless delusion which is a central part of the novel. This is also central to the novels context. It reflects a country obsessed with wealth, status and the ideals of consumerism in the midst of the extravagant "roaring twenties". On the other hand, the fact his room is simpler than the rest of the rooms in the
house gives sense of his private and public identity. Presumably his room would be out of bounds when he throws his lavish parties, therefore, this signifies how his identity is entirely constructed around what people think of his possessions and his desire to show off his wealth. The facts his own private space is understated proves how the grandeur of his life is fake and not his true persona. At this point in the novel, on the the surface, it appears to be a rather optimistic moment. Gatsby has been reunited with the love of his life and Daisy follows him round his mansion in awe of his possessions. It is essentially the pivotal moment in the novel, after this everything begins to unravel. His plan to win her back with material possessions initially appears to be working as she takes the gold 'brush with delight'. She also appears to break down crying at the sight of his success and wealth as she is surrounded by his 'beautiful shirts'. However, it is possible to interpret Daisy's tears more as a cry of regret than of happiness. She is trapped in an unhappy marriage and could have perhaps lived a life full of joy with Gatsby. The fact Gatsby throws the expensive shirts so willingly reflects the pointlessness of his material possessions now he has found Daisy, his life is no longer empty and his does not need to fill the hole with expensive posessions. Material wealth cannot equate emotional happiness as is evident in Daisy and Toms relationship. In the two filmic adaptations of the novel (1974 and 2013) this passage is staged in an interesting way and emphasises the domineering presence of Gatsby over Daisy.
In both versions Gatsby is elevated above Daisy and is essentially covering her with his shirts as he throws them down. I feel this emphasises Gatsby's childish attitude towards life. He is covering the object of his love in his material possessions which signifies his wish to 'own' Daisy. He believes he can make her happy by buying things and throwing lavish parties signifying an immature attitude to life and love. It also illustrates the idea that he can hold dominance of Daisy as he is covering her in his
clothing. The idea of time is also significant in this passage as well as being a recurring theme throughout the novel. In general terms, Gatsby is constantly projecting the ideals of the past onto the present. His is unwilling to accept what has happened in the time he has been away from Daisy, illustrated by his unreasonable pressure on her to instantly end her marriage for him. Nick describes Gatsby as if 'he was running down like an over-wound clock'. Prior to this he had also knocked a clock over on Nick's mantlepiece. The latter signifies Gatsby's desire to stop time, whilst the former simile may suggest he is again attempting to stop the present and hold on to his moment of happiness with Daisy. A wish that is only fulfilled, rather bleakly, at the time of his death. Again, to refer to the 2013 films interpretation of the novel, it is implied at the moment of Gatsby's death he believes that Daisy is ringing him to tell him she has left her husband, thus immortalising his ultimate wish of happiness with Daisy.