In chapter 9, Fitzgerald describes Gatsby’s funeral, “A little before three the Lutheran minister arrived from Flushing, and I began to look involuntarily out the windows for other cars. So did Gatsby’s father. And as the time passed and the servants came in and stood waiting in the hall, his eyes began to blink anxiously, and he spoke of the rain in a worried, uncertain way. The minister glanced several times at his watch, so I took him aside and asked him to wait for half an hour. But it wasn’t any use. Nobody came”.
Consider the contrast between Gatsby's party in Chapter 3 with his funeral. What is the intended effect of this contrast?
To build sympathy for Gatsby through his description of the lonely, sad funeral
To show that Nick should have invited more people
To show the selfishness of the people who used to come to Gatsby’s parties.
A and C
A and C.
The intended effect of the contrast between Gatsby's party in Chapter 3 and his funeral is to build sympathy for Gatsby through the description of the lonely, sad funeral (option A). This can be inferred from the passage where the minister arrives from Flushing for the funeral, and both Nick and Gatsby's father anxiously look out the windows for other cars, indicating a lack of attendance. Additionally, Gatsby's father becomes worried and uncertain as time passes with no one arriving, suggesting that the people who used to come to Gatsby's extravagant parties are not showing up to pay their respects. This reinforces the idea that Gatsby's extravagant lifestyle and social circle were superficial, and that he ultimately died alone and unappreciated. The contrast serves to highlight the emptiness of Gatsby's life and the superficiality of his relationships, creating a sense of sympathy for him in his final moments.
Therefore, the correct answer is option A.