"A Rare Smile" Chapter 3, Passage 5

Passage 5
"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. It faced—or seemed to face—the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey. Precisely at that point it vanished—and I was looking at an elegant young rough-neck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. Some time before he introduced himself I’d got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care."


      Chapter 3 includes an in depth description of one of Gatsby's notorious parties.  This is also the first time the reader is formally introduced to the great Jay Gatsby, the man the novel is named after. Until this point Gatsby is shrouded by mystery. When Nick first meets Gatsby he begins talking to him without even knowing who he is.  Once Gatsby introduces himself, Nick becomes enthralled with his smile.  Nick describes Gatsby's smile as having a "quality of reassurance," to show that Gatsby was able to captivate those around him with the simple flash of his pearly whites. However, Nick also describes the words spoken by Gatsby as having a formality of speech that is almost inappropriate when used in a certain context.  Nick says that he gets the impression that Gatsby is "picking his words with care." This provides an example of a euphemism, or a way of wording an unpleasant observation in a more appealing way.  From what Nick tells us, we can conclude that he feels as though Gatsby is trying to impress others by using elaborate language and his charming smile. Basically, he thinks Gatsby's persona is a facade. The way in which he presents this inference allows us to draw this conclusion, without it taking on a negative connotation. 

Just some facts..

My first name is Alexis, but nearly everyone calls me Lexi. 

My favorite color is orange (if you couldn't tell by the colors on my blog :p).

I am obsessed with Arizona Iced Tea. I drink it every single day. 

Christmas is my favorite holiday. Although Halloween is a close second. 

Looking up quotes is one of my favorite things to do. No matter what mood I'm in, I can find a quote that fits my situation and expresses how I'm feeling. It can actually be very therapeutic. 

Chadwick Beach is a huge part of my life. Up until this year, I spent every single summer down the shore. Even though my grandpa sold his shore house, I still consider the beach my second home and my friends from down there my second family.

I love music and I listen to almost everything (except Country). Hip-Hop, Rock, Rap, Pop, Alternative-I love all of it. My favorite artists include Bon Jovi, Eminem, and All-Time Low. <3

I'm a huge football fan. My heart belongs to the New York Giants. One day, I hope to be on ESPN as an analyst or a broadcaster. My dream is to be the first female coach in the NFL. 

I love to talk. But, I love to laugh even more. 

And, as Porky Pig would say, "That's all folks!." :)