Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 6
ItwasJamesGatzwhohadbeenloafingalongthebeachthatafternooninatorngreenjerseyandapairofcanvaspants,butitwasalreadyJayGatsbywhoborrowedarowboat,pulledouttotheTuolomee,andinformedCodythatawindmightcatchhimandbreakhimupinhalfanhour.
Isupposehe’dhadthenamereadyforalongtime,eventhen.Hisparentswereshiftlessandunsuccessfulfarmpeople—hisimaginationhadneverreallyacceptedthemashisparentsatall.ThetruthwasthatJayGatsbyofWestEgg,LongIsland,sprangfromhisPlatonicconceptionofhimself.HewasasonofGod—aphrasewhich,ifitmeansanything,meansjustthat—andhemustbeaboutHisFather’sbusiness,theserviceofavast,vulgar,andmeretriciousbeauty.SoheinventedjustthesortofJayGatsbythataseventeen-year-oldboywouldbelikelytoinvent,andtothisconceptionhewasfaithfultotheend.
ForoverayearhehadbeenbeatinghiswayalongthesouthshoreofLakeSuperiorasaclam-diggerandasalmon-fisherorinanyothercapacitythatbroughthimfoodandbed.Hisbrown,hardeningbodylivednaturallythroughthehalf-fierce,half-lazyworkofthebracingdays.Heknewwomenearly,andsincetheyspoiledhimhebecamecontemptuousofthem,ofyoungvirginsbecausetheywereignorant,oftheothersbecausetheywerehystericalaboutthingswhichinhisoverwhelmingself-absorbtionhetookforgranted.
Buthisheartwasinaconstant,turbulentriot.Themostgrotesqueandfantasticconceitshauntedhiminhisbedatnight.Auniverseofineffablegaudinessspunitselfoutinhisbrainwhiletheclocktickedonthewash-standandthemoonsoakedwithwetlighthistangledclothesuponthefloor.
