Possessions Are Not Everything

The major event in this chapter is when Nick goes over to the East to have dinner with Tom and Daisy.  This takes place throughout chapter one. At first, it seems as though they will be like old friends just catching up, but that is not the feeling I got from the reading.  To me, it seemed more uncomfortable than it should have been.  It seemed more like bragging in a way.  When Nick first arrives, all Tom has to say is, "Now, don't think my opinion on these matters is final just because I'm stronger and more of a man than you are." He seems to be belittling Nick, not something friends do at all.  Tom then goes on with, "I've got a nice place here."  Talking about nothing personal, Tom is just bragging about what he has, probably indicating that Nick gave up a good thing when he moved to the West.  Why he felt the need to do this I am not sure, but if I were him that would be just about the last thing I would have done.  Seeing an old friend for the first time in a while should never be about comparing what you have and what they don't or vice versa. Reconnecting is one of the highlights of not seeing someone for a long time.  You get the chance to catch up with everything that has been going on.  Tom may have done this because of where he is in his life.  He might have everything he could want physically, but not emotionally.  Maybe all of his possessions are a way to make up for what he lacks with people.  A deeper message here could be that no matter how many belongings you have or how rich you are, nothing can replace what personal connection with friends can give you.  You could have everything, yet nothing at all.  I am predicting that Tom will realize that he is not happy with his life, if he has not figured that out already.