Question

Read the quote from Gatsby to Nick:

“I thought you didn’t, if you’ll pardon my — You see, I carry on a little business on the side, a sort of side line, you understand. And I thought that if you don’t make very much — You’re selling bonds, aren’t you, old sport?”What character traits does this quote demonstrate and why?

List two traits shown here with a brief explanation of how each is demonstrated in the quote.

Answer 1

Deception: The quote demonstrates that Gatsby is deceptive in his business dealings, as he is implying that he has a "side line" or a separate business that he does not want others to know about.
Manipulative: The quote also shows that Gatsby is manipulative, as he is trying to extract information from Nick about his own financial situation and is using flattery and affectionate language ("old sport") in an attempt to gain Nick's trust.