Thursday, July 16, 2015

Why does Nick allude to "Castle Rackrent" in Chapter 5 of The Great Gatsby?

Nick and Gatsby are awaiting the arrival of Daisy.  When she arrives at Nick's cottage she sweeps into the room and asks Nick, "Are you in love with me,' she says low in my ear, or why did I have to come alone?' 'That's the secret of Castle Rackrent. Tell your chauffeur to go far away and spend an hour." Nick replied.

I believe Nick's reference to Castle Rackrent is meant to call up the plot at the end of the short novel by Maria Edgeworth.  At the end of the novel the reader is left to wonder about the story of the Rackrent castle's ownership.  "After Sir Condy Rackrent's death, Jason and the now-recovered Lady Condy went to court over the title of the estate. Some said Jason would get the land, and others said Lady Condy would win. Thady could only guess the results of the suit.

I think Nick is using a play on words in reference to a literary reference.  Daisy couldn't solve the mystery of why she was asked to come to Nick's alone in the middle of the afternoon; she would have to just guess.  

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