Nick's distant family relationship with Daisy (second
cousin once removed) does not come up between Nick and Gatsby when they meet or later.
Nick meets Gatsby for the first time when he is with Jordan Baker at one of Gatsby's
parties. Nick falls into a conversation with Gatsby without realizing who he is. Gatsby
learns that night that Nick is his neighbor, and he has learned previously that Jordan
knows Daisy. Jordan doesn't realize Gatsby is Daisy's young lieutenant from Louisville
until she spends a private hour with him that night at the
party.
Gatsby's plan then falls into place. He will work
through Jordan to ask Nick to arrange a reunion with Daisy. When he discusses this with
Jordan, she tells Gatsby that Tom Buchanan is Nick's friend, which almost makes Gatsby
"abandon the whole idea." She does not, however, mention Nick and Daisy's being distant
cousins. When Nick asks Jordan why Gatsby didn't simply ask him personally to arrange a
meeting, Jordan explains:
He's afraid. He's waited so long. He thought you
might be offended. You see he's a regular tough underneath it
all.
In referring to Gatsby
as "a regular tough," Jordan is speaking ironically. It is clear that Gatsby is
vulnerable and sensitive in ways that might not be obvious to those who do not know him.
Jordan also explains that Gatsby absolutely does not want her to arrange a luncheon for
him and Daisy in New York:
"I don't want to do anything out of the way!" he
kept saying. "I want to see her right next
door."
It is true Gatsby
wants Daisy to see his mansion, but the nature of his reaction suggests he does not want
his meeting with Daisy to seem tawdry or common. Gatsby's emotional investment in seeing
Daisy again is enormous and quite romantic.
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