Chapter 8: The Funeral
Bab 8: Pemakaman
Gatsby's funeral was a stark contrast to his lavish parties. Only a handful of people attended: Nick, Gatsby's father Henry Gatz, and "Owl Eyes," a man who had attended Gatsby's parties but never actually met him. Notably absent were Daisy, Tom, and the hundreds of guests who had enjoyed Gatsby's hospitality.
Pemakaman Gatsby sangat kontras dengan pesta-pestanya yang mewah. Hanya segelintir orang yang hadir: Nick, ayah Gatsby Henry Gatz, dan "Owl Eyes," seorang pria yang pernah menghadiri pesta Gatsby tetapi tidak pernah benar-benar bertemu dengannya. Yang absen secara mencolok adalah Daisy, Tom, dan ratusan tamu yang telah menikmati keramahtamahan Gatsby.
Nick was disgusted by the callousness of Gatsby's former friends, who seemed to have no loyalty or gratitude toward the man who had provided them with endless entertainment. The Buchanans had moved away, escaping any responsibility for the tragedy they had helped create.
Nick merasa jijik dengan ketidakpedulian mantan teman-teman Gatsby, yang tampaknya tidak memiliki kesetiaan atau rasa terima kasih kepada pria yang telah memberi mereka hiburan tanpa akhir. Keluarga Buchanan telah pindah, melarikan diri dari tanggung jawab apa pun atas tragedi yang mereka bantu ciptakan.
Gatsby's father revealed that his son had always been ambitious and determined, showing Nick a copy of Gatsby's childhood schedule that demonstrated his disciplined approach to self-improvement. This glimpse into Gatsby's past made his tragic end even more poignant, as it showed how far he had come and how completely his dreams had been destroyed.
Ayah Gatsby mengungkapkan bahwa putranya selalu ambisius dan bertekad, menunjukkan kepada Nick salinan jadwal masa kecil Gatsby yang menunjukkan pendekatannya yang disiplin terhadap perbaikan diri. Sekilas tentang masa lalu Gatsby ini membuat akhir tragisnya semakin pedih, karena menunjukkan seberapa jauh dia telah melangkah dan betapa hancurnya mimpinya.