In The Great Gatsby, Tom and Daisy's
home and their lives are not what they might at first seem. Nick, in the scene you ask
about, is exposed to their marital misery.
Nick is simply
being funny or facetious, although his joke is not without
seriousness.
The "fifth guest," Tom's woman in New York,
calls for a second time, and Nick's words are his reaction to the second call. A few
paragraphs later, when Daisy tells Nick that she's become cynical, Nick comments that
"Evidently she had reason to be." This, too, refers to Tom's adultery, and possibly to
Daisy's being married to Tom, period. Nick doesn't like Tom or think much of
him.
Not only is Tom going out on Daisy, and not only does
Tom's woman call twice during this little get together, but Jordan also contributes to
Nick's feeling the need to call the police, to call for help. Jordan, "unashamed,"
leans forward in her chair and tells Tom to be quiet so she can hear what's going on
with Tom and Daisy and the woman in New York. Things are just not right in this
household. Instead of being discrete and ignoring the situation, Jordan unabashedly
tries to listen in. She already appears a bit amoral.
Nick
is overwhelmed and shocked by these people, and by Daisy's situation. Instead of being
interested or stimulated by the possiblility of scandal, etc., he is a bit disgusted.
His thought of calling the police is just his indirect way of revealing
this.
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