Quote 52
He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy. His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was… (6.132)
Gatsby can't deal with what his life's become, but instead of wanting to change it going forward, he wants to head back to the past. Hint: it doesn't work like that.
Quote 53
Tom talked incessantly, exulting and laughing, but his voice was as remote from Jordan and me as the foreign clamor on the sidewalk or the tumult of the elevated overhead. Human sympathy has its limits, and we were content to let all their tragic arguments fade with the city lights behind. (7.308)
Well, Tom seems pretty satisfied with himself—but no one else is. They're all unhappy with what's just happened, but Tom has control of this situation.
Quote 54
Usually her voice came over the wire as something fresh and cool, as if a divot from a green golf-links had come sailing in at the office window, but this morning it seemed harsh and dry. (8.49-51)
Talk about dissatisfied. Jordan is the queen of discontent, but now she seems really put out. No wonder—things have taken a very sudden turn for the serious. Plus, without Gatsby, who's going to throw the parties?