"Oxford" Man

"He killed a man once!" "He was a German spy during the war." "He told me he was an Oxford man, however I don't believe it." Rumors about Gatsby are thrown all over the place, mostly because he is a mystery. He was not bred in the high society of East and West Egg in New York, but rather came from a poor family and worked his way up to the top, and as we find out later, all in the name of Daisy. A reoccurring rumor however that shows up in the novel is wether Gatsby is, or is not, an "Oxford man." Jordan Baker has her doubts as she voices them to Nick at the party, and her reasoning is slightly unclear as her response when asked why not is, "I don't know. I just don't think he went there." Perhaps it is the way that Gatsby rushes through the subject when he mentions his education, rather than boasting about it that makes the idea seem unlikely. Later on, in chapter 7, Tom mocks Gatsby saying he "wears a pink suit" and is is from "Oxford, New Mexico, or something like that." The attack on Gatsby's background might be purely out of feeling inferior or jealousy, but it raises a question of why he chose to comment on the fact that Gatsby attended such a prestigious institution. However, despite these disbeliefs, the story is actually true. Gatsby did attend Oxford after the war and received a top notch education. It is not clear why Gatsby does not advertise this fact, but it seems as though he prefers to keep such accomplishments hidden as to not be conspicuous, much like he stays on the outskirts of the parties. Most of what he does is for Daisy, and he feels he doesn't need to advertise or bother with anything that is not directly related to her.