Ewing Klipspringer is Jay Gatsby’s most frequent guest. In fact, he probably spends more time inside Gatsby’s property than out. If you’ve been lucky enough to enjoy Gatsby’s parties, you might have heard of this infamous guest being referred to as the boarder, due to how he appears to have become just as established at the Gatsby residence as his golden toilet.
“A man named Klipspringer was there so often that he became known as ‘the boarder’—I doubt if he had any other home.” – N.C.
(Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, Chapter 4).
While it’s unknown whether Mr. Klipspringer pays rent to compensate for his permanent sleepover party, the ever clever Gatsby has found a use for this guest. Klipspringer is an outstanding pianist, and upon your request, he’ll play any song you desire!
It seems like having a live-in musician is quite useful for someone as grand as Gatsby, as upon any whim or fleeting desire, tunes can be heard throughout the entire house.
“[W]e’ll have Klipspringer play the piano… Klipspringer plays the piano… Don’t talk so much, old sport, [p]lay!” – Jay Gatsby
“Klipspringer had played ‘The Love Nest’…” – N.C.
(Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, Chapter 5).
And best of all, the man himself is incredibly humble, despite being Gatsby’s most prized musician. Upon request of a song, he insists he’s all out of practice, that he cannot play. But if you’ve been blessed enough to hear his singing, you’d know he’s an outstanding performer!
If you ever stop by the Gatsby house, make sure that you pay the boarder a visit. He’ll happily play for you, even if it does require a little convincing to coax him out of his shy demeanor.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. eBook #64317. Project Gutenberg, January 17, 2021, online.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/64317/64317-h/64317-h.htm
