TheGreatGatsby

FULLTITLETheGreatGatsby

AUTHORF.ScottFitzgerald

TYPEOFWORKNovel

GENREModernistnovel,JazzAgenovel,novelofmanners

TIMEANDPLACEWRITTEN19231924,AmericaandFrance

DATEOFFIRSTPUBLICATION1925

PUBLISHERCharlesScribnersSons

NARRATORNickCarrawayCarrawaynotonlynarratesthestorybutimpliesthatheis
thebooksauthor

POINTOFVIEWNickCarrawaynarratesinbothfirstandthirdperson,presentingonly
whathehimselfobserves.Nickalternatessectionswherehepresentseventsobjectively,as
theyappearedtohimatthetime,withsectionswherehegiveshisowninterpretationsofthe
storysmeaningandofthemotivationsoftheothercharacters.

TONENicksattitudestowardGatsbyandGatsbysstoryareambivalentandcontradictory.
AttimesheseemstodisapproveofGatsbysexcessesandbreachesofmannersandethics,
buthealsoromanticizesandadmiresGatsby,describingtheeventsofthenovelina
nostalgicandelegiactone.

TENSEPast

SETTING(TIME)Summer1922

SETTINGS(PLACE)LongIslandandNewYorkCity

PROTAGONISTGatsbyand/orNick

MAJORCONFLICTGatsbyhasamassedavastfortuneinordertowintheaffectionsof
theupperclassDaisyBuchanan,buthismysteriouspaststandsinthewayofhisbeing
acceptedbyher.

RISINGACTIONGatsbyslavishparties,GatsbysarrangementofameetingwithDaisyat
Nicks

CLIMAXTherearetwopossibleclimaxes:GatsbysreunionwithDaisyinChapters56
theconfrontationbetweenGatsbyandTominthePlazaHotelinChapter7.

FALLINGACTIONDaisysrejectionofGatsby,Myrtlesdeath,Gatsbysmurder

THEMESThedeclineoftheAmericandream,thespiritofthe1920s,thedifference
betweensocialclasses,theroleofsymbolsinthehumanconceptionofmeaning,theroleof
thepastindreamsofthefuture

MOTIFSTheconnectionbetweeneventsandweather,theconnectionbetween
geographicallocationandsocialvalues,imagesoftime,extravagantparties,thequestfor
wealth

SYMBOLSThegreenlightonDaisysdock,theeyesofDoctorT.J.Eckleburg,thevalley
ofashes,Gatsbysparties,EastEgg,WestEgg

FORESHADOWINGThecarwreckafterGatsbyspartyinChapter3,OwlEyess
commentsaboutthetheatricalityofGatsbyslife,themysterioustelephonecallsGatsby
receivesfromChicagoandPhiladelphia

Summary1)

Ournarrator,NickCarraway,beginsthebookbygivingussomeadviceofhisfather'sabout
notcriticizingothers.(Butbutwhatifthey'relying,possiblysociopathicmurderers?)And
nowit'stimetomeetourcastofcharacters:Nick'ssecondcousinonceremovedDaisy
Buchananherlargeandaggressivehusband,TomBuchananandJordanBaker.Jordan's
agirl,andshequicklybecomesaromanticinterestforournarrator.Probablybecauseshe's
theonlygirlaroundwhoisn'thiscousin.

WhiletheBuchanansliveonthefashionableEastEgg(we'retalkingLongIsland,NYinthe
1920's,bytheway),NicklivesonthelesselitebutnottooshabbyWestEgg,whichsits
acrossthebayfromitstwintown.We(andNick)aresoonfascinatedbyacertainMr.Jay
Gatsby,awealthyandmysteriousmanwhoownsahugemansionnextdoortoNickand
spendsagoodchunkofhiseveningsstandingonhislawnandlookingatanequally
mysteriousgreenlightacrossthebay.Ookay.

TomtakesNicktothecitytoshowoffhismistress,awomannamedMyrtleWilsonwhois,of
course,married.Myrtle'shusband,George,isapassive,workingclassmanwhoownsan
autogarageandisoblivioustohiswife'sextramaritalactivities.Nick,whohassomegood
oldfashionedvaluesfromhischildhoodgrowingupinthe"MiddleWest,"isnonetoo
impressedbyTom.

BackonWestEgg,thisGatsbyfellowhasbeenthrowingabsolutelykillerparties,where
everyoneandhismothercancomeandgetwastedandtrytofigureouthowGatsbygotso
rich.NickmeetsandwarilybefriendsthemysterymanatoneofhishugeSaturdaynight
affairs.HealsobeginsspendingtimewithJordan,whoturnsouttobeloveableinallher
cynicalpracticality.

Movingalong,GatsbyintroducesNicktohis"businesspartner,"MeyerWolfsheim.Hm.This
isstartingtosoundfishy.Next,GatsbyrevealstoNick(viaJordan,inthemiddleschool
phonetagkindofway)thatheandDaisyhadalovethingbeforehewentawaytothewar
andshemarriedTom,afteraseriousepisodeofcoldfeetthatinvolvedwhiskyandabath
tub.GatsbywantsDaisyback,andheenlistsNicktohelphimstagean"accidental"
reuniting.

NickexecutestheplanGatsbyandDaisyarereunitedandstartanaffair.Everything
continuesswimminglyuntilTommeetsGatsby,doesn'tlikehim,andbeginsinvestigatinghis
affairs.Nick,meanwhile,knowsallaboutit:Gatsbygrewupinapoor,uneducatedfamily
untilhemetthewealthyandelderlyDanCody,whotookhiminasacompanionandtaught
himhowtoactrich.ButDanisn'ttheonewholefthimthemoney.

Thebigscenegoesdowninthecity,whenTomhasitoutwithGatsbyoverwhogetstobe
withDaisyinshort,GatsbyisoutedasabootleggerandDaisyisunabletoleaveher
husband.Everyonedriveshome,probablyinareallybadmood,andTom'smistress,Myrtle,
isstruckandkilledbyGatsby'scar(inwhichGatsbyandDaisyareriding).GatsbytellsNick
thatDaisywasdriving,butthathe'sgoingtotaketheblameforit.Tom,meanwhile,feeds
GatsbytothewolvesoratleastthetickedoffhusbandbytellingMyrtle'shusband
Georgewheretofindhim.Bangbang,andGeorgeWilsonandGatsbyarebothdead.

DaisyandTomtakeoff,leavingtheirmessbehind.Nick,whobynowhashadjustabout
enoughofthesepeople,endsthingsoffwithJordaninawaythat'saboutonestepupfrom
breakingupviatextmessage.HearrangesGatsby'sfuneral,whichisverysparsely
attendedalthoughGatsby'sdaddoesshowupwithsomemoreinfoabouthispast.
StandingonGatsby'slawnandlookingatthegreenlight(which,BTW,turnedouttobethe
lightinfrontofDaisy'shouseacrossthebay),Nickconcludesthatnostalgiajustendsup
forcingusconstantlybackintothepast.

Summary2)

Thenarrator,NickCarraway,isGatsby'sneighborinWestEgg.Nickisayoungmanfroma
prominentMidwesternfamily.EducatedatYale,hehascometoNewYorktoenterthebond
business.Insomesense,thenovelisNick'smemoir,hisuniqueviewoftheeventsofthe
summerof1922assuch,hisimpressionsandobservationsnecessarilycolorthenarrative
asawhole.Forthemostpart,heplaysonlyaperipheralroleintheeventsofthenovelhe
preferstoremainapassiveobserver.

UponarrivinginNewYork,Nickvisitshiscousin,DaisyBuchanan,andherhusband,Tom.
TheBuchanansliveintheposhLongIslanddistrictofEastEggNick,likeGatsby,residesin
nearbyWestEgg,alessfashionablearealookeddownuponbythosewholiveinEastEgg.
WestEggishometothenouveauriche,peoplewholackestablishedsocialconnections,
andwhotendtovulgarlyflaunttheirwealth.LikeNick,TomBuchanangraduatedfromYale,
andcomesfromaprivilegedMidwesternfamily.Tomisaformerfootballplayer,abrutal
bullyobsessedwiththepreservationofclassboundaries.Daisy,bycontrast,isanalmost
ghostlikeyoungwomanwhoaffectsanairofsophisticatedboredom.AttheBuchanans's,
NickmeetsJordanBaker,abeautifulyoungwomanwithacold,cynicalmanner.Thetwo
laterbecomeromanticallyinvolved.

JordantellsNickthatTomhasbeenhavinganaffairwithMyrtleWilson,awomanwholives
inthevalleyofashes,
anindustrialwastelandoutsideofNewYorkCity.AftervisitingTom
andDaisy,NickgoeshometoWestEggthere,heseesGatsbygazingatamysterious
greenlightacrossthebay.Gatsbystretcheshisarmsouttowardthelight,asthoughtocatch
andholdit.

TomBuchanantakesNickintoNewYork,andonthewaytheystopatthegarageownedby
GeorgeWilson.WilsonisthehusbandofMyrtle,withwhomTomhasbeenhavinganaffair.
TomtellsMyrtletojointhemlaterinthecity.Nearby,onanenormousbillboard,apairof
bespectacledblueeyesstaresdownatthebarrenlandscape.Theseeyesonceservedas
anadvertisementnow,theybroodoverallthatoccursinthevalleyofashes.

Inthecity,TomtakesNickandMyrtletotheapartmentinMorningsideHeightsatwhichhe
maintainshisaffair.There,theyhavealuridpartywithMyrtle'ssister,Catherine,andan
abrasivecouplenamedMcKee.TheygossipaboutGatsbyCatherinesaysthatheis
somehowrelatedtoKaiserWilhelm,themuchdespisedrulerofGermanyduringWorldWar
I.Themoreshedrinks,themoreaggressiveMyrtlebecomesshebeginstauntingTom
aboutDaisy,andhereactsbybreakinghernose.Theparty,unsurprisingly,comestoan
abruptend.

NickCarrawayattendsapartyatGatsby'smansion,whereherunsintoJordanBaker.Atthe
party,fewoftheattendeesknowGatsbyevenfewerwereformallyinvited.Beforetheparty,
NickhimselfhadnevermetGatsby:heisastrikinglyhandsome,slightlydandifiedyoung
manwhoaffectsanEnglishaccent.GatsbyaskstospeaktoJordanBakeraloneafter
talkingwithGatsbyforquitealongtime,shetellsNickthatshehaslearnedsome
remarkablenews.Shecannotyetshareitwithhim,however.

Sometimelater,GatsbyvisitsNick'shomeandinviteshimtolunch.Atthispointinthe
novel,Gatsby'soriginsareunclear.HeclaimstocomefromawealthySanFranciscofamily,
andsaysthathewaseducatedatOxfordafterservingintheGreatWar(duringwhichhe
receivedanumberofdecorations).Atlunch,GatsbyintroducesNicktohisbusiness
associate,MeyerWolfsheim.Wolfhsheimisanotoriouscriminalmanybelievethatheis
responsibleforfixingthe1919WorldSeries.

GatsbymysteriouslyavoidstheBuchanans.Later,JordanBakerexplainsthereasonfor
Gatsby'sanxiety:hehadbeeninlovewithDaisyBuchananwhentheymetinLouisville
beforethewar.Jordansubtlyintimatesthatheisstillinlovewithher,andshewithhim.

GatsbyasksNicktoarrangeameetingbetweenhimselfandDaisy.Gatsbyhasmeticulously
plannedtheirmeeting:hegivesDaisyacarefullyrehearsedtourofhismansion,andis
desperatetoexhibithiswealthandpossessions.Gatsbyiswoodenandmanneredduring
thisinitialmeetinghisdearestdreamshavebeenofthismoment,andsotheactualreunion
isboundtodisappoint.Despitethis,thelovebetweenGatsbyandDaisyisrevived,andthe
twobeginanaffair.

Eventually,NicklearnsthetruestoryofGatsby'spast.HewasbornJamesGatzinNorth
Dakota,buthadhisnamelegallychangedattheageofseventeen.ThegoldbaronDan
CodyservedasGatsby'smentoruntilhisdeath.ThoughGatsbyinheritednothingofCody's
fortune,itwasfromhimthatGatsbywasfirstintroducedtoworldofwealth,power,and
privilege.

Whileouthorsebackriding,TomBuchananhappensuponGatsby'smansion.Therehe
meetsbothNickandGatsby,towhomhetakesanimmediatedislike.ToTom,Gatsbyispart
ofthe"newrich,"andthusposesadangertotheoldorderthatTomholdsdear.Despitethis,
heaccompaniesDaisytoGatsby'snextpartythere,heisexceedinglyrudeand
condescendingtowardGatsby.NickrealizesthatGatsbywantsDaisytorenounceher
husbandandhermarriageinthisway,theycanrecovertheyearstheyhavelostsincethey
firstparted.Gatsby'sgreatflawisthathisgreatloveofDaisyisakindofworship,andthat
hefailstoseeherflaws.Hebelievesthathecanundothepast,andforgetsthatDaisy's
essentiallysmallmindedandcowardlynaturewaswhatinitiallycausedtheirseparation.

AfterhisreunionwithDaisy,Gatsbyceasestothrowhiselaborateparties.Theonlyreason
hethrewsuchpartieswasthechancethatDaisy(orsomeonewhoknewher)mightattend.
DaisyinvitesGatsby,NickandJordantolunchatherhouse.InanattempttomakeTom
jealous,andtoexactrevengeforhisaffair,Daisyishighlyindiscreetaboutherrelationship
withGatsby.SheeventellsGatsbythatsheloveshimwhileTomisinearshot.

AlthoughTomishimselfhavinganaffair,heisfuriousatthethoughtthathiswifecouldbe
unfaithfultohim.Heforcesthegrouptodriveintothecity:there,inasuiteatthePlaza
Hotel,TomandGatsbyhaveabitterconfrontation.TomdenouncesGatsbyforhislowbirth,
andrevealstoDaisythatGatsby'sfortunehasbeenmadethroughillegalactivities.Daisy's
realallegianceistoTom:whenGatsbybegshertosaythatshedoesnotloveherhusband,
sherefuseshim.TompermitsGatsbytodriveDaisybacktoEastEgginthisway,he
displayshiscontemptforGatsby,aswellashisfaithinhiswife'scompletesubjection.

OnthetripbacktoEastEgg,GatsbyallowsDaisytodriveinordertocalmherragged
nerves.PassingWilson'sgarage,Daisyswervestoavoidanothercarandendsuphitting
Myrtlesheiskilledinstantly.NickadvisesGatsbytoleavetownuntilthesituationcalms.
Gatsby,however,refusestoleave:heremainsinordertoensurethatDaisyissafe.George
Wilson,drivennearlymadbythedeathofhiswife,isdesperatetofindherkiller.Tom
BuchanantellshimthatGatsbywasthedriverofthefatalcar.Wilson,whohasdecidedthat
thedriverofthecarmustalsohavebeenMyrtle'slover,shootsGatsbybeforecommitting
suicidehimself.

Afterthemurder,theBuchanansleavetowntodistancethemselvesfromtheviolencefor
whichtheyareresponsible.NickislefttoorganizeGatsby'sfuneral,butfindsthatfewpeople
caredforGatsby.OnlyMeyerWolfsheimshowsamodicumofgrief,andfewpeopleattend
thefuneral.NickseeksoutGatsby'sfather,HenryGatz,andbringshimtoNewYorkforthe
funeral.FromHenry,NicklearnsthefullscopeofGatsby'svisionsofgreatnessandhis
dreamsofselfimprovement.

ThoroughlydisgustedwithlifeinNewYork,Nickdecidestoreturntothestrovetotransform
hisdreamsintorealityitisthisthatmakeshim"great."Nickalsobelieves,however,thatthe
timeforsuchgrandaspirationsisover:greedanddishonestyhaveirrevocablycorrupted
boththMidwest.Beforehisdeparture,NickseesTomBuchananoncemore.Tomtriesto
elicitNick'ssympathyhebelievesthatallofhisactionswerethoroughlyjustified,andhe
wantsNicktoagree.


NickmusesthatGatsby,aloneamongthepeopleofhisacquaintance,strovetotransform
hisdreamsintorealityitisthisthatmakeshim"great."Nickalsobelieves,however,thatthe
timeforsuchgrandaspirationsisover:greedanddishonestyhaveirrevocablycorrupted
boththeAmericanDreamandthedreamsofindividualAmericans.

Characters

NickCarraway
Thenovelsnarrator,NickisayoungmanfromMinnesotawho,after
beingeducatedatYaleandfightinginWorldWarI,goestoNewYorkCitytolearnthebond
business.Honest,tolerant,andinclinedtoreservejudgment,Nickoftenservesasa
confidantforthosewithtroublingsecrets.AftermovingtoWestEgg,afictionalareaofLong
Islandthatishometothenewlyrich,Nickquicklybefriendshisnextdoorneighbor,the
mysteriousJayGatsby.AsDaisyBuchananscousin,hefacilitatestherekindlingofthe
romancebetweenherandGatsby.TheGreatGatsbyistoldentirelythroughNickseyeshis
thoughtsandperceptionsshapeandcolorthestory.

JayGatsby
Thetitlecharacterandprotagonistofthenovel,Gatsbyisafabulously
wealthyyoungmanlivinginaGothicmansioninWestEgg.Heisfamousforthelavish
partieshethrowseverySaturdaynight,butnooneknowswherehecomesfrom,whathe
does,orhowhemadehisfortune.Asthenovelprogresses,NicklearnsthatGatsbywas
bornJamesGatzonafarminNorthDakotaworkingforamillionairemadehimdedicatehis
lifetotheachievementofwealth.WhenhemetDaisywhiletrainingtobeanofficerin
Louisville,hefellinlovewithher.NickalsolearnsthatGatsbymadehisfortunethrough
criminalactivity,ashewaswillingtodoanythingtogainthesocialpositionhethought
necessarytowinDaisy.NickviewsGatsbyasadeeplyflawedman,dishonestandvulgar,
whoseextraordinaryoptimismandpowertotransformhisdreamsintorealitymakehim
greatnonetheless.

DaisyBuchanan
Nickscousin,andthewomanGatsbyloves.Asayoungwomanin
Louisvillebeforethewar,Daisywascourtedbyanumberofofficers,includingGatsby.She
fellinlovewithGatsbyandpromisedtowaitforhim.However,Daisyharborsadeepneedto
beloved,andwhenawealthy,powerfulyoungmannamedTomBuchananaskedherto
marryhim,DaisydecidednottowaitforGatsbyafterall.Nowabeautifulsocialite,Daisy
liveswithTomacrossfromGatsbyinthefashionableEastEggdistrictofLongIsland.Sheis
sardonicandsomewhatcynical,andbehavessuperficiallytomaskherpainatherhusbands
constantinfidelity.

TomBuchanan
Daisysimmenselywealthyhusband,onceamemberofNickssocialclub
atYale.Powerfullybuiltandhailingfromasociallysolidoldfamily,Tomisanarrogant,
hypocriticalbully.Hissocialattitudesarelacedwithracismandsexism,andhenevereven
considerstryingtoliveuptothemoralstandardhedemandsfromthosearoundhim.Hehas
nomoralqualmsabouthisownextramaritalaffairwithMyrtle,butwhenhebeginstosuspect
DaisyandGatsbyofhavinganaffair,hebecomesoutragedandforcesaconfrontation.

JordanBaker
Daisysfriend,awomanwithwhomNickbecomesromanticallyinvolved
duringthecourseofthenovel.Acompetitivegolfer,Jordanrepresentsoneofthenew
womenofthe1920scynical,boyish,andselfcentered.Jordanisbeautiful,butalso
dishonest:shecheatedinordertowinherfirstgolftournamentandcontinuallybendsthe
truth.

MyrtleWilson
Tomslover,whoselifelesshusbandGeorgeownsarundowngaragein
thevalleyofashes.Myrtleherselfpossessesafiercevitalityanddesperatelylooksforaway
toimprovehersituation.Unfortunatelyforher,shechoosesTom,whotreatsherasamere
objectofhisdesire.

GeorgeWilson
Myrtleshusband,thelifeless,exhaustedownerofarundownautoshop
attheedgeofthevalleyofashes.GeorgelovesandidealizesMyrtle,andisdevastatedby
heraffairwithTom.GeorgeisconsumedwithgriefwhenMyrtleiskilled.Georgeis
comparabletoGatsbyinthatbotharedreamersandbothareruinedbytheirunrequitedlove
forwomenwholoveTom.
OwlEyes
Theeccentric,bespectacleddrunkwhomNickmeetsatthefirstpartyhe
attendsatGatsbysmansion.NickfindsOwlEyeslookingthroughGatsbyslibrary,
astonishedthatthebooksarereal.

Klipspringer
TheshallowfreeloaderwhoseemsalmosttoliveatGatsbysmansion,
takingadvantageofhishostsmoney.AssoonasGatsbydies,Klipspringerdisappearshe
doesnotattendthefuneral,buthedoescallNickaboutapairoftennisshoesthatheleftat
Gatsbysmansion.

MeyerWolfsheim
Gatsbysfriend,aprominentfigureinorganizedcrime.Beforethe
eventsofthenoveltakeplace,WolfsheimhelpedGatsbytomakehisfortunebootlegging
illegalliquor.HiscontinuedacquaintancewithGatsbysuggeststhatGatsbyisstillinvolvedin
illegalbusiness.

Theme
TheDeclineoftheAmericanDreaminthe1920s
Onthesurface,TheGreatGatsbyisastoryofthethwartedlovebetweenamananda
woman.Themainthemeofthenovel,however,encompassesamuchlarger,lessromantic
scope.Thoughallofitsactiontakesplaceoveramerefewmonthsduringthesummerof
1922andissetinacircumscribedgeographicalareainthevicinityofLongIsland,New
York,TheGreatGatsbyisahighlysymbolicmeditationon1920sAmericaasawhole,in
particularthedisintegrationoftheAmericandreaminaneraofunprecedentedprosperity
andmaterialexcess.