The Great GatsbyThe Great GatsbyChapter 1Chapter 1

SETTING SETTING The novel is set in New York in the The novel is set in New York in the

1920's, at Nick Carraway's bungalow 1920's, at Nick Carraway's bungalow and Gatsby's mansion on West Egg, and Gatsby's mansion on West Egg, at the Buchanan's mansion on East at the Buchanan's mansion on East Egg, in various places in New York Egg, in various places in New York City, including Myrtle's apartment, City, including Myrtle's apartment, the Plaza Hotel, and a restaurant the Plaza Hotel, and a restaurant across from The Metropole, and in across from The Metropole, and in the Valley of Ashes. the Valley of Ashes.

Long Island Sound

The main purpose of this first chapter is The main purpose of this first chapter is to introduce the characters and setting of to introduce the characters and setting of the book. the book.

Nick Carraway is the narratorNick Carraway is the narrator He is a young man in his late twenties He is a young man in his late twenties

who grew up in the Midwest in a who grew up in the Midwest in a prominent, respected middle class family.prominent, respected middle class family.

He says he is a decent human being who He says he is a decent human being who was taught at an early age to reserve was taught at an early age to reserve judgment, a trait which has made him a judgment, a trait which has made him a confidante to many people in his life. confidante to many people in his life.

He graduated from New Haven (Yale) in He graduated from New Haven (Yale) in 1915, and then served in the military in 1915, and then served in the military in World War I. World War I.

Nick Cont’dNick Cont’d He has come to New York City to learn the bond He has come to New York City to learn the bond

business, like many of his friends. business, like many of his friends. He has rented a home on West Egg, one of two He has rented a home on West Egg, one of two

identical (in appearance) egg-shaped islands located identical (in appearance) egg-shaped islands located on Long Island Sound, twenty miles from the city. on Long Island Sound, twenty miles from the city.

His house is a small bungalow, renting for $80 per His house is a small bungalow, renting for $80 per month; it is really an eyesore located between two month; it is really an eyesore located between two large mansions. large mansions.

The one on his right is a "colossal affair," fashioned The one on his right is a "colossal affair," fashioned after a City Hall in Normandy, France, complete with after a City Hall in Normandy, France, complete with marble swimming pool and forty acres of lawn and marble swimming pool and forty acres of lawn and gardens. Nick has learned that a Mr. Jay Gatsby owns gardens. Nick has learned that a Mr. Jay Gatsby owns and inhabits the mansion. and inhabits the mansion.

The Buchanans lived in an The Buchanans lived in an enormous Georgian style enormous Georgian style

mansionmansion

The Story Begins….The Story Begins…. Nick has been invited to dinner at Nick has been invited to dinner at

the Buchanans. the Buchanans. When he arrives at their home, he is When he arrives at their home, he is

amazed at its size and the expansive amazed at its size and the expansive grounds that run from the house for grounds that run from the house for a quarter of a mile down to the a quarter of a mile down to the beach. beach.

Tom BuchananTom Buchanan Thirty years old. Thirty years old. Nick immediately notices that Tom has Nick immediately notices that Tom has

changed since his college days. changed since his college days. He is blond, handsome, and muscular. He is blond, handsome, and muscular. He appears to be sturdy and arrogant.He appears to be sturdy and arrogant. Nick comments that Tom has a "cruel Nick comments that Tom has a "cruel

body, capable of enormous leverage." body, capable of enormous leverage."

Daisy BuchananDaisy Buchanan Tom's wife and Nick's cousin, appears to Tom's wife and Nick's cousin, appears to

be light as a feather. be light as a feather. She sits inside the living room on a sofa She sits inside the living room on a sofa

and is dressed in a lightweight, white and is dressed in a lightweight, white garment that is rippling in the breeze, garment that is rippling in the breeze, giving the young woman the image of giving the young woman the image of floating. floating.

Her voice, light and thrilling to Nick, Her voice, light and thrilling to Nick, intensifies the cool, airy picture of her intensifies the cool, airy picture of her appearance.appearance.

She is shallow and careless.She is shallow and careless.

Jordan BakerJordan Baker Daisy’s friend.Daisy’s friend. She is a She is a

professional golferprofessional golfer She is shallow and She is shallow and

vain, much like vain, much like DaisyDaisy

Dinner…Dinner… Tom receives a Tom receives a

phone call and phone call and leaves the table. leaves the table.

Daisy leaves.Daisy leaves. Jordan Baker tells Jordan Baker tells

Nick that Tom has Nick that Tom has a mistress in the a mistress in the city. city.

After Dinner….After Dinner…. Daisy reveals "turbulent emotions" to Nick. Daisy reveals "turbulent emotions" to Nick. She tells him that when she had her daughter She tells him that when she had her daughter

two years ago, Tom was nowhere around. two years ago, Tom was nowhere around. She is glad that the child is a daughter, for She is glad that the child is a daughter, for

she feels she can raise her to be "a fool--she feels she can raise her to be "a fool--that's the best thing a girl can be in the that's the best thing a girl can be in the world, a beautiful little fool." world, a beautiful little fool."

She then admits her misery to Nick and says, She then admits her misery to Nick and says, "I've had a very bad time, and I'm pretty "I've had a very bad time, and I'm pretty cynical about everything." cynical about everything."

After Dinner Cont’dAfter Dinner Cont’d Nick and Daisy go inside to join Tom and Nick and Daisy go inside to join Tom and

Jordan. Jordan. Tom warns Nick about Daisy's complaints Tom warns Nick about Daisy's complaints

and says, "Don't believe everything you and says, "Don't believe everything you hear." hear."

Daisy teases Nick and Jordan about fixing Daisy teases Nick and Jordan about fixing them up together. them up together.

The mention the rumor of Nick’s The mention the rumor of Nick’s engagement, but he denies it, saying that engagement, but he denies it, saying that she was just a friend.she was just a friend.

The Evening EndsThe Evening Ends Jordan has a Jordan has a

tournament in the tournament in the morning and needs morning and needs to rest.to rest.

Nick decides to Nick decides to leave as well.leave as well.

As he drives home, As he drives home, he is confused and he is confused and disgusted and disgusted and doesn’t know what doesn’t know what to think. to think.

Nick Sees GatsbyNick Sees Gatsby Nick stands outside to take Nick stands outside to take

in the view of the bay. in the view of the bay. He notices that his He notices that his

neighbor is also outside, neighbor is also outside, staring at the stars with staring at the stars with hands in his pocket. hands in his pocket.

Just as Nick prepares to Just as Nick prepares to greet him, the neighbor greet him, the neighbor stretches out his arms to stretches out his arms to the dark water and appears the dark water and appears to tremble. to tremble.

Nick looks out to the bay to Nick looks out to the bay to see what attracts the see what attracts the neighbor's attention, but he neighbor's attention, but he sees only a single green sees only a single green light, probably at the end of light, probably at the end of a dock in East Egg. a dock in East Egg.

When Nick looks back When Nick looks back toward his neighbor, the toward his neighbor, the man has vanished. man has vanished.