Great+Gatsby

The narrator of //The Great Gatsby// is a young man from Minnesota named Nick Carraway. He not only narrates the story but also announces himself as the stories author. In this first chapter we learn about Nick’s personality along with his life situation. It is the summer of 1922 and Nick has just arrived in New York. He has moved there to work in the bonds business. We figure out Nick is living in a house on part of Long Island called West Egg. Nick talks about how unlike East Egg; West Egg is the newly rich. The introduction of Tom, Daisy, and Jordan is also in this chapter. Therefore we start to learn the inner connections in the book. In Chapter two Nick and Tom are riding the train into New York, Tom makes Nick to follow him off the train at one of the many stops. Tom then leads Nick to Wilson’s garage, which sits on the edge of the valley. Tom’s secret lover Myrtle is Wilson’s wife. Wilson is an older looking man and seems to be lifeless. Tom forces Myrtle to follow him into the city to his apartment. The apartment Wilson owns is used to hold his affairs he has on his wife Daisy. After a long night of drinking, Myrtle starts to run her mouth about Daisy. Tom warns Myrtle to stop talking about her because he is in denial and does not want to her name. Myrtle then pushes Tom to his limits and says Daisy’s name again. Tom then proceeds to strike Myrtle in the face breaking her nose. Chapter 3 we learn why Gatsby is famous around town, his parties! Gatsby’s party is almost unbelievable because of how luxurious they are. Guests are amazed by everything he has which includes his Rolls-Royce, his swimming pool, his beach, his crates of fresh oranges and lemons, his buffet tents in the gardens overflowing with a feast, and a his live orchestra playing under the stars. Gatsby’s house is the place to be if you’re anyone in New York. Chapter 4 does not hold any major events but it does hold some key info to Gatsby’s past. We learn that Gatsby’s life (the way he describes it) does not make sense. He states to Nick he is son of wealthy, deceased parents from the Midwest. When Nick asks which midwestern city he is from, Gatsby replies, “San Francisco.” He also claims to have been educated at Oxford, to collect jewels in Europe, to have hunted big game, and to have been awarded medals in World War I. Nick’s seems skeptical about all of these accomplishments, Gatsby sees this and produces a medal from Montenegro and a picture of himself playing cricket at Oxford. Chapter 5 is one of the most important chapters in the book because it produces the outcome for the ending of the book. At the beginning of the chapter Nick comes home from the city after a date with Jordan. Gatsby’s mansion lit up brightly, but it seems to be unoccupied and totally silent. While Nick walks home, Gatsby approaches him from across the yard. Gatsby seems agitated and almost desperate. He invites Nick to Coney Island, then for a swim in his pool. Nick realizes that Gatsby is nervous because he wants Nick to follow through with the plan to have Daisy over for tea. Nick tells Gatsby that he will help him with the plan. Once Gatsby hears this come from Nick’s mouth he is instantly happy! He starts offering things to Nick but Nick declines his offers. The next day Gatsby comes over and is clearly nervous for the meeting. To start he does not even think Daisy will except the invention and show up. At first, Gatsby’s reunion with Daisy is awkward. Gatsby knocks over Nick’s clock and tells Nick that the meeting was a mistake. But after he leaves them alone for half an hour, Nick returns to find them extremely happy. Daisy is crying tears of joy and Gatsby glowing. Now the rain has stopped, and Gatsby invites Nick and Daisy over to his house, where he shows them his belongings. Daisy is overwhelmed by his lifestyle. Gatsby tells Daisy about his long nights spent outside, staring at the light at the end of her dock, dreaming about their future happiness. In chapter 6 rumors of Gatsby’s early life begin to spread throughout the town. Nick does not see either Gatsby or Daisy for several weeks after their reunion at Nick’s house. Nicks stops by Gatsby’s house one afternoon, he is surprised to find Tom there. Gatsby seems nervous and tells Tom awkwardly that he knows Daisy. Gatsby invites Tom to stay for dinner, but they decline the offer. The following Saturday night, Tom and Daisy go to a party at Gatsby’s house. Tom has no interest in the party and keeps a close eye on Gatsby. Gatsby is angry and wants things to be exactly the same as they were before he left Louisville. He believes that his money can accomplish anything as far as Daisy is concerned. Gatsby then reflects on prior times with daisy. During chapter 7 Gatsby has cancelled all of his parties in order to seek his lover, Daisy. The of the main characters then goes to New York City. After a long day in the heat everyone is cranky. Tom then confronts Gatsby about Daisy and all hell breaks loss. Driving back to Long Island, Nick, Tom, and Jordan discover a frightening scene. An automobile a man who runs the restaurant next to Wilson’s garage, tells them that Myrtle was the victim has fatally hit someone. A car coming from New York City struck her, paused, then sped away. Nick realizes that Gatsby and Daisy, driving back from the city in Gatsby’s big yellow automobile, must have hit Myrtle. Tom thinks that Wilson will remember the yellow car from that afternoon. He also assumes that Gatsby was the driver. In chapter 8 everyone is in a tense mood. Wilson still believes Gatsby was the one that killed Myrtle. Wilson eventually goes to Gatsby’s house, where he finds Gatsby lying on an air mattress in the pool, floating in the water and looking up at the sky. Wilson shoots Gatsby, killing him instantly, then shoots himself. Chapter 9 is a very sad chapter in the book. Gatsby’s funeral is held and only a couple people show up. Nick talks to Gatsby’s dad and talks to him about Gatsby’s life. The bookends with Nick reflecting on the whole book and the situation, Nick eventually moves back West. The American Dream:

Nick- Nick perceives the American as being wealthy because as you view the book Nick surrounds himself by wealthy people. Most of the people only care about their money and what happens to them. By Nick surrounding himself by these people it makes me believe he is all about becoming rich. Therefore this is why I say Nick perceives the dream as being Rich and powerful.

Tom: Tom perceives the American Dream as being wealthy and self-pleasure. Tom thinks because he has money, he has the power to do what he pleases. We can see this because he has affairs on Myrtle. Tom believes because he is rich and has the ability to cheat, that he can cheat. Therefore this is why I say that Tom perceives the American Dream as being wealthy and self-pleasure

Daisy: Daisy perceives the American Dream as being wealthy. We see this within Daisy because she is so happy when she finds out Gatsby is rich. Gatsby tries his whole life to become rich so that he will please Daisy and make her his love. Knowing this we can tell that Daisy’s American dream is to become rich and wealthy. Daisy perceives the American Dream as being wealthy.

Gatsby: Gatsby perceives the American Dream as finding true love. Gatsby works his whole life to become rich so he can please Daisy. Most people would think that his dream was to become wealthy but it was only so that he could win the love of his life. Therefore this is why Gatsby perceives the American Dream as Love.

Wilson: Wilson perceives the American Dream as love. Wilson loves his wife and does everything for his wife. He tries so hard to have a strong relationship with his wife, he lives for her. When she dies, he murders Gatsby for killing her. Then he murders himself. Therefore this is why Wilson perceives the American Dream as Love.

This book captures the point of view of American issues & concepts. I say this because of many reasons. To start it shows many different situations between the characters. American can be whatever you want it to be. If you want to become something and have the drive to do it you can. It also shows that America is not a perfect little place it is filled with issues and problems. Overall i believe this book gives a very real look at America and not the sugar coated fake American Experience.