F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American novelist and short-story writer. He is known for capturing the essence of the 1920s, also called the Jazz Age. “The Great Gatsby,” published in 1925, is his most famous work. It tells the story of wealth, love, and the American Dream.
Main Characters
Nick Carraway: The narrator of the story, a young man who moves to New York to work in finance.
Jay Gatsby: A mysterious and wealthy man who throws extravagant parties but is hiding a deep secret.
Daisy Buchanan: Nick’s cousin and Gatsby’s long-lost love, who is married to Tom.
Tom Buchanan: Daisy’s wealthy and arrogant husband.
Jordan Baker: A friend of Daisy, and a professional golfer, who becomes romantically involved with Nick.
Chapter 1: Nick Moves to West Egg
Nick Carraway, the story’s narrator, moves to West Egg, a village near New York City. He lives in a small house, next to a huge mansion owned by Jay Gatsby. Nick describes his neighbor as mysterious and wealthy. Across the bay is East Egg, where Nick’s cousin Daisy and her husband Tom live.
Nick visits Daisy and Tom in their mansion. He meets Jordan Baker, a friend of Daisy, who tells him that Tom has a mistress in New York. This surprises Nick, but Daisy seems to ignore it.
Chapter 2: Tom’s Affair
Tom takes Nick to New York City, where they meet Tom’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson. She is married to George Wilson, who runs a small garage. Tom and Myrtle argue, and Tom hits her. This shocks Nick, and he feels uncomfortable about Tom’s behavior. The chapter shows the dark side of Tom’s life and his careless attitude.
Chapter 3: Gatsby’s Party
Nick receives an invitation to one of Gatsby’s famous parties. People from all over New York come to Gatsby’s mansion to enjoy the music, food, and dancing. No one seems to know much about Gatsby, and rumors about his past are common.
At the party, Nick meets Gatsby for the first time. Gatsby is charming but remains mysterious. Gatsby and Nick start to become friends, and Gatsby seems interested in knowing more about Nick’s cousin, Daisy.
Chapter 4: Gatsby and Daisy’s Past
Gatsby invites Nick to lunch in New York City. Gatsby tells Nick about his past, though his story seems unbelievable. He says he comes from a wealthy family and was educated at Oxford.
Later, Jordan Baker reveals to Nick that Gatsby and Daisy were once in love. Gatsby met Daisy before World War I, but they lost touch when he went to war. Daisy married Tom, but Gatsby never forgot her. Gatsby bought his mansion in West Egg to be close to Daisy, hoping to meet her again.
Chapter 5: The Reunion
Gatsby asks Nick to invite Daisy to his house for tea. Gatsby is nervous about seeing Daisy after so many years. When Daisy arrives, Gatsby and Daisy’s reunion is awkward at first, but soon they start talking about their past.
After tea, Gatsby shows Daisy his mansion. Daisy is impressed by Gatsby’s wealth and luxurious lifestyle. It becomes clear that Gatsby is still deeply in love with Daisy and hopes to rekindle their romance.
Chapter 6: The Truth About Gatsby
A journalist comes to Gatsby’s house, curious about his wealth. Gatsby’s real background is revealed. His real name is James Gatz, and he was born into a poor family. He changed his name and created a new identity for himself.
Gatsby made his fortune through illegal activities, including bootlegging (selling alcohol during Prohibition). Despite his wealth, Gatsby is still focused on winning Daisy’s love and proving that he is worthy of her.
Chapter 7: The Confrontation
On a hot summer day, Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, Nick, and Jordan go to New York City. Tension builds as Tom realizes that Gatsby and Daisy are in love. In a hotel room, Tom confronts Gatsby about his relationship with Daisy.
Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy never loved him and that she is leaving him. However, Daisy cannot say that she never loved Tom, and she becomes confused and upset. Tom reveals Gatsby’s illegal activities, and Daisy seems to pull away from Gatsby.
On the way home, Daisy drives Gatsby’s car, and in a tragic accident, she hits and kills Myrtle Wilson. Gatsby decides to take the blame to protect Daisy.
Chapter 8: The Tragedy
The next day, Gatsby waits outside Daisy’s house, hoping she will leave Tom. However, Daisy stays with Tom, and Gatsby realizes that his dream of being with Daisy is over.
Meanwhile, George Wilson, Myrtle’s husband, believes Gatsby was driving the car that killed his wife. Seeking revenge, George goes to Gatsby’s mansion and shoots Gatsby, then kills himself. Gatsby dies alone in his pool, still hoping for Daisy’s call.
Chapter 9: The Aftermath
Nick is devastated by Gatsby’s death. He tries to organize a funeral, but no one from Gatsby’s parties comes. Daisy and Tom leave town without saying goodbye, and Gatsby’s father is the only person who attends the funeral.
Nick becomes disillusioned with the wealthy and their careless lifestyles. He realizes that Gatsby’s dream of winning Daisy was doomed from the start because Daisy would never leave her privileged life for him.
Nick decides to return to the Midwest, tired of the empty lives of the rich in New York.
Conclusion: The American Dream
“The Great Gatsby” is a story about the American Dream and its corruption. Gatsby’s dream of becoming rich and winning Daisy represents the larger American Dream of success and happiness. However, the novel shows that this dream is often unattainable, and the pursuit of wealth can lead to emptiness and tragedy.
In the end, Gatsby’s dream dies with him, and the people around him continue their lives without learning from the past. The novel leaves a message about the dangers of chasing illusions and the emptiness of wealth without love and purpose.