The Great Gatsby Plot Summary

The narrator of The Great Gatsby. He is from the Midwest and moves to Long Island to work in finance. He lives in West Egg, where he becomes entangled in Gatsby's world.

A wealthy and mysterious character in The Great Gatsby. He throws lavish parties but remains elusive. He is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan and strives to win her back.

Gatsby's love interest. She is married to Tom Buchanan but becomes involved with Gatsby. She is beautiful and charming but ultimately chooses security over passion.

Daisy's husband. He is wealthy, arrogant, and has an affair with Myrtle Wilson. He is suspicious of Gatsby and represents the old money elite.

The setting of The Great Gatsby. It's a wealthy community on Long Island, New York, where Gatsby lives.

The setting of The Great Gatsby. It's a less wealthy community on Long Island, New York, where Myrtle Wilson lives.

Gatsby's true name. He was born into poverty and changed his name to create a new identity for himself.

Gatsby's mentor and a wealthy man who helped Gatsby build his fortune. He died leaving Gatsby a large inheritance.

The main character in "The Great Gatsby"; a self-made millionaire who built his wealth through illegal activities. He dedicated his life to winning back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. His pursuit of her highlights the themes of love, wealth, and the American Dream.

Daisy's cousin and a professional golfer. She is known for her manipulative nature and casual attitude towards cheating. She represents the shallowness and moral ambiguity of the wealthy upper class.

Daisy's husband is a wealthy, arrogant, and unfaithful man who embodies the entitled and reckless nature of the upper class. He is aware of Gatsby's past and his obsession with Daisy, and he actively tries to sabotage their relationship.

The narrator of "The Great Gatsby." He is a young man from the Midwest who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled with Gatsby's world. He is initially drawn to Gatsby's wealth and glamour, but he eventually becomes disillusioned by the emptiness and superficiality of the upper class.

Gatsby's tragic death at the hands of George Wilson is a result of Daisy's choices and Tom's manipulation. The incident highlights the destructive consequences of Gatsby's obsession and the unattainable nature of the American Dream.

Gatsby's grand parties often attract uninvited guests who come for the free alcohol and the fleeting glamour. This reflects the superficiality of the upper class, where individuals are drawn to material possessions and social status rather than genuine connection.

Myrtle Wilson's husband, George, is driven to insanity by grief and anger after his wife's death. His act of vengeance against Gatsby showcases the destructive nature of his grief and highlights the consequences of the upper class's reckless behavior.

The novel's setting reflects the social structure and moral decay of the 1920s. The upper class lives in a world of extravagant wealth and reckless abandon, while the working class struggles to survive amidst the glamour and the pursuit of empty dreams.

The novel's opening scene highlights Gatsby's anxieties and meticulous preparations for Daisy's arrival, showcasing his obsession with the perfect impression and his preoccupation with the past.

Gatsby and Daisy's reunion is marked by an uncomfortable tension, as if they are both caught in a time warp. The breaking of the old clock emphasizes the passage of time and the impossibility of returning to the past.

Gatsby's immense wealth is a tool he uses in an attempt to win Daisy's affection, believing that luxury can compensate for past mistakes and secure her love.

The shirts symbolize Gatsby's success and the material success he craves.

The novel explores the fragile nature of time and the inability to recapture the past. Gatsby's entire life is consumed by the desire to relive his romance with Daisy, but the past is forever lost.

The American Dream is depicted as a hollow pursuit, leading to disillusionment and a sense of emptiness. Nick, initially drawn to the glamour, becomes aware of the moral corruption and realizes that chasing wealth and success doesn't lead to happiness.

The Midwest represents a traditional way of life with strong family values and stability, contrasting with the fast-paced, superficial lifestyle of the East. Nick's journey reveals the allure and dangers of the East.

New York, though seemingly glamorous, is revealed as a heartless city where superficiality and moral decay reign. Gatsby's tragic fate underscores the emptiness of this lifestyle.

Nick feels uncomfortable and out of place at Gatsby's extravagant party, where he doesn't know anyone, making him feel lonely. His unease increases as he realizes he doesn't recognize Gatsby, adding to the mystery surrounding the man.

Jordan Baker, a wealthy golfer, appears cold and disinterested in people. She ignores Nick and gossips about Gatsby, further increasing the mystery around him.

Gatsby's past is shrouded in rumors, making him a figure of intrigue and fascination for Nick. These rumors range from his war service to potential criminal activities, sparking Nick's curiosity.

Nick finds Gatsby to be polite and charming, with a genuine smile that contrasts with the superficiality of the other guests. Gatsby appears to be someone who has reinvented himself, seeking to create the perfect image and leave behind his past.

The artificial moon at Gatsby's party mocks the traditional symbolism of romance and imagination. It reflects the superficial and empty nature of the event and the people attending.

The party's extravagance, with mentions of bonds, insurance, automobiles, lavish gowns, and Gatsby's hydroplane, reflects the materialistic nature of the Jazz Age. The guests are consumed by wealth and outward appearances.

The guests at Gatsby's party are not truly happy or engaged. Their conversations revolve around superficial topics, like business, while they gossip, drink, and dance excessively. This behavior represents the shallowness of the Jazz Age.

Fitzgerald critiques the materialism and moral decay of the Jazz Age through Gatsby's party. The excessive drinking, shallow relationships, and obsession with wealth signal a society where superficiality overshadows genuine connection and meaning.

Gatsby's lavish home symbolizes his pursuit of wealth and status; however, it also represents his lack of genuine class and his constructed identity.

The elegant but cold houses of East Egg represent the exclusivity and indifference of old money, reflecting the emotional detachment of the characters.

The Buchanan's home represents the outward appearance of elegance and prosperity of old money, but its fragile beauty points to the instability and emptiness within their relationships and lives.

The valley of ashes symbolizes poverty, decay, and the vast gap between the rich and the poor. It reflects the hopelessness and despair faced by characters like George Wilson.

The American Dream is the belief that anyone can achieve success and happiness through hard work and opportunity; however, in Gatsby's story, the dream is corrupted by greed, materialism, and the pursuit of unattainable desires.

The Jazz Age, characterized by wealth, extravagance, and changing social norms, also fueled a culture of greed and moral decay, symbolized by characters like Tom and Daisy Buchanan.

Prohibition, a nationwide ban on alcohol, created a culture of illegal activities like bootlegging and speakeasies, highlighting the unintended consequences of government policies.

The green light across the bay represents Gatsby's unfulfilled dream and his longing for Daisy. It represents the allure of hope and romance, but ultimately, it represents something unattainable and ultimately doomed.