The Great Gatsby Plot Summary

Tom hits Myrtle Wilson after she mentions Daisy.

Gatsby's real name is James Gatz, and he came from a poor family in North Dakota, yet he portrays himself as a wealthy aristocrat.

Gatsby bought his mansion in West Egg specifically to be near Daisy, symbolizing his obsession with her.

<p>Jordan tells Nick that Gatsby loved Daisy before going to war, and she married Tom while he was away.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tom accuses Gatsby of being a bootlegger, questioning his wealth and place in society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Daisy becomes emotional, showing vulnerability and nostalgia during their meeting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Jordan acts as a mediator by facilitating the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Myrtle's death creates a rift between Gatsby and Daisy, as guilt and tension escalate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tom blames Gatsby for Myrtle's death when he realizes Gatsby owns the car that hit her.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gatsby's love for Daisy drives him to become wealthy through illegal means to win her back and live out his dream.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>George Wilson seeks revenge by shooting Gatsby and then kills himself.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nick feels disillusioned because no one from Gatsby's lavish parties attends his funeral, revealing the emptiness of his social life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tom informs George that Gatsby was driving the car that killed Myrtle, prompting George to take revenge on Gatsby.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Daisy embodies the superficiality and shallowness of wealth, choosing comfort over true love and happiness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gatsby's lonely death signifies the tragic failure of his dreams and the ultimate emptiness of his pursuit of wealth and love.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nick perceives Gatsby's parties as extravagant yet superficial, filled with uninvited guests who lack genuine connection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nick feels awkward and lonely at Gatsby's party, largely because he doesn't recognize anyone and feels out of place amidst the flashy, dishonest atmosphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Jordan seems cold and uninterested, often gossiping about Gatsby, which adds to the intrigue surrounding his character and past.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The artificial moon parodies its typical romantic symbolism and reflects the shallow and contrived nature of the party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The guests embody materialism and superficiality, engaging in gossip, drinking excessively, and finding little importance in meeting the host.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nick initially sees Gatsby as a mysterious figure filled with rumors, but upon meeting him, he finds Gatsby to be polite, charming, and genuine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Guests fail to recognize familiar faces, engage in forced laughter, and partake in superficial conversations, underscoring the impersonality of the event.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Fitzgerald critiques the greed and materialism of society, illustrating how the pursuit of wealth leads to emptiness and moral corruption.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The tea symbolizes the reunion of Gatsby and Daisy after years apart, representing both hope and the complexities of their past relationship.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gatsby's nervousness shows his obsession with the meeting and his fear of failing to recreate the idealized past he holds onto.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The broken clock symbolizes lost time and Gatsby's desire to stop time to preserve their relationship from the past.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Daisy's tears over Gatsby's luxurious shirts reveal her emotional turmoil and the conflict between material wealth and genuine feelings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gatsby's death demonstrates that despite his wealth and dreams, he ultimately remains isolated and misunderstood, revealing the emptiness of the pursuit of success.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nick's journey from rejecting the East to appreciating the Midwest highlights his struggle with the moral decay of East Coast society compared to the values of his roots.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The sparse attendance at Gatsby's funeral emphasizes his loneliness and the superficiality of his relationships within a materialistic society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Daisy's return to Tom indicates that she never fully embraced the life with Gatsby, prioritizing stability over her idealized fantasy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>New York embodies a flashy lifestyle, yet it exposes a lack of moral values, reflecting the corrupting nature of wealth and ambition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gatsby's house symbolizes his attempt to achieve wealth and status, but it also reflects his lack of true class and his fake persona.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The palaces in East Egg represent old money and high social status, but they also appear beautiful yet cold, mirroring the superficiality of characters like the Buchanans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Green Light symbolizes Gatsby's dream and his love for Daisy, representing hope but also the unattainability of his desires.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Valley of Ashes symbolizes poverty and decay, illustrating the stark divide between the rich and the poor in society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gatsby's wealth contrasts sharply with his impoverished origins, as he rises to riches through questionable means to pursue his dream of Daisy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Jazz Age was marked by wealth, big spending, and evolving social norms, yet it was also rife with greed and moral ambiguity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Prohibition led to illegal activities such as bootlegging, enriching crime bosses and influencing characters like Gatsby, who engage in illicit behavior for wealth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The underlying message is that while the American Dream represents aspirations for success, it can become corrupted and ultimately lead to disappointment.</p> Signup and view all the answers