The Great Gatsby PDF - Plot Summary

# The Great Gatsby ## Plot ### Chapter 1 - The narrator, Nick Carraway, tells us about events from the summer of 1922. - Nick moves from the Midwest to Long Island, near New York, to work in finance. - He lives in West Egg, home to the newly rich. - His neighbor is the mysterious Gatsby. - He att...

# The Great Gatsby ## Plot ### Chapter 1 - The narrator, Nick Carraway, tells us about events from the summer of 1922. - Nick moves from the Midwest to Long Island, near New York, to work in finance. - He lives in West Egg, home to the newly rich. - His neighbor is the mysterious Gatsby. - He attends a dinner with Daisy and Tom. - He meets Jordan Baker and starts a relationship with her. ### Chapter 2 - Nick goes to New York with Tom and his mistress, Myrtle Wilson. - At a party, Myrtle provokes Tom by mentioning Daisy. - Tom reacts by hitting her. ### Chapter 3 - Nick is invited to one of Gatsby's extravagant parties. - He and Jordan meet Gatsby but don't realize who he is at first. - At the party, there is much speculation about Gatsby's mysterious past. - Gatsby shares a secret with Jordan, but the reader doesn't learn what it is yet. ### Chapter 4 - Gatsby takes Nick to lunch in New York and reveals details about his life: - He claims he's from a wealthy family in San Francisco. - He studied at Oxford. - He served in World War I and became a Major. - He meets Meyer Wolfsheim, a gambler rumored to have fixed the 1919 Baseball World Series. - This connection hints at Gatsby's involvement in illegal activities. - Jordan tells Nick that in 1917, she met Daisy and a young soldier, Jay Gatsby, who loved her. - When Gatsby went to war, Daisy married the wealthy Tom. - Gatsby bought his house in West Egg specifically to be near Daisy. - He asks Nick, through Jordan, to arrange a meeting with her. ### Chapter 5 - Nick arranges a meeting between Gatsby and Daisy at his house. - After spending time together, Daisy becomes emotional. - Gatsby takes Daisy and Nick to his mansion to show off his wealth. - Nick leaves them alone there. ### Chapter 6 - Nick reveals Gatsby's true background. - His real name is James Gatz. - He came from a poor family in North Dakota. - At 17, he changed his name after meeting Dan Cody, a wealthy miner. - He worked for Cody for five years until Cody's death. - Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby's parties. - Tom accuses Gatsby of being a bootlegger. ### Chapter 7 - Nick, Gatsby, Tom, Daisy, and Jordan go to New York. - Gatsby insists Daisy loves him and only married Tom for his money. - Daisy cannot deny she loved Tom at some point. - Tom exposes Gatsby's illegal activities, including bootlegging. - Daisy pulls away from Gatsby. - On their way back, Myrtle Wilson is killed by Gatsby's yellow car, driven by Daisy. - Tom realizes Gatsby owns the car and blames him for Myrtle's death. ### Chapter 8 - Gatsby tells Nick about his deep love for Daisy and how he discovered she had married Tom while he was at Oxford. - George Wilson, Myrtle's husband, decides to take revenge. - He finds Gatsby at his mansion, shoots him in the pool, and then kills himself. ### Chapter 9 - Nick organizes Gatsby's funeral. - No one from Gatsby's parties shows up except for Nick, Gatsby's father, a postman, and a few servants. - Nick speaks to Jordan, who reveals she is now engaged. - He speaks to Tom, who admits he told George Wilson that Gatsby was driving the car. - Disillusioned with life in New York, Nick returns to the Midwest, reflecting on Gatsby's dream and its tragic end. ## Main Characters - **F. Scott Fitzgerald:** Fitzgerald came from a poor background. He had complex feelings toward wealth. He attended Princeton and served in World War I. He married Zelda Sayre, a wealthy Southern woman. They had an extravagant lifestyle, which contrasts with the negative portrayal of such behavior in *The Great Gatsby*. - **Jay Gatsby:** The main character. A self-made man and a dreamer, devoted to the idea of winning back Daisy Buchanan, whom he loves. Made his fortune through illegal activities. His love for Daisy is both physical and spiritual. Bought a mansion. Seen as heroic because of his dreams and hope. His darker side includes dishonesty and possible involvement in crime. His lonely death shows the emptiness of what he chased. - **Daisy Buchanan:** The woman Gatsby loves. Represents the wealthy lifestyle Gatsby dreams of. Grew up rich and lives a comfortable but unhappy life. Shallow and self-centered. Even though she has a brief romance with Gatsby, she chooses to stay with her husband, Tom. Her choices highlight her selfish nature and show the emptiness of the glamorous world Gatsby wants to join. ## Scene 1 The scene unfolds at Gatsby's mansion during one of his lavish nighttime parties. Nick, the narrator, is the only guest with an actual invitation, feeling awkward amid a crowd of mostly uninvited attendees. - **Attendance:** - Nick Carraway, the narrator - Jordan Baker, Daisy's cousin and a golfer - Several young Englishmen mingling with wealthy Americans - Two girls dressed identically in yellow - Three men all introducing themselves as "Mr. Mumble." - Older men chatting with younger women - Superior couples and single women - A lively orchestra featuring a tenor and contralto, along with a rowdy girl. - A man about Nick's age, who is later revealed to be Gatsby. - A butler. ### 1. Nick at The Party: - Feels awkward and out of place at Gatsby's party. - Doesn't know anyone and feels lonely, but drinking helps him relax. - His unease returns when he realizes he doesn't recognize Gatsby. - Unlike the other guests, Nick has strong morals and doesn't fit into their flashy, dishonest world. - His Midwest roots contrast with the corruption of the East. ### 2. Jordan and Gatsby's Mystery - Jordan is a rich golfer who appears cold and uninterested in people. - She ignores Nick and gossips about Gatsby, adding to his mystery. - Rumors about Gatsby, like his war service or crimes, intrigue Nick. - When Nick finally meets Gatsby, he finds him polite and charming, with a rare, genuine smile. - Gatsby seems to have reinvented himself, leaving behind his true self to pursue his dreams. ### 3. The Artificial Moon - The moon, part of the party decorations, is a parody of its usual symbolism of romance and imagination. - It reflects the shallow, artificial nature of the party. ### 4. American Society's Mood - Reflects the materialism of the era, with mentions of: - Bonds, insurance, and automobiles. - Gatsby's extravagant parties and the endless flow of guests. - Lavish evening gowns. - Gatsby's hydroplane. - Persistent rumors about Gatsby's past. - The behavior of the guests further reflects the mood of the time: - Conversations about business in low, serious tones. - Guests staring in amazement when asked about the host, most of them roaring drunk. - Gossiping, dancing, and drinking. - The party feels like a festival or an amusement park, where meeting the host is of little importance. - Guests are absorbed in superficial interactions, and alcohol flows freely through the crowd. - Familiar faces do not recognize each other, highlighting the impersonality of the event. - Laughter seems forced, and the amusement is shallow and empty. - Fitzgerald criticizes the greed and materialism of this era, illustrating the corrupting effects of prohibition and the hollowness of a society obsessed with wealth and pleasure during the Jazz Age. ## Scene 2 - In Chapter V of *The Great Gatsby*, Nick hosts a tea to reunite Gatsby and Daisy after years apart. - **Preparation:** Gatsby is nervous, obsessing over details like the lawn and flowers, showing his fixation on the meeting. The rainy weather adds tension. - **Awkward Reunion:** Daisy arrives, and the mood is uncomfortable. Gatsby's nervousness peaks, and the breaking of an old clock hints at lost time. - **Emotional Shift:** After Nick leaves them alone, their connection grows stronger. When Nick returns, Daisy is emotional, and Gatsby seems happy. - **Visit to Gatsby's House:** Gatsby takes Daisy to his mansion to impress her. Everything seems to revolve around her reaction. - **Shirt Scene:** Gatsby shows off his luxurious shirts, and Daisy cries, overwhelmed by emotion and memories. ### Main Themes: - **Time and Memory:** The fragile clock symbolizes lost time and Gatsby's longing to relive the past. - **Idealized Love:** Gatsby's dream of Daisy conflicts with the reality of their reunion. - **Materialism:** Gatsby's wealth reflects his belief that money can win Daisy's love. ## Final Scene - **Gatsby's Death:** After Myrtle's death, Gatsby takes the blame for Daisy. George Wilson kills him, believing he was responsible. - **Funeral:** Only Nick, Gatsby's father, a minister, and a postman attend the funeral, highlighting Gatsby's lonely life despite his grand dreams. - **Nick's Reflection:** Disillusioned by the shallow, corrupt world of the East, Nick realizes the American Dream is an empty illusion. - **Daisy and Tom:** Daisy returns to Tom, showing she never truly loved Gatsby enough to change her life. - **Nick's Return:** Nick moves back to the Midwest, leaving behind the hollow pursuit of wealth and success. ## Themes ### Midwest Vs. East: - **Midwest:** Symbolizes a conservative, traditional way of life with strong family values, but can seem outdated. Nick, originally from the Midwest, initially rejects the East. However, after witnessing the corruption and moral decay in New York, he comes to appreciate the stability and simplicity of the Midwest. - **East:** Represents a modern, dynamic lifestyle, yet it is filled with moral decay and emptiness. The fast-paced, materialistic world of the East sharply contrasts with the more grounded, conservative values of the Midwest. ### New York's Heartlessness: - New York is shown as a place full of flashy excitement, but it also hides a lack of morals. People don't care about others, and this is clear when a drunk woman, dressed in jewels, is taken to the wrong house, and no one even questions who she is. This shows the emptiness and coldness of the world the characters live in. ### Symbolism in the Novel: - **Gatsby's House (West Egg):** Shows Gatsby's attempt to achieve wealth and status. However, it also reflects his lack of true class and his fake persona. - **Palaces in East Egg:** Represent old money and high social status. They are beautiful but cold, just like the Buchanans. - **The Buchanans' House:** Symbolizes the elegance of old money, but its fragile beauty hints at the instability in their marriage and lives. - **The Breeze:** Reflects the tension and conflicts within the Buchanan family. - **The Green Light:** Stands for Gatsby's dream and his love for Daisy. It represents hope but also something he can never truly have. - **The Valley of Ashes:** Symbolizes poverty and decay, highlighting the gap between the rich and the poor. It is a bleak, hopeless place for characters like George Wilson. ## The Jazz Age and The Great Gatsby - In *The Great Gatsby*, F. Scott Fitzgerald talks about the clash between the idea of the American Dream and the realities of the 1920s, also known as the Jazz Age. - The American Dream is the belief that anyone can achieve success and happiness through hard work and opportunity. - Jay Gatsby represents this dream, rising from a poor background to become very wealthy, all to win back Daisy Buchanan. - However, Gatsby's wealth comes from lies and illegal activities, showing how the American Dream had become corrupt and disappointing. - The Jazz Age was a time of wealth, big spending, and changing social rules, but it was also full of greed and poor morals. - Characters like Tom and Daisy Buchanan have money and success but lack kindness or values. - Gatsby's dream of being with Daisy is impossible, and the story ends by showing how both the American Dream and personal dreams can fail. - Still, people keep chasing dreams, even when they know they can't reach them. - This is both the sadness and the lasting beauty of Gatsby's story. ## Prohibition and the 1920s - Prohibition started in the U.S. in 1920 with the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act. - It made producing, selling, and transporting alcohol illegal. - Groups like the Anti-Saloon League and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union wanted this ban, blaming alcohol for problems like crime and poverty. - However, Prohibition was hard to enforce and caused illegal activities like bootlegging and secret bars called speakeasies. - Crime bosses, such as Al Capone, became rich and powerful. - Corruption among police and officials made things worse, and Prohibition ended in 1933 with the 21st Amendment. - Prohibition plays a big role in *The Great Gatsby*, which takes place during the Roaring Twenties. - Gatsby makes much of his money from selling alcohol illegally, showing how people broke the rules to get rich. - His wild parties, filled with alcohol, reflect the extravagance and lawlessness of the time. - The book criticizes the greed and moral decay of the American Dream during this era, shaped by the social and cultural changes of Prohibition.