The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Plot
The Great Gatsby is a story told by Nick Carraway, who was Jay Gatsby's neighbour.
He recounts the story at some point after 1922 when the incidents that fill the book
happen. Nick, who had very recently moved from the Midwest to West Egg, Long
Island, is seeking his fortune as a bond salesman. Not long after arriving he visits the
more fashionable East Egg where his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom
live. He there meets pro golfer Jordan Baker. When Nick gets back that night, he
sees his neighbour, Gatsby, mysteriously standing in the dark and extending his
arms towards the water and a green light across the Sound. Nick is then invited to go
on a trip with Tom. During that trip, Nick meets Tom's mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Nick
then turns his attention to his neighbour Gatsby. At one of the many parties hosted
by Gatsby, Gatsby approaches Jordan to talk in private. Only later in the book we as
readers together with Nick learn that Gatsby is in love with Daisy. The two had met
years earlier but that he didn't yet have the means to support her and that because of
that he made his fortune, all intending to win Daisy. After a set up the two meet
again. They talk in private at one of Gatsby's parties and their relationship continues
to grow over the summer. They start seeing each other regularly and the affair grows.
The affair then becomes known to Tom who also lost his mistress. On the way back
from a meeting in the city some sort of accident has occurred. They learn that the
victim is Myrtle Wilson and that she has been killed by a passing car that never
bothered to stop. It appears to have been Gatsby as it was his car, but we later find
out it was Daisy who was driving, although Gatsby confesses he will take all the
blame. Myrtle's husband, Wilson, is on a quest to find his wife's killer. Wilson murders
Gatsby and then turns the gun on himself because in a conversation with Tom he
was told that Gatsby owned the car that killed Myrtle. In Tom's mind, he had helped
justice along. At Gatsby's funeral only a few people attended. Despite all his
popularity during his lifetime, in his death, Gatsby is completely forgotten.
Main character
Nick Carraway is a quiet Midwesterner form Minnesota. Nick travels to New York in
1922 to become familiar with the bond business. He lives in the West Egg district of
Long Island, next door to Gatsby. Nick also is Daisy's cousin. He is therefore able to
observe and portray the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby. Nick is also very
well suited to tell the story of The Great Gatsby. He tells us in Chapter 1 he is
tolerant, open-minded, calm and a good listener. As a result, others tend to talk to
him and tell him their secrets.
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