Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Pgs. 1- 21

Summary

-The story begins with Nick contemplating qualities and characteristics of men that he finds fascinating and promptly gives a brief glimpse of his life from college onward to the beginning of his life in New York. He lives on Long Island Sound on the west side next to Mr. Gatsby; he having a small “eyesore” as he refers to it and Gatsby having a mansion  that he compares to a Hôtel de Ville in Normandy. His cousin Daisy and her husband, Tom, live on the east side and invite him to dinner at their mansion where he meets Ms. Baker. Daisy tells him that she has a daughter and they have a revealing discussion in private. Nick says goodbye for the night and drives back to the east side where he sees Gatsby staring out at something, trembling.

Character Qualities

-Daisy Buchanan: “Sophisticated- God, I’m sophisticated. (Fitzgerald 17).”  Daisy is a very upbeat and positive person. She hides her emotions by constantly trying to maintain a sense of being good-natured and positive about everything, though she reveals her emotions and feelings to Nick private. She is trying to maintain her role of being a faithful wife and unquestioning of her husband’s actions, even going so far as to not question Tom’s affair with a New York woman. She means well and wants everything to work out well for everyone.  She is very charming and respectable and tries to envelop all of her problems, such as that of her and Tom’s relationship, with a false sense of steadiness, even though they do not love each other.

-Daisy is Nick’s second cousin once removed and lives on the east side of Long Island Sound. She does not know Nick very well, but wishes to become acquainted since he has moved to the island. When Nick is over for dinner she confides in him her true feelings and emotions; she is miserable. She does not love Tom and she is worried for her daughter, “All right, I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. (Fitzgerald 17).” At this point in the story, she is very miserable and longing for Nick to accept her and allow her to divulge all of her emotions and desires.

Most Important Quote  

-“Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had. (Fitzgerald 1).” Being the very first quote in the story, it was very deep and thought-provoking. What I find really interesting about it is the way that Nick has seemed to adopt it and has lived his life being non judgmental. I think that it holds a great significance in this story; being able to fully engage a person without having pre-conceived notions or stereotypes on one’s mind, and fully absorbing a person’s complete character without anything to influence how it will be perceived.