“Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry ‘Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!'”
—THOMAS PARKE D’INVILLIERS
Chapter 1
The novel opens with Nick Carraway, the narrator, reflecting on advice from his father about reserving judgment. He moves to West Egg, Long Island, next to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. Nick visits his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom in East Egg, where he meets Jordan Baker, a cynical golfer. Tom’s infidelity with Myrtle Wilson is hinted at, setting the stage for later conflict.
Chapter 2
Tom takes Nick to New York, stopping at the “valley of ashes,” a desolate industrial area. They meet Myrtle, Tom’s mistress, and attend a raucous party at her apartment. The gathering highlights the moral decay of the wealthy, as Myrtle taunts her husband George and flaunts her affair.
Chapter 3
Gatsby throws an extravagant party at his mansion, attended by the elite. Nick receives an invitation and meets Gatsby, who stands apart with an air of mystery. Jordan reveals Gatsby’s past love for Daisy, hinting at his desire to reunite with her. The chapter captures the excess and illusion of the Jazz Age.
Chapter 4
Gatsby takes Nick to lunch and shares fabricated stories about his past. He introduces Nick to Meyer Wolfsheim, a shady associate. Jordan tells Nick how Gatsby and Daisy fell in love before the war, but she married Tom while Gatsby was overseas. Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy becomes clear.
Chapter 5
Nick arranges a reunion between Gatsby and Daisy at his house. Their awkward meeting turns emotional as Gatsby shows off his mansion and imported shirts. Daisy is overwhelmed by his wealth and devotion, reigniting their romance. The green light across the bay, a symbol of Gatsby’s hope, loses its significance.
Chapter 6
A reporter investigates Gatsby’s true origins, revealing his humble beginnings as James Gatz. At another party, Tom grows suspicious of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship. Gatsby’s idealized vision of Daisy clashes with her shallow nature, foreshadowing tragedy.
Chapter 7
Tensions escalate during a stifling lunch at the Buchanans’. Gatsby insists Daisy admit she never loved Tom, but she falters. Driving back, Daisy hits Myrtle with Gatsby’s car, killing her. Tom manipulates George into believing Gatsby was the driver and Myrtle’s lover, sealing Gatsby’s fate.
Chapter 8
Gatsby confides in Nick about his past with Daisy. George Wilson, grief-stricken, shoots Gatsby in his pool before killing himself. The brutality contrasts with Gatsby’s unwavering hope, underscoring the futility of his dream.
Chapter 9
Nick organizes Gatsby’s funeral, attended by almost no one. Disillusioned, Nick cuts ties with Jordan and returns to the Midwest, reflecting on Gatsby’s tragic pursuit of the American Dream and the moral emptiness of the wealthy.
Key Ideas
- The corruption of the American Dream through materialism and illusion.
- The moral decay of the wealthy elite during the Jazz Age.
- Unattainable love and the destructive power of obsession.
- The contrast between old money (East Egg) and new money (West Egg).
- The inevitability of tragedy when chasing idealized fantasies.
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in critiques of wealth and social class.
- Fans of tragic love stories with deep psychological layers.
- Those exploring the disillusionment of the American Dream.
- Lovers of lyrical prose and symbolic storytelling.
Notable Adaptations
| 1949 | The Great Gatsby | Alan Ladd as Gatsby; criticized for altering the ending. |
| 1974 | The Great Gatsby | Robert Redford and Mia Farrow; lavish but divisive adaptation. |
| 2013 | The Great Gatsby | Leonardo DiCaprio stars; Baz Luhrmann’s flashy, modern take. |