The Great

Gatsby
Study Guide by Course Hero

Nick Carraway sometimes speaks directly to the reader in the

What's Inside present tense.

ABOUT THE TITLE

j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 The title, The Great Gatsby, acknowledges Gatsby's great
wealth and local celebrity but hints at the verbal irony that
d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1 much of Gatsby's "greatness" is phony.

a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 2

h Characters ................................................................................................... 2
d In Context
k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 5

The Great Gatsby is set in 1920s' America, an era marked by

c Chapter Summaries .............................................................................. 10
tremendous change in the country's culture and lifestyle.
g Quotes ......................................................................................................... 17 Sometimes called the "Roaring Twenties," this period may be
depicted best by another of its nicknames, the "Jazz Age,"
l Symbols ...................................................................................................... 19 which calls to mind adjectives such as free-spirited and fast-
paced that fit both the decade and the music genre that
m Themes ...................................................................................................... 20
became popular.

e Suggested Reading ............................................................................... 21

With the end of the Great War (what World War I was then
called), a sense of liberation took hold of the country. The
economy, as if infused with that spirit, began to grow by leaps

j Book Basics
and bounds. By the latter part of the decade, the United States
had become the world's wealthiest country, with mass
production spurring a massive consumer economy. Stark
AUTHOR changes in America came at multiple levels: women won the
F. Scott Fitzgerald right to vote and played a larger role in the workforce;
appliances were becoming common in the home; automobile
YEAR PUBLISHED
ownership started to become widespread; and people were
1925
leaving rural areas for life in cities, resulting in the country's
GENRE urban population outnumbering its rural population for the first
Drama, Fiction time.

PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR All of these movements combined to create an American

The Great Gatsby is told in the first-person point of view, from society characterized by more freedom, more free time, and
the perspective of Nick Carraway. more disposable income than in any previous generation. And,
while much progress was made, a stark chasm developed
TENSE between society's haves and its have-nots.
The Great Gatsby is told primarily in the past tense, although
The Great Gatsby Study Guide
Socially and politically, the rich were regarded with esteem
simply because of their wealth. They were awarded tax
benefits and were widely admired. Many in society's lower
levels had a burning desire to join the ranks of the wealthy.
Frivolous spending and recreational leisure were prevalent
among the wealthy, while those in the middle and lower
classes—with little income or status—suffered greatly.
Advances in technology fueled consumption by the elite, as
they purchased luxuries such as automobiles, homes, radios,
phones, and other items that were outside the reach of most
Americans.
The themes in The Great Gatsby echo and scrutinize the
societal influences prevalent in the Jazz Age. Its characters
embody the various classes, values, behaviors, and customs,
as well as the ideals and ethics—or lack thereof—of the time. It
is the collision of all these factors—and most especially of two
polarized classes both chasing the American dream—that is at
the heart of The Great Gatsby.
a Author Biography
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896,
in St. Paul, Minnesota. His father was an unsuccessful
businessman, so the family lived off Fitzgerald's mother's
sizable inheritance. His mother's wealth provided opportunities
for young Fitzgerald to mingle with the social elite in his
hometown, but the family wasn't quite rich enough to be
welcomed into the highest class of the social hierarchy.
Much like Nick's character in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald left
his Minnesota hometown for an Ivy League education
(Fitzgerald attended Princeton, however, while Nick attended
Yale), joined the army, and later moved to New York City. When
he was 22 years old, he fell in love with socialite Zelda Sayre.
Although Zelda claimed to love Fitzgerald, she refused to
marry him until he was rich. It wasn't until Fitzgerald published
his first novel, This Side of Paradise, in 1920 that Zelda deemed
him appropriate to marry.
As Fitzgerald's writing career blossomed, he and his wife
enjoyed their celebrity with lavish parties, heavy drinking, and
extensive travels. Despite the glamorous facade the family
displayed to the public, the style and pace of the Fitzgeralds'
life came at a price. For years Fitzgerald struggled with
alcoholism and depression, which wreaked havoc on his career
and health. Ultimately, these factors contributed to the heart
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Author Biography 2
attack that killed him on December 21, 1940, at age 44.
Many aspects of Fitzgerald's life—his successes and
struggles—are mirrored in his work, including The Great
Gatsby. The details are scattered throughout his stories in the
form of character traits, story settings, and conflicts. When The
Great Gatsby was first released, it received mediocre reviews
and sold poorly. By the time of Fitzgerald's death, the author
was largely forgotten. However, after the United States
entered World War II, a group called the Council on Books in
Wartime decided to improve the morale of the armed services
by providing them novels to read. The Great Gatsby was one of
the titles chosen and its inclusion radically affected the novel's
popularity and sales. Total sales for The Great Gatsby in 1944
reached 120 copies, while today the book regularly sells
500,000 copies per year.
The chronological order of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels:
This Side of Paradise (1920)
The Beautiful and Damned (1922)
The Great Gatsby (1925)
Tender Is the Night (1934)
The Last Tycoon (unfinished; 1941)
h Characters
Jay Gatsby
Jay Gatsby appears to be the embodiment of the American
dream at the novel's opening. The self-made man is depicted
as a wealthy, charismatic businessman who, having amassed a
fortune, has built himself a lavish lifestyle in postwar America.
From the outset, Gatsby is elusive and mysterious, the stories
of where he came from and how he amassed his wealth are as
numerous and fanciful as the people who attend his weekly
parties. Nick Carraway eventually learns that Gatsby was born
James Gatz, the son of a poor farming family from North
Dakota. The Jay Gatsby of West Egg is an invention of the
young James Gatz, who wanted a different, sophisticated life
for himself. Gatsby keep his origins a secret and presents to
the public only what he wants them to see. The mystery leads
people to speculate. Some people are certain he was a
German spy; others say he acquired his money through illegal
activities such as gambling and alcohol. Still others insist he
The Great Gatsby Study Guide
killed a man. Gatsby does not care what others think of him.
His entire focus is building his wealth, power, and prestige, all
in an attempt to make himself worthy of Daisy Buchanan, a
young woman he had fallen in love with before the war. But
Gatsby's dreams, like the identity he created for himself and
the extravagant life he leads, are hollow and fleeting and
eventually lead to his downfall. Gatsby represents both the
best and the worst of the American dream; without a proper
foundation, that dream is all just a light in the distance: bright,
intriguing, and unattainable. Gatsby's downfall, particularly the
bleakness of his funeral, can be read as a critique of the
reckless indulgence in pursuit of that dream.
Nick Carraway
Nick Carraway, the novel's narrator, is a bright, insightful young
man who has recently returned from duty in World War I.
Despite being raised in the Midwest, Nick moves to New York
to work as a bonds tradesman. Nick is portrayed as an honest,
fair, and impartial man who makes friends easily and often
serves as a mediator among both friends and acquaintances.
He witnesses the dichotomy between the poor and elite,
causing him to struggle with the superficiality of affluence.
Daisy Buchanan
Daisy Buchanan is the superficial, self-absorbed, flighty, and
even foolish woman Gatsby is in love with. Married to the
wealthy but arrogant Tom Buchanan, Daisy has an affair with
Jay Gatsby, her former lover. Throughout the novel Daisy
rarely displays any emotion beyond her apparent boredom; she
lives as if simply going through the motions. When Tom
confronts Gatsby about his affair with Daisy, she quickly
abandons Gatsby, quitting their game. Daisy represents the
wealthy women during this era, many of whom were referred to
as flappers for their forays—in dress, behavior, and
thought—into the modern life they embraced in the 1920s.
Daisy's final act, running from the responsibility of her car
accident, suggests that she is a risk-taker only if it does not
risk her real life and the privileges it affords her.
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Characters 3
Tom Buchanan
Tom Buchanan is a boisterous, unruly, arrogant brute. Tom is
self-centered and controlling, showing a complete lack of
respect for (and sometimes abuse of) women, including his
wife and mistress. Throughout the novel, Tom manipulates
situations and people to hide his indiscretions. Representing
the elite, Tom looks down on those without money and those
with new money.
George Wilson
George Wilson owns and operates Wilson's garage and gas
station in the valley of ashes. Unlike his wife, Myrtle, George is
resolved to his position in life, a quality that spurs Myrtle's
contempt for him. In his dealings with the world, George is
respectful and fair, even with those who treat him poorly, like
Tom Buchanan. In the end, his heartbreak over Myrtle's death
leads him to murder, and ultimately suicide, representing the
tragic impact of greed and deceit.
Myrtle Wilson
Myrtle Wilson is Tom's married mistress. She lives in the valley
of ashes with her husband, George. The valley of ashes is a
financial and social wasteland, and Myrtle wants to escape it
for a better life. She believes herself desirable to wealthy men
and dislikes her husband for being poor. She represents lower
class striving for the wealth, prestige, and lifestyle of the elite.
Jordan Baker
Jordan Baker is Daisy's friend from girlhood and a wealthy
professional golfer. Jordan represents the new woman of the
20th century, and is more of a risk-taker than her childhood
friend. She ignores social conventions, speaks directly, and
cheats to get what she wants. She becomes romantically
involved with Nick, but their relationship deteriorates when
Nick discovers her dishonesty.
The Great Gatsby Study Guide Characters 4

Character Map

Cousins
Nick Carraway
Narrator; youthful, honest

Dates

George Wilson Jordan Baker

Auto garage owner; Neighbors Professional golfer;
represents lower class questionable honesty

Murders

Married
Jay Gatsby Friends
Elusive self-made millionaire

Secret
lovers

Myrtle Wilson
Daisy Buchanan
Unfaithful wife; wants Acquaintances
Beautiful, superficial woman
to climb socially

Secret Married
lovers

Tom Buchanan
Brutish, wealthy man

Main Character

Other Major Character

Minor Character

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The Great Gatsby Study Guide
Full Character List
Character Description
Jay Gatsby is an affluent
businessman who uses his
Jay Gatsby
mysterious wealth to throw
extravagant parties.
Nick Carraway is the novel's
Nick Carraway insightful, kind narrator who is not
overly concerned with wealth.
Daisy Buchanan is a beautiful,
Daisy Buchanan superficial socialite who is courted by
many men, including Gatsby.
Tom Buchanan is an arrogant,
Tom Buchanan wealthy bully who lives an immoral,
abusive life.
George Wilson is a gas station owner
George Wilson
content to be part of the lower class.
Myrtle Wilson is a lower-​class woman
Myrtle Wilson who experiences the elite life through
her affair with Tom.
Jordan Baker is a beautiful
Jordan Baker professional golfer who is somewhat
dishonest.
Pammy Pammy is the young daughter of
Buchanan Daisy and Tom Buchanan.
Mr. Carraway, whose first name is
not provided, is Nick's father; he
Mr. Carraway
gives Nick sage advice about how to
treat people.
Catherine is identified by first name
only. She is Myrtle's sister and knows
Catherine
of the affair between Myrtle and
Gatsby.
Dan is a mentor to James Gatz, later
Dan Cody
known as Jay Gatsby.
Henry Gatz Henry is the father of Jay Gatsby.
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Plot Summary 5
Ewing
Ewing is Gatsby's frequent guest
who leeches off the rich man's
Klipspringer
wealth.
Chester is a photographer who, with
his wife, Lucille, lives in the New York
Chester McKee
apartment below the apartment
rented by Tom Buchanan.
Lucille and her husband, Chester, are
downstairs neighbors to Tom
Lucille McKee
Buchanan in the New York apartment
building.
Michaelis, who is identified by first
name only, is George's kind neighbor
Michaelis
who tries to comfort George after
Myrtle is killed.
Meyer is Gatsby's unscrupulous
Meyer
business partner; a member of the
Wolfsheim
mob.
k Plot Summary
At first glance, The Great Gatsby appears to be a fairly
straightforward tale about Jay Gatsby's tragic pursuit of the
American dream. But upon closer examination—including a
deeper look at the novel's use of symbolism and intent—the
story becomes a commentary on social classes, the pursuit of
the American dream, and determining what really matters.
Thus, while the novel is set in the 1920s, its story and
characters are timeless.
The Great Gatsby has five settings:
1. The Midwest, from which many of the main characters
originate.
2. West Egg, a fictional city on Long Island, New York, where
up-and-coming residents with new money reside.
3. East Egg, a fictional city also on Long Island, where the
aristocratic wealthy of old money reside.
4. The Valley of Ashes, a third Long Island setting
characterized as a bleak locale where the suburbs intersect
with the city and where those less fortunate—the have-
nots—live.
5. New York, where Nick Carraway works in the bond
business and where Tom Buchanan rents an apartment in
The Great Gatsby Study Guide Plot Summary 6

which he meets with his mistress, Myrtle Wilson.
The story begins with Nick Carraway's move to West Egg on
Long Island in New York, where he happens to rent a house
next door to Jay Gatsby, a wealthy businessman known for his
elaborately lavish parties. Gatsby appears to be well-liked and
popular, although where he came from and how he made his
fortune remain matters of mystery—and much speculation.
As Nick settles into his new surroundings, he visits his cousin
Daisy and her husband, a well-to-do couple living in old money
East Egg. They and their friend Jordan Baker, a young, single,
and wealthy professional golfer, introduce Nick to their life in
the East, which is characterized by abundant free time, flowing
money, and luxury in all forms. Nick is attracted by this lifestyle
even as he begins to consider its shallowness—particularly
when he comes to understand that Daisy's husband Tom has
"some woman in New York" and that Daisy is aware of it. By
the time Tom takes Nick to meet Myrtle Wilson—who owns a
gas station in the valley of ashes with her husband George—he
is committed to what he sees as the East Coast way of life.
Jay Gatsby. George sets out to find Gatsby in West Egg,
eventually locating Gatsby's mansion and murdering him in his
pool before taking his own life.
Nick learns of Gatsby's death and becomes a contact point for
the details of wrapping up Jay Gatsby's life. He tries to contact
Gatsby's many "friends" and is saddened to discover that no
one seems to care. When Gatsby's father turns up, Nick learns
the true story of James Gatz—the young man from the
Midwest—and his rise to become the great Jay Gatsby, all in
pursuit of wealth and his vision of the American dream. At the
conclusion, Nick becomes disillusioned with all that the East
represents, a disappointment deep enough to lead him back to
the Midwest.

Nick and Gatsby soon become friends. Even after Nick realizes
Gatsby is pursuing the friendship in part so that he can
reconnect with Daisy—who happens to be the woman he'd
fallen in love with before the war—he is intrigued. At Gatsby's
request Nick arranges for Daisy and Gatsby to reunite at his
home. While the first meeting is awkward for the former lovers,
it becomes apparent they still care for one another, and
Gatsby and Daisy continue to see each other secretly.

Eventually, Nick's two social groups from East Egg and West
Egg intersect. Upon meeting him, Tom immediately dislikes
Gatsby and later senses there is something going on between
Daisy and Gatsby. While the group is in New York one
afternoon, Tom confronts Gatsby, who informs Tom his
suspicions are correct and that Daisy loves him.

Meanwhile, in the "valley of ashes," George Wilson learns of his

wife's infidelity but he does not discover her lover's identity.
George locks Myrtle upstairs in their home to keep her "safe"
until they can move away. When Myrtle escapes she is struck
and killed by Gatsby's car, which Daisy is driving back from
New York. Instead of stopping to help, Daisy drives away from
the scene of the accident.

Distraught, George is determined to find the driver of the car.

This presents an opportunity for Tom, still reeling from Daisy
and Gatsby's revelation, to tell George that the car belongs to

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The Great Gatsby Study Guide Plot Summary 7

Plot Diagram

Climax

7
10 Falling Action
Rising Action
6
11
5

4 12

3 Resolution

2
1

Introduction

Introduction Climax

1. Nick moves to New York. 9. Gatsby, Tom battle over Daisy; Daisy chooses Tom.

Rising Action Falling Action

2. Nick attends first of Gatsby's parties. 10. Myrtle is killed by Gatsby's car, driven by Daisy.

3. Gatsby befriends Nick; the two grow close. 11. George Wilson kills Gatsby.

4. Tom introduces Nick to his mistress, Myrtle.

5. Rumors about Gatsby's past; Nick meets Wolfsheim.

Resolution
6. Daisy, Tom attend Gatsby's party; have a bad time.
12. Almost no one attends Gatsby's funeral.
7. Daisy and Gatsby appear to be in love.

8. Tom discovers Daisy and Gatsby's affair.

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The Great Gatsby Study Guide Plot Summary 8

Timeline of Events

1910

At age 19 Jimmy Gatz meets Dan Cody and changes his

name to Jay Gatsby.

October 1917

Gatsby falls in love with Daisy before shipping out during

World War I.

June 1919

Daisy stops waiting for Gatsby and marries Tom

Buchanan.

Spring 1922

Nick moves to West Egg and is reunited with Daisy.

Summer 1922

Nick attends Gatsby's party and the two become fast

friends.

Summer 1922

The romance between Gatsby and Daisy grows while

Tom becomes suspicious.

Fall 1922

Daisy chooses Tom over Gatsby; later that night, Myrtle

is run over.

Fall 1922

Gatsby is shot dead.

Fall 1922

Almost no one attends Gatsby's funeral.

Fall 1922

Nick moves back to the Midwest.

Spring 1924

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The Great Gatsby Study Guide Plot Summary 9

Looking back over the events "two years ago," Nick

narrates the story.

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The Great Gatsby Study Guide
c Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1
Summary
Twenty-nine-year-old Nick Carraway reflects on the
experiences of his recent past. After graduating from Yale and
serving in the army, Nick decides to leave the Midwest behind
and move to New York to become a bondsman. He takes up
residence in West Egg, a Long Island community, where he
rents a home next to Jay Gatsby, a wealthy and mysterious
businessman.
Nick's cousin, the beautiful socialite Daisy Buchanan, lives
across the bay in East Egg with her brutish husband, Tom.
Soon after moving to West Egg, Nick is invited to the
Buchanans' home for dinner, where he meets Jordan Baker, a
cynical professional golfer. During dinner, the foursome
discusses trivial, superficial matters. Tom leaves to take a
phone call, and while he's gone, Jordan reveals that he must be
talking to his mistress—a woman in New York whom he makes
no attempt to hide.
Upon returning home Nick sees his neighbor, Jay Gatsby,
emerge from his extravagant mansion. Resisting the urge to
call out to him, Nick watches, confused, as a trembling Gatsby
stares off into the distance, arms outstretched, reaching
toward a green light across the bay.
Analysis
Nick is immediately revealed to be an honest narrator. His
father's advice to avoid criticizing people because "all the
people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've
had" suggest that he is nonjudgmental and moral, which is the
perfect lens through which to view this story of deception,
superficiality, and immorality. Because Nick is well-educated
and comes from a good background, it's clear that he will fit
easily into both social circles—the old money of East Egg and
the new money of West Egg. Residents of East Egg are
accustomed to a life of privilege, and generations of wealth
have made many residents, like Tom Buchanan, arrogant. On
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Chapter Summaries 10
the other side of the bay, new-money residents, like Jay
Gatsby, aren't quite accustomed to their great wealth yet,
making them emotionally vulnerable (they know what they have
to lose). Nick is the perfect, balanced narrator to navigate both
groups without bias.
During the dinner in East Egg, much is revealed about the
Buchanans and their superficiality. Fitzgerald uses detailed
descriptions to highlight the luxury in which these characters
live: they have a grand mansion, a butler and silver polisher,
stables, and more. In the first descriptions of the women, they
are twice described as "balloons," suggesting they simply float
through life—an apt description of the novel's old-money
characters. In these opening scenes, both Daisy and Jordan
are seen as foolish and flighty, while Tom is opinionated,
insensitive, and expects to have his way—particularly around
women. On his drive home Nick feels slightly confused and
disgusted with what he's learned about the Buchanans and the
way they live their lives.
The green light Gatsby reaches toward is deeply symbolic: in
literature, green is often symbolic of money, and Nick later
realizes that the light emanates from the end of the
Buchanans' dock. As the novel progresses, it is revealed that
Gatsby has amassed all his wealth in the hopes of winning
Daisy's love—a desire perfectly symbolized in this scene.
Chapter 2
Summary
Chapter 2 opens with a description of the "valley of ashes," a
dismal location between the Eggs and New York City. The
valley is the dumping ground for New York City's ashes, and
the entire area is coated with gray dust. As Nick Carraway
describes the desolate place, he mentions the faded billboard
of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg—two large eyes peering out from
enormous yellow spectacles. Tom and Nick are taking the train
to New York City, and Tom wants to stop at the valley of ashes
to introduce Nick to "his girl," Myrtle Wilson, the wife of garage
owner George Wilson. The Wilson garage is described as
"unprosperous and bare," and the Wilsons' lives are simple.
Shortly after, Myrtle appears in the garage and under the ruse
of meeting her sister Catherine in New York, joins Tom on the
train. The threesome takes a taxi from the New York train
The Great Gatsby Study Guide Chapter Summaries 11

station, and Myrtle frivolously insists they stop to buy a puppy Daisy's name. Irate, Tom breaks her nose, reminding Myrtle of
from a street vendor because a dog will be "nice" for the her place, and displaying his brutishness.
apartment. After being joined by Catherine and her friends, the
McKees, everyone begins drinking excessively, and they all
become quite drunk. Myrtle pays attention to the puppy only to Chapter 3
show it off as a new accessory for the apartment. As the party
progresses, Myrtle begins complaining about her life and about
Tom's marriage to Daisy. Infuriated that she would mention
Summary
Daisy's name, Tom swiftly strikes Myrtle in the face, breaking
her nose. The party comes to an abrupt end and Nick takes an
Jay Gatsby is well known throughout town for his lavish weekly
early morning train back to Long Island.
parties. One week, Nick Carraway is surprised to receive a
handwritten invitation, and nervously attends. The party guests
revel in Gatsby's immense wealth—his fancy cars, swimming
Analysis pools, elaborately catered menus, and full orchestra—and
swap tales of how Gatsby must have made his fortune. Nick
The valley of ashes is a hugely symbolic place, literally covered
feels awkward and out of place at the party until he meets
in the waste of capitalism. The pursuit of wealth and damages
Jordan Baker. Together they mingle with other guests, and
left in its wake are important topics in the novel. Hovering over
Nick is as astounded by the lavish festivities as he is by the
the valley of ashes are the faded eyes of Dr. Eckleburg, eyes
partygoers' discussions of Gatsby's past and the source of his
George Wilson later refers to as the eyes of God. The fact that
fortune. Whenever Nick asks where Gatsby himself is, no one
they are faded suggests that spirituality and religion are long-
seems to know. It's unclear whether anyone at the party has
forgotten institutions, which further highlights the immorality
actually even met the host.
and corruption of the novel.
As Nick and Jordan continue to search for Gatsby, Nick strikes
The valley of ashes again uses geography as a motif for
up a conversation with a handsome gentleman at a nearby
differentiating social classes. Fitzgerald uses the stark
table, thinking he looks vaguely familiar. The man turns out to
contrast between the valley of ashes, the Eggs, and New York
be Gatsby himself, and the two men realize they served in the
to vividly represent the socioeconomic status of the people
same division during the war. Nick is struck by Gatsby's easy
living in these areas. Against these backdrops he examines the
style and the genuine interest with which he talks to his guests.
concept of class and, specifically, the elite versus the lower
When Gatsby is called away, Jordan begins to speculate about
class. Using the gathering at Wilson's garage in the valley of
who Gatsby really is and joins the others in sharing rumors
ashes as a backdrop, the contrast between the Buchanans and
about him.
the Wilsons is clear. George seems content with his station in
life, while Myrtle (like Jay Gatsby) longs for attention and Breaking into present tense, Nick makes it clear that he didn't
affluence. waste his entire summer partying. He worked hard in New York
and dated a few women, but by midsummer he begins dating
Once the party is in full swing, Myrtle has fully transformed
Jordan more seriously. He feels drawn to her even though he
from poor garage-owner's wife to what she perceives to be a
finds her dishonest (he knows, for example, that she cheated
wealthy socialite. Her behaviors are affected and obviously
at her first major golf tournament), and by the end of the
mimicked, but she is eager to display the fantasy life she has
summer he wonders whether he is in love with her.
created for herself—including the puppy, her newest domestic
accessory toward which she displays a superficial affection.
It's clear, however, that the puppy is a frivolous purchase and
Analysis
has no real meaning for either Myrtle or Tom. Although the
group knows of the affair between Tom and Myrtle, there is no
Gatsby is symbolic of the new money of West Egg: people who
acknowledgment of the affair's immorality. Despite her
aren't used to being rich and are thus prone to lavish displays
eagerness, it's clear that Myrtle does not have the breeding or
of wealth, such as his opulent parties. No one seems to know
refinement to pull off the facade. Drunk, she begins chanting
who Gatsby is or how he got rich, but they're more than happy

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The Great Gatsby Study Guide
to take advantage of his generosity by partying into the wee
hours of the morning, eating the food and drinking the wine of
a host they cannot even identify. Despite having few facts,
people happily swap rumors about Gatsby—that he was a
German spy, or that he killed a man. The theme of superficiality
versus truth or facade versus reality continues when Nick
meets Gatsby. Despite Gatsby's fame, Nick is taken aback by
how humble the man seems, and is surprised to learn that they
served in the same military division during the war. Gatsby's
accent, however, seems fake; he throws parties where he
knows none of the guests, and in touring his home, it's clear
that each detail has been painstakingly chosen to create the
appearance of vast wealth. In the library, for example, one
guest is amazed that the books are real, not just ornate
cardboard fashioned to look like real books.
In this chapter Fitzgerald uses Nick's perceptions to elaborate
on the superficiality of the individuals and events he is
experiencing. Although he is absorbed in the exciting lifestyle
that the East Coast offers, Nick is not completely won over.
Nick's personal ethics can be glimpsed as he muses on what
he calls Jordan's "incurabl[e] dishonest[y]." He is drawn to both
Gatsby and Jordan despite their seeming dishonesty (or
hidden truths). This is interesting because morality and
honesty are at the core of Nick's character. He calls himself
"one of the few honest people that I have ever known," yet he
is willing to overlook these flaws in others—perhaps due to his
father's advice at the novel's opening not to criticize anyone.
Nick also seems concerned with how his character comes
across in the novel, speaking directly to readers to assure
them that he didn't fritter away his summer with mindless
partying—he worked hard in New York and tried to date other
women. In the end, though, he was drawn back to the mystery
and opulence of West Egg.
Chapter 4
Summary
Throughout the summer Nick Carraway continues to attend
Jay Gatsby's parties and notices that some guests attend a
Gatsby gathering only once, while others appear each week.
One frequent guest, Ewing Klipspringer, attends the parties so
often that he becomes known as "the boarder." As the summer
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Chapter Summaries 12
progresses, Gatsby and Nick's friendship grows, with Gatsby
encouraging Nick to enjoy his beach, ride in his hydroplane,
and join him for lunch. While out for a ride with Gatsby one
afternoon, Nick realizes that Gatsby is aware of the many
stories being shared about him. To set the record straight,
Gatsby tells Nick about his past, claiming that he's from the
Midwestern town of "San Francisco," that he graduated from
Oxford, and that he is a decorated war hero. Gatsby also
intimates that his family had died and left him a good deal of
money. Many of Gatsby's facts about his past directly reflect
the obviously false rumors circulating around him, and ring
false to Nick.
In New York, Gatsby introduces Nick to Meyer Wolfsheim, a
business associate, and Nick discovers that Wolfsheim has a
questionable past in gambling and other illegal activities.
Following the meeting with Wolfsheim, Nick spots Tom
Buchanan and introduces Gatsby to him. Gatsby appears
inexplicably flustered to meet Tom. Through Jordan, it is
revealed that many years ago—before the war—Gatsby and
Daisy Buchanan had a passionate fling. Gatsby had wanted to
marry her, but her parents were vehemently against it. Gatsby
was called into service and Daisy promised to wait for him, but
while Gatsby was away, she met and was quickly engaged to
Tom Buchanan. After the war, Gatsby dedicated himself to
amassing wealth and moved across the bay from Daisy, hoping
to impress her and win her back. Gatsby asks Nick to arrange
a lunch with Daisy that he can unexpectedly arrive at,
surprising Daisy.
Analysis
This chapter continues the theme of superficiality versus truth,
or facade versus reality. In creating a new life for himself—one
to impress Daisy—Gatsby has obviously left the reality of his
past behind him. His personal history is fabricated, and the
origin of his money is just as murky. Through these lies, the
true picture of Gatsby is beginning to emerge: like many other
characters in the novel, he is dishonest and obsessed with
appearances. He may, in fact, even be a criminal. Nick's fears
of Gatsby being involved in organized crime are a sharp
contrast to Jordan's perception of Gatsby as a brokenhearted
soldier who would stop at nothing to win back the woman he
loves. Both interpretations of Gatsby's characters are
somewhat true. After hearing both sides of the story, Nick is
equally perplexed about his feelings for Gatsby: he admires the
man's determination and drive, yet is disgusted by his
The Great Gatsby Study Guide
(seemingly) illegal means of amassing wealth.
While driving to meet Wolfsheim for lunch, Gatsby is pulled
over for speeding. He simply waves a card at the officer,
however, and is let go without even a warning. This is another
clue that Gatsby occupies a high rank in society and that he
may have come by his celebrity immorally. Gatsby's clout hints
again at his involvement in organized crime—the officer
practically apologizes to Gatsby for pulling him over, rather
than reminding him of the law.
Gatsby's past relationship with Daisy provides more insight into
her character. It appears that she truly was in love with Gatsby
but was discouraged from marrying him because he was poor.
Even though she said she would wait for him, she chose to
marry Tom, a man capable of gifting her with pearls worth
more than $350,000. For Daisy—and clearly for her old-money
family—good breeding is more important than love. Perhaps
this is why Daisy chooses to stay with Tom despite his abusive
behavior and obvious adultery. Again, appearances are more
important than reality in her circle, and to East Eggers, Tom is
the catch of a lifetime.
Chapter 5
Summary
Upon returning home late one evening, Nick Carraway is
surprised to find Jay Gatsby nervously waiting for him. It's clear
that Gatsby wants to know whether Nick has arranged the tea
with Daisy Buchanan, but doesn't want to come right out and
ask him. He first invites Nick to Coney Island and then over for
a swim, which Nick declines, citing the time. When Nick
announces that he will invite Daisy for tea in two days, Gatsby
becomes visibly excited and nervous. He offers to find Nick a
side job to make more money doing very little work. Nick
realizes that Gatsby is offering his friendship and money in
exchange for help in reconnecting with Daisy, and he feels
offended; he would have preferred that Gatsby felt friendship
was enough motivation for Nick to help him. Nevertheless, Nick
calls Daisy the next day, invites her to tea, and asks her to not
bring Tom.
On the appointed day, Gatsby sends over a gardener to cut
Nick's lawn and orders a "greenhouse" of flowers to decorate
the interior of Nick's home. Gatsby arrives early, desperately
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Chapter Summaries 13
nervous, worried that Daisy will not come. Daisy does arrive,
but when Nick shows her into the living room where Gatsby
had been waiting, he is gone. He knocks at the front door a few
moments later, as if he's just arrived, having snuck out the
back.
At first the reunion is awkward. Gatsby nervously breaks Nick's
clock and even laments that the meeting was a mistake. Nick
decides to leave the pair alone for a short time, and when he
returns, Daisy has tears in her eyes and Gatsby is glowing with
delight. It appears their love is rekindled. Gatsby invites Nick
and Daisy over to his house for a tour. As they walk through
the vast mansion, it's clear that every detail has been hand-
selected to impress Daisy. She is impressed, breaking into
tears when she sees all of Gatsby's fine shirts. Gatsby and
Daisy are so overwhelmed to be together again that Nick is
able to slip out of the house unnoticed.
Analysis
Gatsby's dream, which he has spent five years working toward,
is finally realized when he is reunited with Daisy. The build-up
to their meeting is comically awkward, although Nick insists "it
wasn't a bit funny." Gatsby, who has been controlled and
measured throughout the novel, is suddenly nervous,
emotional, and vulnerable. When he knocks on Nick's door
after Daisy's arrival, he is "pale as death." Gatsby wants
everything to be perfect for Daisy, so he micromanages every
detail to ensure it's as beautiful as he's always dreamed, hiring
a landscaper to cut Nick's lawn, and sending over a
"greenhouse" of flowers. He dresses in white, gold, and silver
to ensure Daisy doesn't miss the fact that he's rich now. When
they actually meet, however, it's awkward—foreshadowing the
fact that reality is never as beautiful as the dream. In a
bumbling attempt to appear relaxed, Gatsby breaks Nick's
clock, a vivid symbol of his botched attempt to rewind time.
After some time alone, however, it's clear that Gatsby and
Daisy's love has been rekindled. Daisy's eyes are filled with
tears twice in this short chapter, most notably after she sees
Gatsby's fine shirts. Daisy married Tom hastily, attracted to his
money, leaving Gatsby because he was too poor. Now he has
more money than he knows what to do with, and Daisy's tears
suggest a realization that she made a terrible mistake. Had she
waited for Gatsby, she could have had love and wealth, but she
sold herself short.
The Great Gatsby Study Guide
Gatsby's vulnerability is also seen when he offers to pay Nick
for helping him arrange the meeting. Nick is offended by the
offer—he would have helped Gatsby simply because they're
friends. The offer suggests that Gatsby has few true friends.
Since becoming rich and shedding his past, Gatsby has had to
pay for everything, including friendship. His superficiality has
caused him to lose touch with reality. The interaction leaves
Nick in deep thought, as he questions again just how much of
the person known as Gatsby is a facade.
Chapter 6
Summary
A reporter approaches Jay Gatsby's house hoping to question
him about his past and to resolve the various rumors that have
been circulating around New York. Nick Carraway interrupts
the story to relate Gatsby's true past: his real name is James
Gatz and his parents are poor North Dakota farmers. He
attended college for two weeks, paying his tuition through
janitorial work, but dropped out because he found the work too
demeaning. He took a job fishing on Lake Superior, and one
fateful day warned a yacht owner of an impending storm. Dan
Cody, the wealthy yacht owner, took an immediate liking to
James and hired him as an assistant. James, who had by now
changed his name to the more fashionable "Jay Gatsby,"
became obsessed with wealth and luxury, learning many
important lessons from Cody. In his will, Cody left the amount
of $25,000 to Gatsby. Gatsby was unsuccessful in actually
claiming the inheritance; nevertheless, he used the lessons he
learned from Cody to amass his fortune.
Returning to the summer of 1922—Tom stops at Gatsby's
house for a drink after a day out riding with friends. Gatsby is
the consummate host, offering them cigarettes, his best liquor,
and even dinner, an invitation they politely decline. The
threesome shallowly invites Gatsby to join them for dinner, and
he eagerly accepts, not realizing that the invitation is only a
polite formality. They sneak out while Gatsby is fetching his
coat.
Tom, who has become suspicious of Gatsby's strange behavior
and no longer wants Daisy visiting him unattended, joins her at
one of Gatsby's parties. Despite Gatsby's best efforts, no one
has a particularly good time—even Nick, who sees the party
Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.
Chapter Summaries 14
through Daisy's eyes, in all its garish opulence. After the party,
Gatsby is depressed about Daisy and vows to "fix everything
just the way it was before" when they knew each other in
Louisville.
Analysis
Insight into Gatsby's true past highlights the transformation his
character has undergone. At the age of 17, Gatsby abandoned
his past, even changing his name, to chase a dream. In all this
time his character hasn't matured past his teenage dreams—he
still naively believes that with enough determination (and
money) anything is possible. His dream won't be complete until
Daisy admits that she never loved Tom, leaves him, and runs
back to Louisville to marry Gatsby. Nick tries to shake sense
into Gatsby by warning that he can't re-create the past, but
Gatsby responds incredulously, "Of course you can!" Gatsby
has been so dedicated to chasing a dream that he no longer
sees its impossibility.
Gatsby's crucial flaw is that he believes money can buy him
anything. Unfortunately, Gatsby is new money and will never be
accepted in the old-money social circle. This is painfully
obvious when the riding party visits for a drink. They haven't
come to socialize with Gatsby—they use him for a rest and free
booze. Gatsby foolishly thinks he can buy their friendship, just
as he tried to do with Nick in Chapter 5, and he becomes a
laughingstock. Tom and his friends sneak out of Gatsby's
house, both horrified and amused that he believed their dinner
invitation to be sincere.
The clash between old money and new money is further
highlighted during the unsuccessful party that weekend. Even
Nick finds the garish opulence of the party appalling. He, like
the Buchanans, is impressed with what Gatsby can buy but
finds the gluttony and excess disgusting.
Chapter 7
Summary
The relationships between Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and
Tom Buchanan reach a breaking point in Chapter 7. To protect
Daisy, Gatsby becomes more reclusive, even firing all of his
servants so that there won't be anyone to gossip about her
The Great Gatsby Study Guide
comings and goings. The brewing confrontation between
Gatsby and Tom reaches its boiling point at a luncheon at the
Buchanan home. Daisy and Gatsby have become bolder in
their displays of affection. When Tom takes a phone call in
another room, for example, Daisy kisses Gatsby and proclaims
her love. Suddenly her toddler daughter, Pammy, appears, led
by her nurse. The child is allowed to stay just long enough for
Daisy to show her off to the group and is then whisked away
so the adults can have lunch on their own. During the meal
Gatsby and Daisy gaze lovingly at each other, and Tom can no
longer deny that they are having an affair.
Abruptly, Daisy suggests a trip to New York. Tom agrees but
demands to drive Gatsby's car with Jordan and Nick, leaving
Gatsby to drive Tom's car with Daisy. In the car Tom explodes
about the obviousness of Gatsby and Daisy's relationship. On
the way, he stops at Wilson's garage for gas. Wilson, who is
obviously ill, inquires about when he can buy Tom's old car. He
says he needs money because he has just learned his wife is
having an affair and he needs to move them away. Tom is
aghast—in a short space of time learning he may lose his wife
and his mistress. As they drive away Nick notes the hovering
eyes of Dr. Eckleburg, and also Myrtle Wilson's eyes jealously
peeking out from behind the curtains.
It's oppressively hot in the city, so the party decides to rent a
hotel room and drink. As they relax, Tom tries to catch Gatsby
in a lie but Gatsby is cool and composed. Realizing he's getting
nowhere, Tom finally bursts out, "What kind of row are you
trying to cause in my house anyhow?" Aghast, Daisy tries to
deny that anything is going on, but Tom is determined, insisting
that he won't let "Mr. Nobody" make love to his wife.
Boldly, Gatsby rises and tells Tom that Daisy never loved
him—she's loved Gatsby for the past five years, and only
married Tom because she was sick of waiting for Gatsby to
get rich. At Gatsby's insistence, Daisy robotically agrees that
she never loved Tom. Tom seems genuinely hurt by this and
presses Daisy to refute her statement. Under Tom's
questioning, Daisy admits that of course she loves Tom, and
scornfully says that Gatsby asks too much of her: "I can't help
what's past." Buoyed, Tom lays into Gatsby, bitterly announcing
the unsavory ways he made his fortune, clearly affecting Daisy:
"with every word she was drawing further and further into
herself." Knowing that he has shattered Daisy's illusion of
Gatsby and that he is no longer a threat to their marriage, Tom
arrogantly tells Gatsby to drive Daisy home.
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Chapter Summaries 15
Tom drives Nick and Jordan back to East Egg, and as they
pass through the valley of ashes, they come upon a terrible
sight: fleeing from her home, Myrtle has been killed in a hit-
and-run accident. It's obvious that it was Gatsby's car that
struck her, and Nick is horrified to learn that it didn't stop after
the accident. Back at the Buchanan home, Nick finds Gatsby
hiding in the bushes in case Daisy needed his protection from
Tom. However, when Nick left them, they were calmly eating
dinner at the table. Gatsby admits that Daisy had been driving
the car when it killed Myrtle, but that he'll take full blame. Nick
leaves, disgusted.
Analysis
Chapter 7 is the turning point in the novel. The tension that has
been mounting blows open in the climactic moment when, after
a heated fight, Daisy chooses Tom over Gatsby. Gatsby's
dream is shattered, and everything he has worked to achieve
slips away. Everyone in the hotel room feels the excruciating
tension as both men vie for Daisy's commitment. In the end,
Gatsby's fantasy cannot trump the reality of the life Daisy and
Tom have created, despite its obvious flaws. Daisy's choice is
foreshadowed before lunch when her young daughter appears,
breaking the romantic moment she and Gatsby shared. While
Daisy dotes on her daughter, Gatsby "kept looking at the child
in surprise." Although Daisy treats the toddler with what seems
like a superficial display of attention, Pammy represents the
love Daisy and Tom share, and denying that love is as ludicrous
as trying to deny the child's existence. Tom cements this truth
in the hotel room when he states, "there's things between
Daisy and me that you'll never know." Indeed, Gatsby's money
cannot erase Daisy and Tom's shared future in their daughter.
Interestingly, Daisy repeatedly calls Pammy "dream,"
highlighting that her dreams are far different from Gatsby's.
After the hotel room fight, Daisy's intentions in her relationship
with Gatsby are revealed. Like everyone else in Gatsby's life,
Daisy has been using him—to get back at Tom for his infidelity.
Realizing that he might lose Daisy, Tom admits his affairs, and
promises "I'm going to take better care of you from now on."
This seems to be enough for Daisy, who at the chapter's end,
sits calmly eating dinner with her husband, uncaring that she
has just killed a woman and broken a man's heart. Gatsby's
retelling of the hit-and-run suggests that Daisy intentionally
mowed Myrtle down, hinting at Daisy's mindset leaving the
hotel: if she can't have fun with Gatsby anymore, then she's
going to ensure Tom can't have fun with his mistress, either.
The Great Gatsby Study Guide
At the end of the chapter, Nick is disgusted by the self-serving
behavior of everyone he's met. Nothing, not even a woman's
death, can pull them from their spoiled, selfish pettiness.
Gatsby gave up everything—his past, his name, his morality—in
pursuit of Daisy. He is desperate and would do anything to be
welcomed into their elite circle. By refusing to join the
Buchanans for dinner, Nick takes a clear moral stance: he is
not, and has no desire to be, one of them. The difference
between Gatsby and the Buchanans is made clear one final
time: while the Buchanans are united in their perverse view that
everyone is disposable (Myrtle and Gatsby, for example) and
are able to calmly sit and eat dinner together, Gatsby still
wants to protect his perfect image of Daisy. Despite her
abhorrent crime, he is willing to sacrifice himself for her. In
pursuing her, he's given up everything and no longer has
anything to lose.
Chapter 8
Summary
The morning after the accident, Nick Carraway visits Jay
Gatsby and tries to encourage him to leave West Egg for a
while, but Gatsby refuses to leave Daisy. He describes how he
first met and courted Daisy before the war, dazzled by her
beauty, wealth, and social position. Before shipping out, he and
Daisy made love, leaving Gatsby to feel "married to her, that
was all." Daisy promised to wait for Gatsby to return, but grew
anxious the longer he was away. The following spring, she met
and married Tom, who matched her social rank and whom her
parents approved of. When Gatsby returned, Daisy was
already on her honeymoon. Despite everything, Gatsby
remains convinced that he and Daisy will end up together. Nick
feels heartbroken for Gatsby and his stubborn refusal to
accept the obvious truth. Before boarding the train Nick calls
out that Gatsby is "worth the whole damn bunch put together."
Meanwhile, in the valley of ashes, George Wilson is struggling
with Myrtle's death and the recent discovery of her infidelity.
He convinces himself her death was murder, not an accident.
He believes that God demands revenge. Obsessed with finding
Myrtle's killer, he asks around until he learns—from Tom
Buchanan—that it was Gatsby's car that killed his wife.
Believing Gatsby was the driver responsible for the accident,
George travels to West Egg and shoots Gatsby in his pool.
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Chapter Summaries 16
Then he turns the gun on himself. Nick, worried when he
cannot get through to Gatsby on the phone, leaves work early
and discovers the bodies.
Analysis
When Gatsby returns from his vigil outside Daisy's home, he is
surprised that Daisy didn't need him. Gatsby has fantasized his
relationship with Daisy for so long that he cannot come to grips
with the idea that she has changed since he first met her. The
reality is, Gatsby doesn't really know her. Spiritually, he feels
"married" to her because they consummated their relationship
five years ago, but Daisy obviously didn't feel the same way,
yet Gatsby—the perpetual dreamer—still clings to the idea that
Daisy has lost her way and needs him to save her. As
frustrating as Gatsby's dreams are, Nick prefers them to the
moral emptiness of the "rotten crowd" Daisy and Tom are a
part of. Morally shaken by the events surrounding Myrtle's
death, Nick even ends his relationship with Jordan, realizing
that it is shallow. He shows genuine care for Gatsby, more
concerned about his friend than his family (Daisy), urging him
to leave Long Island until the dust has settled around Myrtle's
death. Unfortunately, Gatsby has worked too long, given up too
much, to slink away in hiding. He cannot admit, even to himself,
that his dream of living a happy life with Daisy has died.
The symbolism of Dr. Eckleburg's eyes returns in this chapter,
with George insisting that while Myrtle may have been able to
fool him, she "can't fool God." When George looks up at the
faded billboard, the reader is reminded how easily the
characters have shed their morality in pursuit of personal gains
(wealth, romance, and so on). The characters regularly pass
under the billboard—God's eyes—on their way to and from illicit
trysts, meetings with unscrupulous businessmen, and indeed,
after a murder. The faded (forgotten) billboard hangs above
the valley of ashes, suggesting a broader symbolism of
America's rejections of morality in its capitalistic pursuit of
wealth. Armed with the belief that he is exacting God's
revenge, George sets out to find Myrtle's murderer. This belief,
and the unfortunate mistaken identity of Gatsby as the killer, is
just another example of distorted reality. Daisy, the truly guilty
party, continues her life without consequence while Gatsby is
sacrificed. Fitzgerald is here again examining the idea of class
struggle, with Myrtle, George, and Gatsby representing
collateral damage—casualties of the games the rich can afford
to play.
The Great Gatsby Study Guide
Chapter 9
Summary
The day of Jay Gatsby's death descends into a stream of
gossipy police, reporters, photographers, and rubberneckers
gazing into Gatsby's pool and theorizing about his life. Fearing
he'll have to plan Gatsby's funeral on his own, Nick Carraway
reaches out to Gatsby's friends, but they've all disappeared.
Even Daisy and Tom have abandoned their home, sneaking
away without leaving a forwarding address. Nick is infuriated
by the fickleness of Gatsby's "friends," but not entirely
surprised when he, a few of Gatsby's servants, and Gatsby's
father, who has traveled from Minnesota, are the lone
attendants of Gatsby's funeral. Despite the fact that Gatsby
had abandoned his past, his father talks fondly of his son,
saying how proud he was of him, and saving a photo of
Gatsby's enormous house to remember him by.
In New York one afternoon, Nick bumps into Tom, who admits
that he told George Wilson that Gatsby killed Myrtle Wilson.
Nick is outraged, but Tom insists that Gatsby deserved to die.
Tom also insists that he suffered terribly after Myrtle's death,
and that giving up the New York apartment where they used to
meet was heartbreaking. Nick leaves the conversation feeling
as if he had been talking to a child. After saying goodbye once
and for all to Jordan, Nick packs up his belongings and
prepares to move back to the Midwest. On his last night, he
visits Gatsby's house and stares across the bay at the green
light in the distance.
Analysis
This final chapter ties up the novel's loose ends and brings
many of the themes full circle. Tom's blind arrogance allows
him to blame Gatsby for the accident, and to feel no remorse
for the false accusation or for Gatsby's death. Initially, Nick
does not want to shake Tom's hand, but relents before saying
goodbye because it would be "silly not to." Nick realizes that
there is no point in being angry with Tom, despite his horrific
behavior. Tom, like Daisy, is too self-involved, too shallow, and
too spoiled to realize the tragedy he caused. Tom's insistence
that he "had his share of suffering" in giving up his New York
apartment seems to him punishment enough for Gatsby's
death. This interaction solidifies the divide between old money
Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.
Quotes 17
and new money. Although Nick doesn't have the extreme
wealth Gatsby enjoyed, he is representative of the same social
circle: privileged, but not elite. Nick's time in West Egg gave him
a taste of an upscale lifestyle filled with riches and leisure
foreign to his Midwestern upbringing. Through his friendship
with Gatsby and the Buchanans, he sees what people are
willing to sacrifice in pursuit of social standing, and what they
will trample on to cling to their positions. Like Gatsby, Nick
must decide if the ends justify the means.
Nick, like many other characters in the novel (Gatsby, Myrtle),
grapples with the trappings of the American dream. America is
the land of opportunity, where rags-to-riches stories are
celebrated. Gatsby was able to create an entirely different
persona for himself and amass unimaginable wealth, but he
was never able to fully achieve his dream. When Nick visits
Gatsby's house one last time, he sees the green light and
imagines how Gatsby must have believed his dream to be just
out of grasp, not realizing that "it was already behind him,
somewhere back in that vast obscurity." For Myrtle and
Gatsby, being born poor prevented them from being truly
accepted into the elite rank of social hierarchy, and no matter
what either accomplished, acceptance would be impossible. In
this way, their dreams were always doomed. Nick has the
social breeding to be accepted into the elite circle (he is
Daisy's cousin, after all), but not the wealth. Had he worked to
gain a fortune like Gatsby did, he might have a chance of
acceptance, but for Nick, the reward is not worth losing his
morality. Instead, he packs his bags and moves home to the
Midwest, leaving the green light and the valley of ashes behind
him.
g Quotes
"Whenever you feel like criticizing
anyone, just remember that ...
[everyone hasn't] had the
advantages that you've had."
— Mr. Carraway, Chapter 1
In the opening of the novel, Nick recalls this advice from his
father and says that it causes him to reserve judgment on
The Great Gatsby Study Guide Quotes 18

people and to be open to those who want to share their

never seen such beautiful shirts."
thoughts. This establishes Nick as a fair and moral narrator. It
also defines the divide between the rich and poor in the novel:
— Daisy Buchanan, Chapter 5
a reminder that wealth and opportunity aren't equally divided.

Daisy sobs when she sees the wealth Gatsby has amassed.
"I hope she'll be a fool—that's the She realizes that she could have had it all—love and money—if
she had waited for him as she promised she would.
best thing a girl can be."

— Daisy Buchanan, Chapter 1 "He invented ... the sort of Jay

Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old
This quote shows that Daisy is not truly content with her role
as a frivolous, wealthy wife. Although that role is the most she boy would ... invent."
can foresee for her daughter, she is not happy about that
either. — Nick Carraway, Chapter 6

In pursuing his version of the American dream, Gatsby

"I told that boy about the ice. ... remakes himself into what he believes, on a superficial level, to
You have to keep after them all be the ideal man: a wealthy socialite moving upward on the
social scale.
the time."

— Myrtle Wilson, Chapter 2 "You always look so cool."

Through her affair with Tom, Myrtle believes she is part of the — Daisy Buchanan, Chapter 7
elite and pretends to be a snob at the hotel. She is distorting
reality, ignorant that she will never be fully accepted.
This is Daisy's roundabout way of telling Gatsby that she loves
him, but it focuses on his appearance, serving as a reminder of
how shallow Daisy's love is.
"Before the wedding he gave her a
string of pearls valued at three
"I go off ... and make a fool of
hundred and fifty thousand
myself, but I always come back."
dollars."
— Tom Buchanan, Chapter 7
— Jordan Baker, Chapter 4

Tom justifies his extramarital affairs because in his heart, he

Jordan explains why Daisy married Tom, even though she was
loves Daisy and always comes back to her, which highlights his
in love with Gatsby. Tom offered financial security and social
immorality and selfishness.
prestige that she couldn't pass up.

"What'll we do ... this afternoon ...

"They're such beautiful shirts ... I've

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc.

The Great Gatsby Study Guide Symbols 19

he had warned her that God is all-seeing. Despite the disregard

and the day after that, and the
for institutionalized religion during the 1920s, George reminded
next thirty years?" his wife that there are still consequences for immoral behavior.

— Daisy Buchanan, Chapter 7

"They smashed up things ... and
Although Daisy usually maintains a cheerful demeanor, this line then retreated back into ... their
reveals that she is sad about what she sees as the
meaninglessness of her life.
vast carelessness."

— Nick Carraway, Chapter 9

"So we drove on toward death
Describing Tom and Daisy, Nick realizes that the wealthy can
through the cooling twilight."
always hide behind their money, which perpetuates their
immorality and sense of entitlement.
— Nick Carraway, Chapter 7

This line from Nick, as the narrator, carries a double meaning. "Gatsby believed in the green light,
Nick, musing on his 30th birthday, sees ahead of him a rather
gloomy future of dwindling social prospects and loneliness,
the ... future that year by year
leading eventually to death. The line also foreshadows the recedes before us."
evening's events: Gatsby and Daisy are ahead of them in
Gatsby's car and will soon have the tragic accident that results
— Nick Carraway, Chapter 9
in the death of Myrtle Wilson.

This quote repeats Gatsby's dream of a future based on his

"You're worth the whole damn past romance with Daisy. Although he believed that his
idealized future was possible, his attempt to re-create their
bunch put together." past love failed because Daisy's present, including Tom and
their daughter, could not be ignored. Daisy still had feelings for
— Nick Carraway, Chapter 8 Gatsby, but her love for Tom and Pammy could not be
overcome; her current life destroyed any possibility for
Gatsby's longed-for future.
Nick has come to truly care about Gatsby, despite his criminal
behavior. Gatsby embodies passion and single-minded
determination, which Nick respects much more than being
born into an elite position.
l Symbols

"You may fool me but you can't

Valley of Ashes
fool God!"

— George Wilson, Chapter 8

Like many locations in The Great Gatsby, the valley of ashes is
symbolic of its residents' social status, but the symbolism
After Myrtle is killed, George tells his neighbor Michaelis that found here goes even further. The valley, which is covered in

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The Great Gatsby Study Guide
ashes from the neighboring New York City factories, becomes
symbolic of the waste left behind in the pursuit of wealth. The
Wilsons, residents of the valley of ashes, are collateral damage
in the wake of the Buchanans' elitist, immoral pursuits.
Green Light
The green light at the end of the Buchanans' dock is there for a
practical purpose: it is a beacon to alert boaters that there is
an obstacle there that they need to avoid. For Gatsby, the light
symbolizes a dream—his dream of obtaining Daisy. In broader
terms it also symbolizes the American dream. The novel opens
with Gatsby reaching his open arms toward the light, and ends
with Nick's realization that the dream is elusive: "tomorrow we
will run faster, stretch out our arms farther." The novel
questions the sacrifices individuals must make to achieve their
dreams, and whether the ends justify the means.
The Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg
The abandoned billboard promoting Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's
optician services is symbolic of the immorality of the 1920s. In
a time of fierce capitalistic gains and elaborate, wild parties,
many Americans abandoned their religious morality in pursuit
of personal pleasure. The billboard serves as a reminder of
God's watchful eyes, yet its faded, forgotten appearance
suggests that the characters (with the exception of George
Wilson) are no longer concerned with the consequences of
their actions. Even George Wilson, who believed that God's
eyes were watching down from the billboard, eventually breaks
down and commits an immoral act by murdering Jay Gatsby.
m Themes
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Themes 20
Class
The theme of class, particularly the elite versus the middle and
lower classes, is pronounced throughout The Great Gatsby.
This theme is demonstrated via geography: East Egg
represents the elite with old money, West Egg represents the
elite with new money, and the "valley of ashes" represents the
middle and lower classes. Those who are not in one of the
wealthier communities strive to be there, as portrayed through
the character of Myrtle Wilson. The central character, Jay
Gatsby, is obsessed with being seen as one of the greatest of
those in West Egg so that he can be reunited with his love,
Daisy Buchanan, who lives in East Egg. Fitzgerald's strong
characterization vividly captures the contrasts between the
classes.
Another location comparison used to examine the class theme
is that of the Midwest versus the East Coast. Like the
comparison between West Egg and East Egg, the Midwest is
depicted primarily as a place of new money but also one of
strong ethics and new ideas. By contrast, the East Coast, like
East Egg, is old money and elitism at its worst. It is an incident
of dramatic irony that Nick, Daisy, and Tom are from the
Midwest and have moved east for a better life.
Superficiality versus Truth
Superficiality versus truth, or facade versus reality, permeates
The Great Gatsby and is best examined by looking at the
characters of Jay Gatsby, Tom and Daisy Buchanan, and
Jordan Baker. Gatsby's entire existence personifies
superficiality—from his pseudonym, to his fabricated past, to
the lavish parties he throws.
Gatsby, in his pursuit of Daisy's love and the means he needs
to secure it, has become so focused and shallow that he
struggles to be himself, which is clear in his awkwardness
when finally meeting Daisy at Nick's house.
At his core, Gatsby is motivated by his love for Daisy; he seeks
power and money to be accepted among the wealthy and
deserving of her love. By the time this story begins, however,
he is so entrenched in the lifestyle of the elite that he has lost
The Great Gatsby Study Guide Suggested Reading 21

his way; he has given himself over to his goals and has lied for hangers-on—many of whom don't even know him.
so long—even to himself—that he is unable to recognize truth
or achieve depth in his relationships. Nick discovers this early Nick feels the pull of his Midwestern moral values, but is

on when Gatsby attempts to buy his friendship. swayed by the allure of the East's excitement and easy
pleasures.
The Buchanans and Jordan Baker also lead superficial
lives—directionless existences characterized by luxury, wealth, Although Daisy loved Gatsby when they first met, she decides

power, and the never-ending pursuit for more. not to wait for him when tempted by Tom's offer of marriage.
After all, Tom comes from an elite family and showers her with
expensive presents. Later, despite her renewed feelings for
Gatsby, she remains with the safe choice of old money and
American Dream social status.

Myrtle, mesmerized by the glamour she sees in the elite, is

willing to trade the moral haven of her marriage for the chance
The Great Gatsby can be seen as a reflection of the rise and to join the upper class. In that pursuit, she eventually loses her
fall of the American dream. Fitzgerald sets the story in the life, whether Daisy meant to hit her, or whether it was an
frivolous 1920s—before anyone could even have imagined the accident.
crash that ushered in the Great Depression four years after the
book was published—and focuses on how individuals can re-
create themselves and become successful no matter where
they begin. e Suggested Reading
Chasing the American dream comes with harsh realities for
Beuka, Robert. American Icon: Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.
some, which Fitzgerald shares through the character of Nick
Rochester: Camden, 2011. Print.
Carraway. For example, while Nick perceives Jay Gatsby to be
wealthy and successful, he also recognizes the man's
Corrigan, Maureen. So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby
insecurities and lack of social skills, and sees that Gatsby—to
Came to Be and Why It Endures. Boston: Little, 2014. Print.
his own detriment—has spent his life chasing a love he has
idealized beyond all realistic boundaries. Hook, Andrew. F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Literary Life. London:
Palgrave, 2002. Print.

Koster, Katie D., ed. Reading on The Great Gatsby (Literary

Degradation of Society Companion to American Literature Series). Farmington Hills:
Greenhaven, 1997. Print.

Following World War I, the population's postwar emotional

relief, accessibility of consumer goods, and affluence (in some
levels of society) soon led to an unrestrained pursuit of wealth,
pleasure, and material goods. The destructive nature of
materialism and the society's crumbling moral values are vividly
portrayed in the novel's characters.

Gatsby's simplistic view of life—his abiding belief that Daisy will

leave Tom Buchanan and marry him—is evidenced regularly in
his attempts to buy people's loyalty, friendship, and love. He
tries to pay Nick for setting up the meeting with Daisy, gives
Nick the gift of a car, and holds elaborate parties for social

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