Chapter 1.
Nick introduces himself and shows that he is tolerant of others and non judgemental. Nick does not like the lifestyle of New York and decides to move to the Midwest. Nick rents a small house in the West Egg. Nick goes to his cousin Daisy's house for dinner. We are introduced to Daisy's husband, and we learn that he is powerful and is also cheating on Daisy. Daisy seems to be afraid to confront Tom about this problem because she is drawn in by Tom's wealth and does not want to lose it. Daisy says she hopes her daughter will grow up to be a fool because women live best as beautiful fools. At the end of the chapter, Nick sees Gatsby staring out into the night at a green light. Nick does not know what this green light symbolizes. Even though Gatsby represents everything that Nick hates about New York, Nick admires Gatsby greatly because of the way the stands out.
The cover of the first edition of The Great Gatsby...
The Great Gatsby (1926 film)
The Great Gatsby (1974 film)Chapter 2
Nick goes with Tom to the valley of ashes (a valley halfway between West Egg and New York) to meet Myrtle. Myrtle is already married to George Wilson, a poor man who owns a garage. Tom taunts George, and takes Myrtle away. The valley of ashes is a place of poverty and symbolizes moral decay. Industrial dumping creates the valley. There is a billboard of enormous spectacles that seems to stare down at the valley. The billboard is titles Dr. T. J. Eckleburg. Tom keeps his affair with Myrtle a secret in the valley of ashes, but he is open about it once in New York. Even though Nick is Daisy's cousin, he does not seem to mind Tom's affair. Nick, Tom and Myrtle go to New York to have a party with...