What happens when the American Dream becomes a fatal obsession?
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) plunges readers into the heart of the Jazz Age, a world shimmering with promise yet shadowed by disillusionment.
Narrated by Nick Carraway, the novel chronicles his experiences on Long Island during the summer of 1922 as he encounters the magnetic enigma of Jay Gatsby and Gatsby’s all-consuming quest to recapture his past love, Daisy Buchanan.
Set against Long Island’s glittering wealthy enclaves, Fitzgerald’s iconic story explores timeless themes of wealth, class, love, and the elusive American Dream. Follow Nick’s journey through the dazzling parties and hidden sorrows detailed in this comprehensive plot summary.
Read this post next for The Great Gatsby Chapter 1 Analysis.
Summary: Arrivals and Intrigues
Left restless after World War I, narrator Nick Carraway moves from the Midwest in the summer of 1922. Seeking opportunity in the bond business, he settles in Long Island’s “less fashionable” West Egg. He rents a modest bungalow next door to the colossal mansion of his mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, immediately highlighting the area’s striking wealth disparities.
An early evening takes Nick across the bay to aristocratic East Egg for dinner with his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her immensely wealthy, brutish husband Tom. Their opulent Georgian Colonial mansion, alive with fluttering curtains on the warm wind, sets the scene.
Tom, a physically imposing figure radiating arrogance, quickly reveals his racist ideologies, referencing a book titled The Rise of the Colored Empires. Daisy displays a captivating charm, particularly in her “low, thrilling voice,” yet reveals profound unhappiness through her startling hope that her daughter will be merely a “beautiful little fool.”
Amidst this elegant setting, Nick meets Jordan Baker, Daisy’s friend, a famous golfer known for her cool detachment. The dinner conversation also touches upon Nick’s mysterious neighbor, with Daisy asking, “What Gatsby?” after Jordan mentions him.
Later, insistent phone calls for Tom interrupt the strained gathering. As Tom steps away, Jordan leans close to Nick, confirming the caller is Tom’s mistress and thus shattering the facade of the Buchanans’ perfect life. This establishes Jordan as a key source of revealing information.
Returning later that night to West Egg, Nick observes his neighbor Gatsby for the first time. A solitary figure emerges from the mansion’s shadow. Gatsby stands alone, Nick notes, stretching his arms toward the dark water across the bay.
Nick’s gaze follows, seeing nothing “except a single green light, minute and far away,” near Daisy’s dock—a silent, powerful gesture suggesting deep, mysterious yearning.
Key Events Established in Chapter 1
Fitzgerald’s opening chapter masterfully introduces narrator Nick Carraway and his journey into the social world of East Coast wealth. The settings of West Egg and East Egg immediately establish the novel’s core class distinctions.
We meet the central players: the entitled and prejudiced Tom, the alluring yet unhappy Daisy, and the cynical Jordan. The Buchanans’ deep marriage problems surface quickly through Tom’s infidelity and Daisy’s quiet despair.
Most significantly, Fitzgerald introduces the enigmatic Jay Gatsby. Though first mentioned with intrigue during dinner, Nick observes Gatsby’s first action as a profound, solitary longing toward the distant green light.
A Note on Page Numbers & Edition:
We carefully sourced textual references for this summary from The Great Gatsby, Scribner 2020 Paperback edition (Publication Date: September 1, 2020), ISBN-13: 978-1982149482. Like the flickering green light promising something just out of reach, page numbers for specific events can differ across various printings. Always double-check against your copy to ensure accuracy for essays or citations.
Jeremy Mortis, founder of Ageless Investing, applies a rigorous analytical approach (the AAM framework) to distill timeless wisdom and contextualized quotes from classic literature, saving you time while deepening understanding. Learn more about Jeremy’s unique background and methodology on his author bio page.