The Great Gatsby Chapter 1 Analysis

The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a drama filled novel that gives the reader a fascinating insight into the protagonist and the narrator of the story. Right at the beginning of the story, we are introduced to the protagonist Nick Carraway. From this point on, we learn that Nick grew up in the Midwest and was part of a wealthy family, who became wealthy from a wholesale hardware business. We also learn that Nick attended and graduated from Yale University just like his father and that he had fought in World War 1. Nick does eventually return from the war but on his return feels very bored in the Midwest[Minnisota or Wisconsin] and decides to move to New York to become a bond salesmen. Nick's new home is next to an enormous mansion owned by the

Nick doesn't speak or get involved with this new environment in the early chapters of the novel, he most of the time just watches and listens to people and takes everything in as valuable information. This isn't a surprise to anyone because one would probably do the same and get used to things in his new environment, such as the people's, schedules, etc. Nick being the narrator of the story shows exactly how observant he is. For example, Nick describes Gatsby in great details throughout the novel; we would never be able to imagine Gatsby as a character at all due to him not describing his facets as Nick does. “He hadn't once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes. Sometimes, too, he stared around at his possessions in a dazed way, as though in her actual and astounding presence none of it was any longer real. Once he nearly toppled down a flight of stairs.” (5.112) Nick is seen giving a detailed description of Gatsby’s first date with Daisy, he informed the reader how nervous and lost he was, overall depicting his feelings to the