The Great Gatsby Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1
o Nick is the narrator
o 1922 Nick moved to West Egg
o West Egg ‘ new rich’ - lavish display of wealth
o Nick lives next door to Gatsby’s mansion
o Nick and Daisy are cousins – Nick goes to East Egg for dinner with her
o Daisy is married to Tom
o Tom goes to take a phone call and Daisy follows and Jordan tells Nick, the call is from Toms lover in New York
o Jordan is Daisy’s Friend
o Tom and Daisy hint to Nick that they want him to take romantic interest in Jordan
o Nick sees Gatsby for the first time on his lawn, with his arm reaching out towards the deep water. All Nick can see is the green light at the end of the dock
o “ I hope shell be a fool, that the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool”

Chapter 2
o Between West Egg and New York City is the Valley Of Ashes, men shovel ashes
o Doctor T.J eyes stare down towards the town from a big billboard sign
o Nick and Tom on Train.

Tom forces Nick to get off and follow him at one of the stops.
o On the edge of the valley of ashes sits George Wilson’s Garage.
o Nick and Myrtle go to New York City with Tom to his apartment in Morningside, for a little gatho with Myrtle, Catherine and Mckees
o Nick tries to leave due to behaviour and conversation of the others
o Myrtle gets louder and more obnoxious the more she drinks and she starts talking about Daisy.
o Breakout between Tom and Myrtle about conversations of Daisy
o Myrtle starts yelling Daisy, Daisy, Daisy!!!
o Tom has enough and breaks Myrtles

nose

Chapter 3

o Gatsby is famous for his weekly parties that he throws at his mansion
o Gatsby’s chauffeur bring Nick and invitation to Gatsby’s party
o Guests mill around exchanging rumours about the host. No-ones knows the truth about how he is so wealthy.
o Nick runs into Jordan Baker
o Nick hears Gatsby is a graduate at Oxford and once killed a man in cold blood
o Nick and Jordan set out the find Gatsby
o Nick and Jordan at a table talking to a man who introduces himself as J Gatsby
o Notice Gatsby doesn’t drink and he keeps himself separate from the party, watching his guests in silence
o One of the butlers tells Jordan that Gatsby would like to see her. She emerges saying she’s hear something extraordinary.
o Nick follows the advice from Tom and Daisy and starts seeing Jordan.
o Nick is attracted to her dishonesty

Chapter 4
o Nick describes the time he took Gatsby to New York
o Gatsby told him about his past
o Claim all of the major accomplishments
o Gatsby gets pulled over by the police for speeding but a card get him off and the police say sorry for bothering him
o Nick sees Jordan who tells Nick the story of her conversation with Gatsby at the party. “Gatsby is in love with Daisy”, during the war, before she married Tom
o Daisy lived near Tom during the war, and choose to marry Tom when Gatsby left for war.
o Gatsby said he bought his mansion in West Egg to be close to Daisy
o Jordan said Gatsby asked her to convince
o Nick to arrange a reunion between Gatsby and Daisy

Chapter 5
o Nick came home from date with Jordan. Gatsby mansion is all lit up but in total silence
o As nick walks home Gatsby approaches him from across the lawn. Gatsby seems desperate to see nick. Gatsby invites Nick to Coney Island and then for a swim
o Nick tell Gatsby he will help him with the plan. Gatsby is so happy and starts offering nick things
- Someone to cut his grass
- Chance to make money by joining him in his business
o Nick refuses but still call Daisy over
o Daisy arrives and Nick welcomes her in to find that Gatsby is gone. Then a knock on the door and Gatsby enters soaking wet from the rain.
o At the start very awkward
o Nick leaves them alone for ½ hour and returns to find them super happy Daisy in tears of joy
o Gatsby invites them to his house.
o Daisy is overwhelmed by his luxurious lifestyle
o Daisy crying when Gatsby shows her his collection of English shirts
o Gatsby calls upon Klipspringer(lives there) to play piano.
o Nick gets up and leaves Daisy and Gatsby

Chapter 6
o Rumours about Gatsby go around
o Gatsby was born James Gatz
o Dropped out of school after 2 weeks
o Worked on lake superior next summer fishing for salmon and digging for clams
o Dan Cody wealthy owns yatch
o Cody took Gatz which gave him his name Jay Gatsby
o Travelled with Cody as his personal assistant
o Gatsby feel in love with the luxury
o Cody was a heavy drinker and Gatsby had to look after him that convinced Gatsby to not become a drinker himself
o Cody died and left Gatsby with $25,000
o Nick stops by Gatsby’s house to find Tom there, for a drink with Mr and Mrs Sloane. Gatsby is awkward to tell Tom he knows Daisy.
o Gatsby invites them to stay for dinner they refuse and invite him to dine with them : he accepts
o Tom is suspicious that Daisy keeps visiting Gatsby’s house alone but has not yet discovered their love
o Next party Tom goes to keep an eye of Gatsby and Daisy
o Tom upsets Daisy by telling her that Gatsby’s fortune comes from bootlegging. Daisy get angry
o Gatsby is unhappy as Daisy had an unpleasant time
o Gatsby wants Daisy to leave Tom so she can with him.