The Great Gatsby Chapter 1

How did Nick end up in New York? “prominent, well-to-do people” that own a hardware business (3) Graduated from New Haven (Yale) in 1915, like his father Was a soldier in the “Great War” (World War I) Was restless after returning home and decided to go into the bond business; his father agreed to finance him for one year. He went to New York and thought the move would be permanent.

Nick’s Accommodations Lives outside the city in a “weather-beaten cardboard bungalow at eighty a month” (3); was supposed to have a roommate, but the firm sent him elsewhere. Got an old Dodge car Hired a Finnish cook/maid The area was classified as West Egg. He started living there as summer was starting. Bought books and began studying; wanted to be a “well- rounded man” (4)

The Eggs West Egg East Egg Nick’s home; he lived at the very tip next to a huge house Less “fashionable” (5); middle class and new money Full of rental houses (12 or 15 thousand a season) Gatsby’s house was here East Egg Old money Extremely rich Considered more “classy” Home to Tom and Daisy

Daisy and Tom Buchanan Daisy Tom Nick’s 2nd cousin Very beautiful, but somewhat ditzy Tom Nick’s friend from college Former football player “enormously wealthy” (6) From Chicago 30 The couple travels to various places, never seeming to settle down. They have a daughter, Pammy.

Elaborate Living red and white Georgian Colonial mansion Quarter of a mile long driveway Gardens, brick walks, lawn overlooking the bay, stables, French windows “Tom Buchanan in riding clothes was standing with his legs apart on the front porch” (6); what is conveyed by this image? Tom is arrogant and supercilious; he had a “body capable of enormous leverage-a cruel body” (7)

Tom’s Attitude He thinks his opinion is the only one that matters. “I’ve got a nice place here” (7); what does this statement reveal about Tom? “He turned me around again, politely and abruptly” (7); he’s very controlling. He does whatever he wants, but expects his wife to do exactly as he says.

Seeing Daisy and Jordan Daisy is good at making people feel important and keeping all of the attention on her. “Almost any exhibition of complete self-sufficiency draws a stunned tribute from me” (9); what does this show about Nick? Daisy is very self-centered; her child is almost an afterthought. Jordan Baker is a professional golfer; she is also arrogant, lazy, and self-centered. Notice, Daisy seems interested in the name Gatsby…why might that be?

An Uncomfortable Dinner Despite it being Prohibition, there is a great deal of alcohol at dinner. It is extremely hot with little to no breeze. Daisy shows off an injured finger that she claims Tom is responsible for. What does this show about Tom/their relationship? What might this foreshadow? Jordan and Daisy don’t really include Tom and Nick in the conversation. Tom shows that he is elitist and racist; he also has no patience for Daisy and her ideas. They have a random conversation about the butler’s nose.

Tom is not subtle… Someone calls during dinner and Tom takes the call. “…you don’t know…I thought everybody knew…Tom’s got some woman in New York” (15). Tom is having an affair that is pretty common knowledge though not everyone seems to know who the woman is. Tom does not consider Daisy’s feelings at all and it shows how little he cares for anything that is not what he wants.

Cynical Daisy Tom was nowhere to be found when Daisy gave birth to their daughter. “And I hope she’ll be a fool---that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (17); what does Daisy mean by this statement? She talks about being sophisticated…what does she mean and how does this set her apart from others? What is Nick left feeling in regards to Daisy?

Leaving the Buchanans Daisy thinks she can force Jordan and Nick to want a relationship with each other. Tom doesn’t like that Jordan runs around alone and borderline acts inappropriately. Tom is very quick to tell Nick not to believe anything Daisy says; what is he hiding or worried about? Nick was rumored to be engaged; based on what info we’re given, could he have acted inappropriately? When Nick gets home, he sees Gatsby. Just as he prepares to go talk to him he disappears. What do we think of the limited view of Gatsby we have so far?