The Great Gatsby Chapter 1

Who gave Nick advice? What was it?

His father: “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.”

What did this cause Nick to do?

Reserve all judgments which has made him curious

What kind of relationship did Nick have with his father?

They were always unusually communicative in a reserved way, but Nick understood that their relationship was always important

What was Nick accused of being in college, and why?

A politician; because he was privy to the secrets (which was often unwanted) of many men which foreshadows his relationship with Gatsby.

Reserving judgments is…

a matter of infinite hope

Nick is a little afraid of forgetting that

“a sense of fundamental decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth” which means people are given advantages at birth

How does Nick describe Gatsby in the beginning?

He has an unaffected scorn for him but reveals that he is gorgeous and has a heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, he will never find another like Gatsby

What did Nick lose interest in because of Gatsby

abortive sorrows (sorrows that fail to produce results, fail to produce change) and winded elations of men (short-winded happiness, happiness of no real strength)

How does Nick describe his family?

prominent, well-to-do, lived middle-western city for 3 gen, grandfather’s brother (Nick looks like him), came in 1851 and started a wholesale hardware business that his Nick’s father carries on

When and where did Nick graduate?

1915 from Yale in New Haven

Why did Nick decide to go East?

To learn the bond business because everyone he knew was in it

Nick’s house is…

a weather beaten, cardboard, “small eyesore” bungalow, $80/month. He HAD a dog, an old Dodge, and a Finnish maid.

What is Nick asked?

“How do you get to West Egg village?” which made him realize he was no longer lonely, he was a guide and a pathfinder

What does Nick hope to gain from buying and reading financial books?

To find out secrets which only Midas, Morgan and Maecenas knew (rich/famous)

What is the “strange” community is Nick in?

The West Egg,

What house is on the right of Nick?

Gatsby’s: a tower on one side, marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden

How does Gatsby know Tom and Daisy?

Daisy is his second cousin once removed, he knew Tom in college

How is Tom described?

a great football player, he peaked at 21 so now his life is boring, very very wealthy