Great Gatsby Summary

Summary

Nick rents a modest house in West Egg, a less fashionable area known for “new money.”
His cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom live in East Egg, representing “old money.”
Nick visits them and meets Jordan Baker, a cynical and fashionable golfer.

Nick notices his neighbor, Jay Gatsby, who throws lavish parties attended by hundreds—though most guests barely know him.
Gatsby is rumored to have many backgrounds (German spy, Oxford graduate, killer), enhancing his mysterious aura.
Gatsby seems lonely and doesn’t participate in his own parties.

Jordan reveals Gatsby and Daisy had a romantic relationship before Gatsby went to war.
Gatsby bought his mansion in West Egg specifically to be near Daisy.
He asks Nick to arrange a reunion.
Their meeting is awkward at first but quickly becomes affectionate.
Gatsby begins to believe he can recreate the past and restore his old relationship with Daisy.

Tom is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson, the wife of a poor garage owner, George Wilson.
Tom grows increasingly suspicious of Daisy and Gatsby, noticing their closeness.
Gatsby wants Daisy to tell Tom she never loved him, which Daisy struggles to do.

Tom confronts Gatsby in New York City.
He exposes Gatsby’s questionable business dealings (bootlegging alcohol with Meyer Wolfsheim).
Daisy becomes overwhelmed and pulls away from Gatsby emotionally.
Tom, feeling victorious, sends Daisy home with Gatsby but believes she will not leave him.

On the drive back to Long Island, Daisy—driving Gatsby’s car—accidentally hits Myrtle, killing her.
Gatsby takes the blame and hides outside Daisy’s house to ensure Tom doesn’t harm her, unaware Daisy has already retreated back into Tom’s protection.

Daisy and Tom quickly leave town with no forwarding address, avoiding responsibility.
Gatsby’s extravagant acquaintances abandon him, and no one attends his funeral except Nick, Gatsby’s father, and a few servants.
Nick becomes disgusted with East Coast moral emptiness and returns to the Midwest.

The American Dream: Gatsby’s rise and fall critiques the myth of achieving success through hard work alone.
Class divisions: Old money vs. new money vs. no money.
Illusion vs. Reality: Gatsby’s entire identity is a constructed fantasy.
Love and Obsession: Gatsby’s idealized vision of Daisy cannot survive reality.
Moral Decay hidden beneath glamour and wealth.

The narrator, Jay Gatsby, is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan.
Gatsby and Daisy had a romantic relationship before Gatsby went to war.
After the war, Gatsby spends years amassing wealth and buying a mansion near Daisy — all in hopes of rekindling their love.
Gatsby throws lavish parties hoping Daisy will come.
With help from the narrator, Gatsby and Daisy reunite and briefly reignite their past feelings.
Gatsby wants Daisy to renounce her past and say she never loved her husband, Tom Buchanan.
Daisy struggles — torn between her social status, security with Tom, and her feelings for Gatsby.
In the end, Daisy returns to Tom, abandoning Gatsby’s dream of love.
Gatsby’s idealistic love becomes a tragic obsession — built on illusions, not reality.

Narrator Nick Carraway moves to West Egg, Long Island, in the summer of 1922.
Nick lives next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby.
Nick visits his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom Buchanan in East Egg.
Tom is arrogant and comes from old money; Daisy appears charming but unhappy.
Jordan Baker, a professional golfer, is introduced.
Tom receives a phone call from his mistress during dinner.
At the end of the chapter, Nick sees Gatsby reaching toward a mysterious green light across the water.

Tom takes Nick to New York City.
They stop in the “Valley of Ashes,” a poor industrial area between West Egg and New York.
The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg (a large billboard) overlook the area.
Tom’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson, is introduced. She is married to George Wilson.
Tom hosts a small party in an apartment for Myrtle.
Myrtle acts pretentious and tries to behave like she is wealthy.
The party becomes chaotic and drunken.
Tom hits Myrtle when she mentions Daisy’s name.

Nick is invited to one of Gatsby’s famous, extravagant parties.
The party is filled with guests who gossip about Gatsby and spread rumors about him.
Nick finally meets Gatsby and is surprised by his polite and calm personality.
Gatsby seems different from the other guests — he does not drink heavily and stands apart.
Jordan Baker spends time with Gatsby and later hints that he has an important story.
Nick reflects on his growing friendship with Gatsby