11th Grade English

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald begins with a description of Nick - the main character - moving into West Egg, a district in New York. Nick is beginning a rather unsuccessful job selling bonds, and visits his cousin Daisy and her husband, Tom. They’re a rich family, living on East Egg, the richer of the two districts. The next day, Tom takes Nick into the valley of ashes - a poorer district - and there we meet Myrtle, an already married woman who Tom is seeing on the side. The three head into New York and Tom and Myrtle get in a fight, Tom breaking Myrtle’s nose. Back home, Nick gets an invitation to one of Gatsby’s parties - something that nobody ever receives. At the party, rumors about Gatsby are abound, and after a long while of not seeing Gatsby anywhere, Nick learns that the person he’s talking to is Gatsby, and they recognize each other from fighting in the war. The next day, Gatsby takes Nick to a speakeasy and introduces him to Wolfsheim, a swindler and the man who fixed the world series. Also at the speakeasy, Nick introduces Gatsby to Tom, and Gatsby seems very uncomfortable - knowing that Tom is Daisy’s husband. Gatsby sneaks off, and when he and Nick meet again, he asks Nick to invite Daisy over for tea in a few days. Nick agrees, and Gatsby, who has substantially more money than Nick, sends people over to trim the grass and fill the house with flowers. When Daisy arrives, Gatsby is incredibly nervous, but eventually, he and Daisy get more comfortable together, talking about their past and enjoying the time together. Gatsby shows both of them around his mansion. A few days afterwards, Gatsby throws a second party, and both Tom and Daisy come. Daisy and Gatsby run off and kiss underneath a tree, leaving Tom at the party. Eventually, Daisy and Gatsby arrange for everyone to meet at Tom’s house for dinner so Daisy can tell Tom that she doesn’t love him. Daisy, getting emotional and worried, suggests going into town, and Tom, who realizes Gatsby loves Daisy without anything having been said, agrees, turning the suggestion on them. Nick, Tom, and Jordan - a side character, one of Daisy’s friends - drive in Gatsby’s car, while Gatsby and Daisy drive in Tom’s. Tom & co. stop at Myrtle’s where Tom learns that Myrtle’s husband is forcing her to move west, as he learned that she’s having an affair. At the apartment in New York, the truth is revealed and Gatsby and Tom get into a big argument, Gatsby eventually losing his temper. They drive back, this time with Gatsby and Daisy in Gatsby’s own car. As they pass Myrtle’s house, Myrtle runs out, trying to escape from her abusive husband, and thinks that Tom is driving the car - she saw Tom driving Gatsby’s car on the way into New York. She runs into the road, trying to flag them down, and Gatsby and Daisy hit her. It’s revealed that Daisy was driving, and didn’t stop, just continued driving home. Gatsby tells everyone it was his fault, and eventually, because of Myrtle’s death, Myrtle’s husband shoots Gatsby, killing him as he waits for Daisy to call him. Daisy and Tom move away together, having reconciled, and in the end, nobody arrives at Gatsby’s funeral.