The Great Gatsby (1925)

Period piece/drama/romance Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Moderators rated: 5 out of 5 stars

Community rated: tbd

Chapter 1:

• Nick Carraway introduces himself as the narrator and describes his background, including his move to West Egg, Long Island.

• Nick attends a dinner at his cousin Daisy Buchanan's home in East Egg, where he meets Daisy's husband Tom, an arrogant and wealthy man, and their friend Jordan Baker.

• Tom's mistress, Myrtle Wilson, calls during dinner, prompting Tom to leave abruptly. Nick learns of Tom's affair with Myrtle.

Chapter 2:

• Tom takes Nick to meet Myrtle in the Valley of Ashes, a desolate area between West Egg and New York City.

• Tom and Myrtle, along with her friends, have a party in a small apartment in New York City, fueled by alcohol and tension.

• The party ends with a violent altercation between Tom and Myrtle, during which Tom breaks Myrtle's nose.

Chapter 3:

• Nick attends one of Gatsby's extravagant parties at his mansion in West Egg. The partygoers are wealthy and indulgent, but Gatsby himself remains elusive.

• Nick observes the excesses of the party and the superficiality of the guests' interactions.

• Gatsby's connection to Daisy is hinted at, but he does not make an appearance at his own party.

Chapter 4:

• Gatsby invites Nick to lunch in New York City, where he reveals little about his past but hints at his wealthy upbringing.

• Gatsby introduces Nick to Meyer Wolfsheim, a shady figure involved in organized crime, suggesting Gatsby's own involvement in illegal activities.

• Gatsby hints at his desire to reunite with Daisy, whom he still loves and hopes to win back.

Chapter 5:

• Gatsby's reunion with Daisy is initially awkward but becomes more comfortable as they reminisce about their past.

• Gatsby shows Daisy his mansion and his lavish possessions, hoping to impress her.

• Gatsby throws another extravagant party in the hopes that Daisy will attend. When she does, Gatsby is ecstatic, believing their love has been rekindled.

Chapter 6:

• Gatsby reveals more about his past to Nick, including his relationship with Daisy and his efforts to become wealthy to win her back.

• Nick learns from Gatsby's neighbor that Gatsby has a schedule of self-improvement tasks and dreams of a better life.

• Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby's parties, and Tom becomes suspicious of Gatsby's intentions toward Daisy.

Chapter 7:

• Gatsby arranges for Daisy to attend one of his parties, where they openly display their affection for each other.

• Tom becomes increasingly suspicious of Gatsby and confronts him about his intentions toward Daisy.

• Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, Nick, and Jordan decide to drive into the city together. Tom confronts Gatsby about his past, and Daisy becomes torn between the two men.

• The group ends up at the Plaza Hotel, where tensions escalate, culminating in a confrontation between Gatsby and Tom over Daisy's affections.

Chapter 8:

• Nick learns more about Gatsby's past from Jordan, who reveals that Gatsby bought his mansion to be close to Daisy and made his fortune through illegal activities.

• Nick observes Gatsby waiting outside Daisy's house in the early morning hours, keeping watch over her.

• The next day, Gatsby tells Nick that Daisy was driving the car when it struck Myrtle Wilson, and that he will take the blame to protect her.

Chapter 9:

• George Wilson learns from Tom that Gatsby owns the car that killed Myrtle and assumes Gatsby was Myrtle's lover. He confronts Gatsby at his mansion and shoots him, then kills himself.

• Nick is one of the few people who attend Gatsby's funeral, as most of his acquaintances have abandoned him.

• Nick reflects on Gatsby's life and legacy, realizing that Gatsby was both an embodiment of the American Dream and a tragic figure destroyed by his pursuit of it.