ryPlot summary of The Great Gatsby
Chapter one
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Nick carraway had travelled up to west egg for work
He stayed in a small, run-down bungalow in a wealthy neighbourhood, surrounded by
mansions.
He lived next to “Gatsby” as he had heard.
Nick carraway had a cousin in “west Egg” names Daisy, who married a college friend of his,
Tom. They lived in a grand house, displaying their wealth.
Tom was an ex-football player, muscular and broad.
Nick had discovered an affair with “some girl in New York” that Tom was having, his wife
fully aware.
Daisy Beaucannon (carraway) had a child with tom, a 3-year-old girl. As excited as she were,
she hoped that her child would be a “fool”, stating that would be the best thing for her,
displaying the pessimistic view of society she had.
Nick had been introduced to a “Jordan Baker” who was a sports woman, and a close friend
of Daisy. She was planning on staying at the Beaucannons house for a while.
Once home from the dinner he shared at Daisy’s house, he saw a silhouette of Mr. Gatsby on
his patio, staring at a green light “trembling”, at peace on his own.
Chapter two
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The chapters starts with the opening of the valley of the ashes
Introduction to Myrtles husband, George Wilson
Introduction to Myrtle, Tom mistress, oversexualised description of her.
Tom insist to see her, so they catch different trains and head to the city together.
She buys many things including a dog, perfume, sand cream
They headed back to Myrtle’s sister’s apartment
Myrtle invited many people around, nick drank (he usually doesn’t)
People invited; Catherine, The McKees
Myrtle explains her attitude to her marriage, explaining it was a mistake, she thought he was
a gentleman, but she turned out to be wrong. “I made a mistake”
Tells story of her meeting Tom, telling the audiences that the first thing she noticed was
what he was wearing, consumerism, vanity
Myrtle demands to know about Daisy, Tom does not comply, yet she carries on, leading her
to be slapped by Tom “broke her nose with his open hand”
Chapter three
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Gatsby’s chauffer gives Nick an invite to one of his lavish parties
Nick makes the short walk to Gatsby’s house and feels out of place.
Rumours about Gatsby, no one really knows who Gatsby really is
Nick finds Jordan Baker and her friend Lucile, and set off looking for him, but they run
into “owl eyes”
At midnight, they go out to watch the entertainment, sit down at a table which there is a
man who looks familiar and realises they serves in the same division in the war
This man introduces himself as Jay Gatsby, calls everyone “old sport”
Gatsby does not drink and keeps himself separate from the party.
Towards the end, Jordan is told that Gatsby wants to speak to her. Emerges saying that
she has heard something extraordinary, Nick heads home
Begins seeing Jordan Baker romantically, despite believing she is a fundamentally
dishonest person yet is attached to her.
Chapter four
 Nick goes for lunch with Gatsby in New York, as they drive Gatsby talks about his past, but
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his story seems unlikely to be true
With the sense that nick is sceptical of Gatsby’s story, he provides a medal from Montenegro
and a picture of him playing cricket at oxford
Gatsby speeds, gets pulled over and displays a white card to which the policeman dismisses
him and apologises for pulling him over.
Gatsby’s introduces nick to the Meyer Wolfsheim who had underground connections and I
have seen as shady man, give the impression Gatsby wealth may be unsavoury.
After the lunch, nick meets Jordan baker who tells him the details of her meeting with
Gatsby which explains; Gatsby is in love with Daisy Buchanan, and they had met before she
had married Tom. They fell in love before he was enrolled in the war, Daisy married Tom
when Gatsby had gone to war.
Daisy drank herself numb the night before her wedding, apparently she had received a letter
from Gatsby. Daisy remined faithful to Tom throughout their marriage, yet he had not.
Gatsby had bought his mansion in west egg to be near Daisy.
Nick recalls that when Gatsby had been reaching for the green light, he had been reaching
for Daisy dock. Gatsby had asked Nick to arrange a meeting between him and daisy but was
terrified she was refused to see him, invite daisy for dinner without her know that he will be
there. Surprising and forcing her to see him.
Chapter five
 Nick comes home from a date in the city with Jordan.
 Gatsby’s mansion is lit up, but is unoccupied as the house is silent
 Gatsby approaches nick from across the lawn, scaring him.
 Gatsby almost desperate to make nick happy, nick realises Gatsby is nervous because he
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wants Nick to invite Daisy over for tea. Nick agrees to the plan.
Gatsby’s offers nick a way to make money that isn’t shady ad related to Meyer Wolfsheim.
Nick is slightly offended that Gatsby’s wants to pay him for the favour.
It’s raining the day of the meeting, Gatsby is nervous, sends over gardener to cut nicks grass
and bring over some flowers.
Gatsby is scared that his and Daisy relationship will not be the same as it was in Louisville.
Once daisy arrives, Gatsby has disappeared, however there is a knock at the door which nick
answers and its Gatsby having taken a walk around the house in the rain
Reunion is awkward, nick leaves them alone and comes back to find them happy.
Gatsby invites nick and daisy back to his house and shows off his possessions. She is
impressed by his luxurious lifestyle and begins to cry
Gatsby tells Daisy about the nights he has looking to the green light on the end of her dock,
dreaming
Gatsby idolised Daisy in his mind, not sure if she can live up to it. But for the moment, they
seemed happy. Nick leaves Gatsby and Daisy alone together.
Chapter six
 Rumours about Gatsby continue around New York
 Gatsby born in North Dakota, attended college but dropped out after two weeks. He worked
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on Lake Superior by fishing and digging for clams. He warned a rich man “Dan Cody” about
an impending storm, grateful for this he took young Gatz on his yacht as his personal
assistant.
Gatsby fell in love with wealth and luxury. Cody was a wavy drinker, Gatsby had to look after
him in his drunken states which gave him a weariness to the dangers of alcohol.
When Cody died, he left Gatsby £25,000 yet his mistress pretended him from claiming this,
after this Gatsby dedicated himself to become a successful businessman.
Nick doesn’t see Gatsby or Daisy for several weeks after their reunion. Stopping at Gatsby
house one afternoon he is shocked to find Tom Buchanan there.
Tom and Daisy go to a party at Gatsby’s house. Tom is not a fan of the party and wants to
keep an eye on him, find out what he does.
After Tom and Daisy leaves, Gatsby finds Nick and expresses how unhappy he is because
Daisy did not enjoy the party. Gatsby wants Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him, in
hope of giving him some perspective Nick reminds Gatsby that you can’t relive the past, to
which objects “Can’t repeat the past…Why of course you can!”
Chapter 7
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Gatsby calls off his parties and fires his servants to prevent gossip and replaces them
with different ones
Nick goes to the Buchannan’s house and finds Gatsby and Jordan there as well.
The nurse brings in their child, Daisy seems almost uninterested, and Gatsby is stunned
Daisy and Gatsby flirt with each other throughout the afternoon, Tom overhears her
telling Gatsby she loves him.
Daisy asks if they should go into town, Tom is itching for conformation od Daisy’s and
Gatsby’s feelings for each other’s to agrees.
Tom takes Gatsby’s car with Nick and Jordan whilst Gatsby and Daisy ride in Tom’s car.
On the way, Tom stops at Wilsons garage and hears that they’re moving away, he also
sees Myrtle locked away
Once at the suite in the Hotel, Tom begins to challenge Gatsby about his education and
then asks what is going on between Gatsby and Daisy.
Gatsby then tells Tom that Daisy never loved him and that she’s going to leave him.
Daisy refuses to confirm this, Tom insists Daisy wouldn’t do this. The party breaks up
Daisy, whilst driving Gatsby’s car runs myrtle over, her thinking that it was Tom, and he
would be able to take her away from Wilson.
Tom, Nick, and Jordan come onto the scene to see what has happened.
Tom gets upset about this and is quick to recognise Gatsby’s yellow car and assume he
was responsible
Everyone returns to the Buchannan’s house; nick waits outside and talks to Gatsby.
Gatsby tells Nick that it was Daisy driving the car not him. Nick leaves and Gatsby stays in
case Daisy needs him.
Chapter eight
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Gatsby speaks to Nick after he had been keeping watch on the Buchannan’s house
revealing that nothing had happened.
Nick suggests Gatsby leave town for a while because his car would be recognised.
Gatsby talks of his and Daisy’s relationship, how he felt married to her and gradually she
became impatient of him retuning and broke it off.
Nick compliments Gatsby before he leaves from the house to his train
George Wilson appears irrational, he travels to Gatsby’s house in hope of revenge
Gatsby is floating on a air mattress in the pool when Wilson shoots and kills him
Nicks finds Gatsby’s body floating in the pool after deciding to come home early.
The gardener discovers Wilsons body as he had also killed himself.