Chapter One Questions

What advice did the narrator’s father give him and how has it affected his habits and interactions? When did the narrator say he reached the limit of his tolerance?
“‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.’”
Nick says that he is “inclined to reserve all judgments,” which has made him a confidante to a number of people.
He reached the limit of his tolerance when he lived in the East in the previous autumn. (1-2)

What ancestor is responsible for the Carraway fortune? Through what business was this fortune earned?
Nick’s grandfather’s brother sent a substitute to the Civil War and started a wholesale hardware business. (3)

What reason does Nick give for moving east to learn the bond business?
He felt restless when he came home from fighting in World War One. He decided to go East to learn the bond business, which was booming at the time. (3)

Describe West Egg and East Egg and the differences between them. Who lives on each?
West Egg: the less fashionable of the two; Nick’s house was an “eyesore” was squeezed between two huge mansions
Nick and Gatsby live on West Egg.
East Egg: the fashionable “egg” across the sound; “white palaces”
Tom and Daisy Buchanan live on East Egg. (5)

Who does this quote describe? “Now he was a sturdy, straw haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner. Two shining, arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward.”
This quote describes Tom Buchanan, whom Nick went to college with, and is married to Nick’s cousin Daisy. (7)
What are your initial impressions of him?

Who does this quote describe? “Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth.”
This quote describes Daisy Buchanan, Nick’s second cousin once removed. (9)
What are your initial impressions of her?

What impressions of the Buchanans does Nick leave their house with?
He felt “confused and a little disgusted” as he drove away. He felt that Daisy should leave Tom, but it did not seem she intended to do so. (20)

What does Nick see Gatsby doing at the end of the chapter?
He sees him standing and looking across the water. Gatsby “stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way” and appeared to be “trembling.” The only thing Nick could see across the water was a green light at the end of a dock. (20-21)