The Great Gatsby: Full Book Summary

Overview

• Narrator: Nick Carraway, a young man from Minnesota.
• Setting: 1922, Long Island, New York.
• Themes: The American Dream, wealth, class, love, and moral decay.

Key Characters

• Jay Gatsby: The mysterious and wealthy neighbor of Nick.
• Nick Carraway: The story's narrator, cousin to Daisy Buchanan.
• Daisy Buchanan: Nick's cousin, married to Tom Buchanan.
• Tom Buchanan: Daisy's husband, having an affair with Myrtle Wilson.
• Jordan Baker: A cynical young woman who becomes romantically involved with Nick.
• Myrtle Wilson: Tom's lover, lives in the valley of ashes.
• George Wilson: Myrtle's husband, owns a garage.

Plot Summary

Nick's Arrival in New York

• Moves to New York to learn about the bond business.
• Rents a house in West Egg, next to Gatsby's mansion.

Life in West Egg

• Gatsby is known for his opulent parties which are open to all.
• Nick, educated at Yale, has social connections in East Egg.

Meeting Daisy and Tom

• Nick visits Daisy and Tom in East Egg.
• Learns of Tom's affair with Myrtle Wilson.

Gatsby's Parties

• Nick receives an invitation to one of Gatsby's parties.
• Meets Gatsby, who is young, charming, and has an English accent.
• Learns from Jordan that Gatsby is in love with Daisy.

Gatsby and Daisy's Reunion

• Gatsby wants to reunite with Daisy.
• Nick arranges a meeting at his house.
• Gatsby and Daisy rekindle their romance.

Tensions Rise

• Tom becomes suspicious of Daisy and Gatsby.
• During a luncheon, Tom realizes Gatsby's feelings for Daisy.
• Tom confronts Gatsby in New York, revealing Gatsby's criminal background.

Car Accident

• Daisy, driving Gatsby's car, accidentally kills Myrtle.
• Gatsby decides to take the blame.

The Tragic End

• George Wilson kills Gatsby, believing him to be Myrtle's lover.
• Wilson then kills himself.

Aftermath

• Nick organizes Gatsby's small funeral.
• Disgusted by the events, he ends his relationship with Jordan and returns to the Midwest.
• Reflects on the decline of the American Dream and Gatsby's corrupted dream of Daisy.

Themes

• The American Dream: The novel critiques the idea of achieving happiness and individualism through wealth.
• Wealth and Social Class: Highlights the differences between the new rich of West Egg and the established upper class of East Egg.
• Love and Infidelity: Explores themes of unrequited love and the complications of infidelity.
• Moral Decay: The story showcases the moral decline of society during the Jazz Age.

Conclusion

• Gatsby's dream and the American Dream both end in disillusionment.
• Nick concludes that the era of idealistic dreaming is over.