Summary Of Chapter 1 Of The Great Gatsby

On Nick's first visit to the Buchanan estate, which is located on the prestigious East Egg, he is overcome by the grandeur and lavish display of Tom's seemingly unending wealth. The Buchanan estate sits on the bay and is comprised of a quarter mile of "lawns... sundials and brick walks and burning gardens" (Fitzgerald 11). But, it is more than solely the outward manifestation of his wealth that allows Tom to be characterized by it. The display of his sense of power is even greater through his actions. Several times during Nick's visit to Tom's home, Tom physically guides Nick as if Nick was a robot that was to be controlled, or, perhaps more accurately, one of the king's subjects in his royal domain. This sense of royalty is demonstrated when standing on the porch of his estate, Tom "turned [Nick] around again, politely and abruptly" (Fitzgerald 12) and later, when Nick comments that "wedging his tense arm imperatively under mine Tom Buchanan compelled me from the room as though he were moving a checker to another square" (Fitzgerald 16). Further proof of Tom's power gained through actions and permitted by wealth continue to be evident in the second chapter of the novel when Tom exhibits his power over his mistress, Myrtle by telling her both what to

Nick is the main character who changes from the story’s beginning to its end. Although he at first appears outside the activity he gets used to it. He goes from being a bystander into a participant. Nick Carraway is the vehicle for the book’s messages; he offers a contrastive understanding of the lies, deceit and mortality in the book.

Nick, the narrator of the novel, introduces the reader(s) to Tom Buchanan, the husband of his cousin, Daisy, and explains how Nick has always known Tom as the annoying, egotistical, and the stereotypical rich white man, which is shown in his thoughts,

Tom Buchanan is Daisy’s husband, however, he is very untrustworthy and dishonest in his marriage since he is cheating on his wife with his mistress Myrtle. He shows how he thinks very little of Daisy and how he doesn’t respect her at all not even because she’s his wife. He is very violent to women as Myrtle experienced it when he broke her nose as said in the book in Chapter 2:

Lastly, Nick most important confidant role is toward Jay Gatsby. Nick meets Gatsby after he moves next door to him. They formally meet when Nick is invited to a party of Gatsby. It was not a coincidence that Gatsby lived next door to the love of his life’s cousin, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby and Daisy dated when he was James Gatz. They were in love, but when Gatsby left for the war they drifted apart. Although, Gatsby had an elaborate plan to win back Daisy, and it worked, almost. Gatsby moved directly across the bay from Daisy. He also arranged for them to reunite. It almost worked because by the end of the day that they spent together at

According to Nick, Tom Buchanan is a “sturdy, straw-haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner” (13). Tom shows careless and arrogance multiple times

As the reader knows...nobody likes Tom Buchanan because he thinks he is above society. Nick says, “His speaking voice, a gruff husky tenor, added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed. There was a touch of paternal contempt in it, even toward people he liked—and there were men at New Haven who had hated his guts.” (Fitzgerald, 20). This is a real harsh judging coming from Nick as he uses the word “fractiousness” which basically means that he’s unruly or irritable. This clear explain why nobody really likes him, because nobody likes an irritable person. But for Nick to say he’s so honest is a total lie. Even though he hit the nail on the head with the judgement of Tom, Nick still blatantly lied to the reader because he clearly judged Tom. Nick obviously doesn’t like Tom so he takes another shot at him by saying “He had changed since his New Haven years. 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” (Fitzgerald, 7) Nick is basically saying that since he has money, he seems to think that he has the right to tell everyone in society what to do. But, this is when Nick starts judging. Nick makes it very clear that Tom was born into wealth and that he never worked for it at all.

1. In chapter 1, the thing most crucial to the plot is the moment that Nick first sees Gatsby at night. Gatsby is looking out over the water when Nick spots him.

The most crucial plot in the first chapter is that it is taking place in the past. In addition, the author introduces you to the narrator of the story Nick Carraway. Fitzgerald also spends time explaining how and why Nick came to be in the position to tell this story. He also spends a lot of time telling us where the story takes place.

Secondly, Tom Buchanan continues his streak of recklessness because Tom is someone who enjoy’s to flaunt his wealth and success. Mid day at the Buchanan residence, Tom is showing Nick his mansion, while showing Nick the mansion he brings hi through all the trophies and awards that Tom had won while playing football. You can tell that this confidence is starting to go to Tom's head as he enjoys flaunting his power and accomplishments. “Among various physical accomplishment, he had been one of the most powerful ends that ever played football at New Haven - a national figure in a way, one of those men who reach such acute limited excellence at twenty-one that everything afterward savors of anticlimax”. Nick explains that Tom was an extremely great athlete especially in football. He demonstrates that after walking through the Buchanan residence you can clearly find that Tom was the athlete that he portrays to be as there are many medals, trophies, etc. By Tom having all these trophies out in the open you can clearly tell that Tom

Nick is invited to a party at Jay Gatsby's, his mysterious neighbor. Jay Gatsby is a round character. He finds Miss Jordan Baker there. Mr. Gatsby introduces himself as an old war buddy of Nick's.

Tom Buchanan, Daisy?s husband, was a man from an enormously wealthy family. Nick, described Tom's physical attributes as having a "hard mouth and a supercilious manner?arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face?always leaning aggressively forward?a cruel body?his speaking voice?added to the impression of

As the narrator, Nick Carraway has an amusing way of describing each character he meets. With his cousin Daisy, he talks about her voice but with her husband, Tom Buchanan he describes him with “muscles

One thing that surprises me about Nick is that he was loyal to Gatsby who seemed likeable enough but empty inside. He seemed like the picture was more important than the real person. Nick was interested in person and would put himself in a bad light to help a friend. “I didn’t want to go to the city. I wasn’t worth a decent stroke

Tom and Daisy Buchanan, Nick's cousin and her husband, are two of the most snobbishly wealthy people Nick knows. When Nick first introduces them, he states,