The Great Gatsby: Chapter Summaries

The Great Gatsby: Chapter Summaries

1. Chapter 5

   • The Date
     • Nick and Gatsby arrange a date to invite Daisy for tea. Nick tells her not to bring Tom.
     • The Reunion between Gatsby and Daisy is awkward and uncomfortable to Nick, so he leaves the room.
   • Gatsby's Mansion
     • When Nick returns, the decide to visit Gatsby's mansion.
     • Gatsby shows off his possessions, especially his imported shirts, at which Daisy cries when she sees them.

2. Chapter 8

   • Truth and Lies
     • Gatsby tells Nick the truth about his past and his relationship with Daisy.
     • Nick receives a phone call from Jordan when he is at work, and he lies and makes excuses not to see her.
   • Death
     • Nick describes the events that occurred after Myrtle's death, and hints that Wilson headed to Gatsby's hpuse.
     • Nick returns home from work and finds that Gatsby has been killed. Wilson's body is found nearby.
   • Loyalty
     • Gatsby waits all night outside the Buchanan's house in case Daisy needs him, but nothing happens.

3. Chapter 2

   • Myrtle
     • Nick meets Tom's mistress Myrtle and her husband George
     • Myrtle agrees to go to New York with Nick and Tom
   • New York
     • Myrtle and George own a garage on the edge of the Valley of the Ashes between West Egg and New York
   • Myrtle's Party
     • Myrtle hosts an impromptu party at Tom's New York apartment.
     • Myrtle's sister Catherine and the McKees are invited to the party who live in the apartment below Tom's apartment.

4. Chapter 4

   • Jordan's Narrative
     • Second part of this chapter shifts to Jordan's first-person narrative.
     • Nick tells the story in her voice.
     • Jordan's story makes Gatsby into a more sympathetic character.
   • Gatsby's and Daisy's Realationship
     • Jordan explains that a letter from Gatsby almost persuaded Daisy to reject Tom the night before their wedding.
     • Contrasts Daisy's behaviour with Gatsby's
     • While Daisy is briefly distressed by Gatsby's letter, she marries Tom.
     • Gatsby's constancy highlights his loyal and romantic nature.
     • Gatsby is still obsessed with Daisy and continues to have a romantic desire for her.
   • Nick's Bias
     • Nick sees Gatsby as a real person now.
     • Nicks changing perspective of Gatsby reminds the reader that the novel is written from Nick's point of view, revealing bias.

5. Chapter 1

   • Nick Carraway
     • Introduces himself as the narrator of the book
   • West Egg
     • Nick Carraway just moved here, a "commuting town" near New York to start a career in bonds (finances)
     • Living in West Egg shows that you're new to wealth
   • East Egg
     • Goes to East Egg to have dinner with the Buchannans - his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom
     • Nick meets a professional golfer called Jordan Baker
     • Living in East Egg shows that you're from a wealth family
   • Tom and Daisy Buchannan
     • Tom is revealed to be a racist
     • Tom is also having an affair with an unnamed woman
   • Gatsby
     • Nick returns home and sees Gatsby next door, reaching out across the water towards a green light

6. Chapter 6

   • Truthful Gatsby
     • His real name is James Gatz
     • He comes from North Dakota and left home at a young age to seek fortune.
     • He changed his name at seventeen after meeting a self-made millionaire called Dan Cody.
     • Gatsby wants Daisy to say that she never loved Tom so they can wipe out her marriage and start again.
   • Another Gatsby Party
     • Tom and Daisy both attend Gatsby's party
     • Daisy is offended by West Egg and the debauchery of the party
     • Meanwhile, Tom gets all the names and addresses of pretty women at the party.

7. Chapter 7

   • Affairs
     • They all go to New York. Tom stops for petrol and Wilson reveals that he knows Myrtle is having an affair.
   • Gatsby and Daisy
     • Gatsby stops holding parties and replaces all of his servants to prevent any gossip about Daisy's visits.
   • Tom and Daisy
     • Nick Gatsby and Jordan go for lunch at Tom and Daisy's
     • Tom realises that Daisy and Gatsby are in love
     • Tom confronts Gatsby and accuses him of being a bootlegger in the past.
     • Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy never loved him, but she claims she did and decides to stay with Tom
   • The Accident
     • Daisy and Gatsby drive home ahead of the others. On the way back they hit and kill Myrtle.
     • Tom finds out that Gatsby's car was involved in the accident.
     • Gatsby tells Nick that Daisy was driving but he'll take the blame.

8. Chapter 3

   • Gatsby's Party
     • Nick receives an invitation to one of Gatsby's famous parties and visits his mansion for the first time.
     • Gatsby is nothing like what Nick expected him to be like, once he met him.
   • Jordan Baker
     • Nick spends the evening with Jordan Baker trying to find the host of the party, Jay Gatsby, but they just hear a lot of rumours and whispers about him.
     • Jordan refuses to tell Nick what herself and Gatsby had a private chat about
     • After the party, Nick gives a brief description of his life in New York and his developing relationship with Jordan.

9. Chapter 9

   • Gatsby's Death
     • Nick describes the events after Gatsby's death.
     • Nick organises a funeral but only Gatsby's father, Owl Eyes, a few servants and the postman attend.
   • Dreams
     • On Nicks last night before he moves back to the Midwest he reflects that Gatsby believed he was running towards his dream, and didn't realise it was already behind him.
   • Confessions
     • Nick meets Jordan and they talk about why their relationship ended.
     • Tom reveals that he told Wilson that Gatsby was driving the car that killed Myrtle.