Chapter 1- p.1-21

Chapter 1- p.1-21

In the first chapter of the book the reader is introduced to the narrator, Nick Carraway, who talks about his father’s advice to not be judgmental or hold people to the standard he has been raised with. Nick briefly explains his past, explaining he comes from a prominent family,went to Yale, spent time in the Great War, and then ended up in the less refined West Egg part of Long Island to become involved in the Bonds Business. Nick travels to the East Egg to have dinner with his second cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan. A competitive golfer named Jordan Baker is also there and during dinner, when Tom gets up to take a phone call, Jordan informs Nick that the call is actually from Tom’s lover in New York. After dinner ends Daisy and Nick sit on the porch and Daisy shows more emotion. After talking, Jordan goes to bed and Daisy talks about how she plans on setting Nick and Jordan up. Nick returns to his home where he finds the mysterious silhouette of his wealthy neighbor Gatsby standing outside of his mansion and looking at the stars.

1. Daisy Buchanan
2. “I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” p.17
3. Daisy Buchanan is described in a very detailed and admirable way. Almost the entire chapter rotates around Nick’s description of Daisy. He comments on her charming laugh as well as her overall charming demeanor and her ability to make people feel important. Nick takes time to describe her thrilling voice that seems to make everything she says into an exciting secret. Physically, Daisy is described as having bright eyes and lips and an overall glowing radiance. Her face as a whole is described as lovely. Later in the chapter, it becomes apparent that Daisy has a depth to her that was not initially apparent.
4. So far in the novel, it is apparent that Daisy Buchanan will prove to be a very important part in the novel. Her flawed relationship with her husband Tom, as well as Nicks apparent admiration for her provide interesting possibilities for where the story may go. Her description almost causes the reader to fall in love with her right from the start allowing for extreme emotional connection to her character, especially when she shows her sadder and more serious side. Daisy Buchanan is an extremely magnetic character and although it is impossible to determine what her part in the story will be from only this slight glimpse, it is obvious that she will play an important part in the novel.

“No -- Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it was what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elation's of men." p.2

This quote stuck out to me because Nick seems to have given the reader a brief preview of the story. While Nick is telling us the fate of one of the principal characters in the novel, he is also mounting curiosity rather then spoiling it. This quote makes it clear that it is not the result of Gatsby journey that is important but the journey or struggle itself.