The Great Gatsby – Summary

Introduction

This is a story told by a man called Nick Caraway. He was born in a big city in the Middle West of the United
States. Nick went to Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated in 1915 and then
went to fight in the Great War.
After a while, Nick came back from the war. His life in the Middle West was dull and he could not settle down.
So, in 1922, he decided to go to New York and learn the bond business. Nick had planned to stay in the East
for several years, but he was there for only one summer. The Great Gatsby is a story of that summer.
Nick arrived in New York in spring and looked around for somewhere cheap to live. He found a little house
on Long Island, near the village of West Egg. It stood between two enormous houses that had been built for
millionaires. The house on the right belonged to a man called Gatsby. And this book is Gatsby's story.

Chapter 1 - Tom and Daisy

Nick Caraway was lonely at first in the East. He bought books. He worked hard. He was trying to make himself
a businessman. One evening, the phone rang. It was Nick's cousin, Daisy. Daisy told Nick that they were
neighbours and asked him to have dinner with her and her husband, Tom Buchanan. They lived across the
bay, in East Egg. Nick agreed. So, a few days later, Nick drove over to East Egg. The Buchanan's house was
a big one, overlooking the bay. Tom Buchanan stood on the porch. Nick and Tom talked for a few minutes
on the sunny porch and then walked into the house and into a high room with windows at either end. Two
young women were sitting on an enormous couch. The younger girl on the couch was Miss Baker. The other
girl was Nick's cousin, Daisy. Daisy told Nick that she was very glad to see him. At that moment, drinks were
brought in but Miss Baker did not take one. Miss Baker refused to drink because she said she was in training.
Nick looked at Miss Baker and wondered what she did. She was slim, with grey eyes and a pale, unhappy
face. Nick was sure he had seen her before. Suddenly, Miss Baker said to Nick that she knew Nick lived in
West Egg and she said he had to know a man called Gatsby. After that, Nick wondered who Gatsby was.
But before he could answer, they were told that dinner was ready. They had dinner outside the house, on the
porch. When dinner was nearly over, the phone rang in the house. The butler came out and said something
quietly to Tom. Tom stood up without saying anything and went inside. Then Daisy stood up and walked
quickly into the house. When Tom and Daisy came into the house, Nick started to talk with Miss Baker. He
said to her that Gatsby was his neighbour. But Miss Baker told him not to speak because she wanted to see
what was happening. Nick didn't understand what she was referring to, so Miss Baker explained to him that
Tom had a woman in New York. At that moment, Daisy and Tom came back together. They sat for a while in
silence and then walked back into the house. Next, Nick and Daisy talked together. Daisy said that she had
a daughter with Tom and that she was unhappy with her life. She thought that life was terrible. When Daisy
was speaking, he believed her. But then Nick saw an unpleasant little smile on her lovely face and he knew
she had not been telling the truth. Inside the house, Tom and Miss Baker were sitting on the long couch. As
Nick and Daisy came in, Miss Baker threw down the magazine she was reading and said that it was time for
her to be in bed. Then, Daisy explained that Miss Baker was going to play a golf match the following day. At
that moment, Nick realised that Miss Baker was Jordan Baker, a professional golf player. Finally, Miss Baker
left the house and Nick too.
When Nick got back to West Egg, he sat for a while outside his house. Fifty feet away, someone was standing
on the lawn of Gatsby's house. The man stood very still, his hands in his pockets. Nick was sure it was Gatsby
himself. Nick looked out to sea, too. But when he looked back to Gatsby's again, he had gone. And Nick was
alone, in the dark night.

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Chapter 2 - Myrtle Wilson

One Sunday evening Tom and Nick were going up to New York by train, and Tom was drunk. When the train
stopped at the river, Tom stood up, took Nick’s arm and pulled him off the train. He wanted Nick to meet his
girl. Nick followed Tom to the only building in sight. It had three shops in it and one of them was a garage.
They went into the garage. A thin man came out of the office. He was George Wilson. Tom and George were
arguing when a woman, suddenly, was standing on the door. She was in her middle thirties. She wasn’t
beautiful, but her face and body were full of life. She was Myrtle Wilson. She asked her husband to get some
chairs, and Tom told her to get on the next train to New York. When Nick and Tom were waiting for the new
train to New York, Tom said:
“It’s good for Myrtle to get away”
“Doesn’t her husband care?” asked Nick
“Wilson? He thinks she goes to New York to meet her sister. He’s a fool”
When they were in the apartment, Nick got drunk for the second time in his life. Tom and Myrtle invited the
McKee’s and Myrtle’s sister, Catherine. She sat down beside Nick and talked to him about Gatsby.
“He’s awfully rich, you know. People say he got his money from Germany. In the War. I’m afraid of him”
It was about midnight when Tom and Myrtle started to argue.
“Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!” Myrtle was shouting “I’ll say her name whenever I want to. Daisy! Dai…”
With a short, hard movement, Tom hit her across the nose. She cried and shouted. Someone got towels, and
they were covered with blood. When Mr McKee woke up and walked towards the door, Nick followed him,
and they shared the elevator. Then, Nick was on the station, half-asleep, waiting for the early morning train
to West Egg.

Chapter 3 – I Meet Gatsby

Mr Gatsby, gave parties all the summer. Every night his house was full of music. At seven o’clock, the band
started to play. Soon, everyone was drunk and talking to people they had never met.
Not everyone had been invited to Gatsby´s house. All kinds of people drove out to Long Island and then they
joined the party. Sometimes they were introduced to Gatsby, sometimes they never saw him.
Nick was invited to one of his parties. When he arrived, he started to look for Gatsby to thank him, but no one
knew where he was.
Nick went to get a drink and he saw Jordan Baker. They sat down at a small table and Jordan started talking
to a girl. Then the rumours about Gatsby began, a girl said he killed a man. A man said Gatsby was a German
spy and another girl said he was in the American army during the War and he surely killed a man.
Jordan and Nick went to look for Gatsby. They walked into a library, inside the house, where there was a
drunk man. They talked to him for a while and then they left.
They sat at a table in the garden. There was a well-dressed man, he looked at Nick and smile. The man
asked him if he was in France during the war. The talked, and the man invited Nick to go out with him in the
morning. Nick told the man that he wanted to thank Gatsby about the invitation and the man looked at him in
surprise. It turns to be that the man Nick was talking to was Mr Gatsby. He was a tough-looking man, but he
had beautiful clothes and good manners.
Mr Gatsby left, because someone from Chicago was calling him. The butler went to Nick and Jordan´s table.
He told Jordan that Gatsby wanted to talk to her.
When Nick was about to leave Mr Gatsby´s house, Jordan and Gatsby came out of the library together. Miss
Baker, told Nick that she heard the most surprising thing, but it was a secret so she couldn’t tell him about it.
Gatsby remind Nick about their appointment in the morning, and finally Nick left, leaving Gatsby waving
goodbye, all alone.

Chapter 4 - I have Lunch with Gatsby

Chapter four starts off with Nick Caraway listing all the people who had attended Gatsby’s parties that
summer. A list of the nation’s richest and powerful. Gatsby decides to take Nick out for lunch in Gatsby’s
“extremely well-known” yellow car. As they drive into the city, Gatsby makes a surprisingly uncharacteristic
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gesture by telling Nick “God’s truth” about his past. Only, Gatsby’s story is highly inconceivable. As Gatsby’s
car speeds through the valley of ashes he is pulled over by a police officer but is easily and without question
let go. During lunch, Gatsby introduces Nick to Meyer Wolfsheim. Nick takes note of Gatsby's presence over
the authorities and his relationship with Wolfsheim in which outlines that Gatsby has made some of his money
from extremely shady businesses. After the lunch in New York, Gatsby sees Jordan Baker who finally
confesses that Gatsby is in love with Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby and Daisy were in love while Gatsby was a
lieutenant in the war. Since Gatsby was serving in the war, Daisy decided to marry Tom Buchanan, but after
receiving a letter from Gatsby the night before her wedding, Daisy had to choose whom she was to marry.
Jordan then explains that Gatsby's prominence in society has been an esteemed plan to win over his longing
love, Daisy.

Chapter 5 - Daisy and Gatsby: Start of the Dream

That afternoon Nick met Jordan Baker. She told him that Gatsby had known Daisy. They met five years ago
in the Middle West. They grew up in the same town. She was the most beautiful and popular girl. She went
out whit lots of young officers.
One day she was in a young officer’s car, he looked at Daisy like she was the most beautiful thing. A month
later the officer was going overseas, Daisy wanted to say goodbye to the officer Gatsby but his family stopped
her. She was sad but some months later she was happy again. In June she married Tom Buchanan.
One day before the wedding Tom gave her some pearls worth 350,000 dollars. That day before the dinner
Daisy was lying on her bed, drunk, and the pearls were on the floor. She said that she had changed her mind.
However, the next day she got married and in April they had a baby. When Jordan asked Nick about Gatsby,
Daisy knew he was the same Gatsby. Gatsby went to Long Island to be near Daisy, he hoped that one
evening, Daisy walked into his house. Then Jordan told him that Gatsby wanted him to invite Daisy to tea
with him too.

Later that afternoon, he met Jordan Baker at the plaza hotel. After a tea, she told me that Gatsby had known
daisy, they had known each other in the middle west, five years before.
‘daisy and I grew up in the same town, she was the most beautiful and the most popular girl in Louisville’
`one day in October, I was walking past daisy’s house, she was sitting in her car with an officer I hadn’t seen
before. They were so busy talking that they didn’t see me’. “was the officer Gatsby?” I asked.
‘of course’ she said. ‘daisy was sad for a time and didn’t go out much. By the following autumn, she was gay
again. In February, she got engaged to a young man, but in June she married tom Buchanan’
“where you there” he asked.
‘I was a bridesmaid’ Jordan said. ‘on the day before the wedding tom gave daisy some pearls worth 350.00’
‘half an hour before the dinner started, I went up to daisy’s room. The pearls were on the floor. Daisy was
lying on the bed with a bottle of wine and a letter’ ‘never had drink before, but I enjoy it!’ daisy said.
She picked some pearls and gave them to me “here, take them downstairs. Tell them that daisy changed her
mind” then she began to cry, she cried and cried.
‘next day daisy married tom Buchanan and they went on their honeymoon. I met them again when they came
back. I’ve never seen a girl so in love with her husband’
‘a week later, tom crashed his car. The girl with him broke her arm and the story got into the papers. The girl
was a maid from the hotel’
‘well, about six weeks ago, I asked you about Gatsby’ Jordan went. ‘Daisy hear me. She knew he was the
same man she had known before’
“it’s strange that Gatsby came east, too” he said ‘but it isn’t strange at all’ Jordan said. ‘Gatsby came here to
be near daisy. He can see her house across the bay’
‘Gatsby wants you to do something for him’ Jordan was saying. ‘he wants you to invite daisy to tea. Then
he’ll call in, too. He wants daisy in his house’
“does daisy want to meet Gatsby again?” I asked. ‘oh, she doesn’t know about it,’ Jordan answered. ‘Gatsby
wants it to be a surprise.’ I had heard enough about daisy and Gatsby. I put my arm around Jordan, looked
into her grey eyes and kissed her.

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Chapter 6 - Daisy Comes to Tea

It was two o’clock in the morning when Nick got home, as he stood there, Gatsby walked across the lawn
towards Nick.
Nick thought it was a party but it wasn't, why not come for a drive in my car Gatsby asked, but it's too late,
Nick said. All right, old sport but Gatsby did not move. I knew what he wanted to ask he.
Nick had a talk with miss Baker; Nick was going to phone Daisy the following day. When the day of the tea
came Gatsby at two o’clock sent over enough flowers to fill every room in Nick’s house. Gatsby sat down and
tried to read. But he looked up at every sound. As Nick opened the door Daisy stopped her car and got out.
Nick took Daisy into the living room, Gatsby stood there, so Daisy said that she was so glad to see he again,
Jay. Nick went into the kitchen to get the tea. After a minutes, Gatsby came after Nick and closed the door,
this is a terrible mistake he said it's too late, it's too late so Nick said go back and talk to her.
Nick decided to leave them alone for half an hour. Daisy and Gatsby were both sitting on the couch, oh
hallo, old sport, Gatsby said as if he hadn't seen he for years I want you and Daisy come to my house.
That's your house over there Jay Daisy ask and then Daisy, Nick and Daisy see all of Gatsby house inside.
It was getting darker now and the rain had started again. Daisy and Gatsby stood together, looking out of
the window. On Gatsby desk was a photograph of a tough looking old man. The man was dressed in sailing
clothes. Who's this ask Nick. That’s Mr Dan Cody, old sport. He used to be my best friend, years ago. He’s
dead now.

Chapter 7 - Gatsby's Last Party

After the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy, Nick hadn't seen or heard from Gatsby for several weeks. Mr.
Carraway was working hard and spending his free time with Jordan.
Then, one Saturday, Nick was invited to another of Gatsby’s parties. Daisy was there too, and Tom had
decided to come with her. They arrived as darkness was falling. Gatsby went over to them at once. He took
them slowly round the gardens, pointing out his most famous guests proudly. After that, Daisy and Gatsby
danced together. Tom didn't seem to care at first. But when the Buchanan’s were ready to leave, Tom was
in a bad temper. He said to Daisy that he was going to find out who Gatsby was and what he did. As they got
into the car, Daisy looked back at the house sadly. But Gatsby was nowhere to be seen. Then, they left.
When everyone had gone, Nick and Gatsby sat together outside the house. Gatsby told Nick that Daisy didn't
have a good time. He was farther away from her than ever, and Gatsby was worried about that. Then, Gatsby
started to tell Nick what he wanted. He wanted Daisy to ask Tom for a divorce. He wanted her to tell Tom
that she loved only Gatsby. Gatsby also talked about the time when he had first met Daisy. He told Nick about
the first time he had kissed her. That was when Gatsby's dream had begun. And he had spent his life trying
to make his dream come true.

Chapter 8 – The Hottest Day of Summer

It was when everyone was talking about Gatsby that his parties suddenly came to an end. One Saturday,
there were no lights in Gatsby’s house or in his garden. Nick didn’t know what had happened, so he went
over to find out. When he knocked the door, it was opened by a new servant who told him that Gatsby wasn’t
home.
Gatsby called the following morning and he said that Daisy had invited him over to tea in the afternoon. She
also invited Jordan and Nick.
As the house was too hot, Daisy wanted to go to New York. She looked into Gatsby’s eyes and at that
moment Tom realized his wife was in love with Gatsby. Tom stood up and said that they were going to New
York. Jordan, Tom and Nick went in a small blue car.
They all went to the Plaza Hotel, so that they could have a drink. Tom said something men to Daisy, so
Gatsby tried to defend her, and they got into a fight. Gatsby wanted to force Daisy to say that she had never
loved Tom, but she couldn’t say so because it wouldn’t be true.

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Chapter 9 – Death in the Evening

Tom, Jordan and Nick saw a lot of people outside Wilson's garage. It was an accident. Tom stopped the car,
inside the garage someone was crying. There was a body wrapped in a blanket, lying in the table. It was
Myrtle Wilson's body. Blood was coming from her mouth.
Tom went up to the police officer and asked him what had happened, the police officer told him that a car hit
her. Someone in the crowd said that it a was coming from New York and it was a yellow car.
Tom went to Wilson and told him that he didn’t own the yellow car, but Wilson didn’t hear him. Nick, Jordan
and Tom, get in the car and Tom started driving. Nicky saw him crying. Then, Tom, started blaming Gatsby
about Myrtle's death.
The truth was that Wilson had found about Myrtle's lover. Myrtle refused to tell him the man's name so he
locked her in her bedroom for hours. Then she run out to the road and she shouted and waved at the yellow
car, but the car didn’t stop and they killed her.
When they arrived Tom's house, Jordan and him get into the house, and Nick waited outside for a taxi. That
was the last time that Nick saw Jordan.
Gatsby was on the patch in front of Nick. Gatsby told him Daisy was driving, but he will say that he was the
one who was diving. Nick went near the house and he saw Daisy and Tom talking, they seem to be planning
something.
The taxi arrived and Nick told Gatsby to go home with him, but he said we would wait until they went to bed,
in case Daisy needed him. So Nick went home and left Gatsby all alone in the dark.

Chapter 10 - The End of a Dream

After the murder, Daisy and Tom leave town without leaving any means of being contacted. Nick is left to
organise Gatsby's funeral, but few people attend the funeral. Nick ends his relationship with Jordan and
decides to move back to the Midwest.
Nick wakes up at dawn to see Gatsby sitting in the hallway. They smoked while he talked about Daisy. They
had breakfast and then went to the garden where the gardener was, Nick told him that he could go and then
he would call him, the gardener left and after a while Nick left, leaving Gatsby alone in the garden.
Wilson had cried for Myrtle all night until he found out who was her killer, Gatsby.
The day after Myrtle's murder, Wilson went to West Egg and asked directions to Gatsby's house.
Nick returned to his house and found the body of Gatsby, dead by the pool and not far away, the body of
Wilson who, after shooting Gatsby, shot himself. Daisy didn't show up, so Nick had to call Meyer Wolfsheim,
who said he wouldn't be going to the funeral.
Later, a telegram arrived from Henry Gatz who had seen the news of his son's death in a newspaper in
Chicago and was going to come to his funeral.
Finally, the truth was that Jay Gatsby had started life as James Gatz. He was the son of a poor Midwestern
farmer. He had left home when he was sixteen and had lived as a fisherman for a year. He was very ambitious
and dreamed of success. He hadn't gone to Harvard; he had only gone to college for two weeks. Gatsby met
Cody, a man who sailed a yacht and stayed with him for 5 years, until Cody died.
Gatsby's father came crying and sorry for his son saying that he was proud of him. No one but him and Nick
went to the funeral.

Chapter 11 - I Go Back to the West

After Gatsby’s death, Nick went back to the West. Before he returned he saw Tom Buchanan. He said that
Wilson came into his house with a gun so he told him the truth of who was the yellow car’s owner. Tom
thought that Gatsby killed Myrtle. But Nick knew the truth. Tom and Daisy were rich, they took what they
wanted and left others cleaning up their mess.

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And that is the end of Gatsby’s story. After Gatsby’s death, I couldn`t live on long island any longer. I wanted
to go back to the west. I wanted to go back to where we all came from. I wanted to return to the place where
I felt happiest.
I saw tom Buchannan once more in New York. When he stopped and held out his hand, I put my hands
behind my back.
“what`s the matter, nick?” He asked. “won`t you shake hands with me?”
“you know what I think of you” nick said. “what did you say to Wilson that afternoon?”
Tom stared at me and I knew I had guessed right. Tom took hold of my arm.
“listen” he said. “I told Wilson the truth. He came into our house with a gun. He would have killed one of us if
I hadn’t told him who owned the yellow car.
“and why shouldn`t I have told him?” Tom went on. “that Gatsby made a fool of you and of daisy, too. But he
was tough and he killed myrtle like a dog!”
There was nothing I could say. I knew the truth, but I could never tell it. Tom had done what he wanted to do.
Got rid of Gatsby.
Gatsby’s house was empty when I left, and the grass had grown very long. On my last night, I stood in the
garden, thinking about Gatsby and his dream.
Gatsby had believed in his dream. He had followed it and nearly made it come true.
Everybody has a dream. And, like Gatsby, we must all follow it and nearly made it true
some unpleasant people became part of Gatsby’s dream. But he cannot be blamed for that.