Chapter 1
Nick Carraway opens with his father’s advice about withholding criticism, explaining his habit of reserving judgment. He recounts his Midwestern family background, his graduation from Yale (1915), service in World War I, and his decision to move east to enter the bond business. After arriving in New York, he rents a modest bungalow in West Egg for $80 a month, describing the cheap house and its proximity to the extravagant mansion of his mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby.
One morning a lost traveler asks Nick for directions to West Egg; Nick guides him, feeling a brief sense of purpose. He then details the geography of West Egg and East Egg, noting the twin “eggs” of Long Island Sound, and explains that Gatsby’s mansion dominates the West Egg shoreline.
Nick receives an invitation to dine with Tom Buchanan and his cousin Daisy at their opulent East Egg estate. He travels there, noting the lavish Georgian Colonial mansion, the extensive gardens, and Tom’s imposing physical presence. Tom, a former football star, displays a domineering, supercilious demeanor. Daisy, Nick’s second cousin once‑removed, is introduced alongside another young woman, Miss Baker. The dinner party is filled with superficial conversation, extravagant décor, and a series of awkward exchanges.
During the meal Tom launches into a racist monologue about “Nordic” superiority, citing a book by Goddard, while Daisy intermittently comments on superficial matters. Miss Baker interjects occasionally, showing contempt for Tom’s behavior. Daisy briefly shares an emotional recollection about the birth of her daughter, expressing a cynical view of life and her wish for her child to become a “beautiful little fool.” The conversation oscillates between pretentiousness, flirtation, and moments of genuine melancholy.
After dinner, Tom proposes taking Nick to the stables, but the discussion is cut short by a telephone call. The party disperses, and Nick departs, reflecting on the superficiality of his hosts. Back at his West Egg home, he spots a solitary figure on Gatsby’s lawn—Jay Gatsby himself—standing by the water, arms outstretched toward a distant, faint green light near a dock. Nick tries to call to him, but Gatsby remains silent and then disappears, leaving Nick alone with the lingering image of the green light. This encounter hints at Gatsby’s enigmatic presence and foreshadows his significance in Nick’s life.