Fitzgerald opens his novel by introducing Nick Carraway, the story's narrator. Nick has come back from the East last autumn. The reader knows immediately that the story has already taken place and that Nick is telling it to us through time. He is distanced from the events and is recounting them by memory. It is imperative that readers trust him because time can distort memories and the reception to the story hinges largely on his good judgment. In his "younger and more vulnerable years," indicating that Nick has become wiser and older, his father gave him advice that he has carried with him ever since. "Whenever you feel like criticizing any one . . . just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." The implications are strong. Nick comes from a middle class family that values a sense of moral justice. The reader is encouraged to trust Nick and to believe in his impartiality and good judgment. His tolerance has a limit, and it is the challenge to this limit that forms the basis of the book at hand. As the chapter continues, more of Nick's background is discussed: the way in which he was raised and his moral character.
It is 1922, and Fitzgerald introduces one of the novel's key themes, wealth, upon Nick's arrival in the East. Nick settles in West Egg, rather than East Egg, living in a small rental house adjacent to Gatsby's mansion, paying $80 per month, rather than the $3000 to $4000 per month for which the houses around him rent. This detail immediately encourages readers to see the difference between the "haves" and the "have nots." Although both Eggs have beautiful mansions, East Egg is home to "old money" people whose families have had great wealth for generations. West Egg was home to "new money," people whose wealth was recently earned. On another level, the delineation between the Eggs can also be a metaphorical representation of the sensibilities of people from the Eastern and Western parts of the United States. Nick's visit with his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and her husband at their mansion in East Egg. The visit not only introduces the other characters crucial to the story, but it also presents a number of themes that will be developed in various ways throughout the novel. Clearly, Tom is not a gentle and sensitive man. Rather, he is harsh and powerful, caring little for social equality and protocol. He has rank and privilege and that's the way he wants to keep it. As the story unfolds, Tom serves as a foil to Gatsby, marking a striking contrast from Gatsby's newly found wealth and dreamy nature.
A key theme introduced at the dinner party is that of societal expectation. Much of The Great Gatsby centers on appearances and the rift between who or what one is and who or what society wishes or expects. Fitzgerald has already proved this theme when first introducing the Buchanans: They're expected to be gracious and generous, but instead seem shallow and superficial. While sitting outside, he sees Gatsby's silhouette as he crosses to the water. Nick, seeing something in Gatsby's behavior that suggests he wishes to be alone, remains in the shadows watching. Gatsby proceeds to the water and stretches out his arms toward the water, trembling. Nick, looking to see what Gatsby was gesturing to, finds nothing but "a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock." This single green light has gone on to become one of the most famous symbols in all of American literature. The light marks Daisy's house — Gatsby's gesture toward it, as the later chapters show, is a gesture of love.
It is 1922, and Fitzgerald introduces one of the novel's key themes, wealth, upon Nick's arrival in the East. Nick settles in West Egg, rather than East Egg, living in a small rental house adjacent to Gatsby's mansion, paying $80 per month, rather than the $3000 to $4000 per month for which the houses around him rent. This detail immediately encourages readers to see the difference between the "haves" and the "have nots." Although both Eggs have beautiful mansions, East Egg is home to "old money" people whose families have had great wealth for generations. West Egg was home to "new money," people whose wealth was recently earned. On another level, the delineation between the Eggs can also be a metaphorical representation of the sensibilities of people from the Eastern and Western parts of the United States. Nick's visit with his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and her husband at their mansion in East Egg. The visit not only introduces the other characters crucial to the story, but it also presents a number of themes that will be developed in various ways throughout the novel. Clearly, Tom is not a gentle and sensitive man. Rather, he is harsh and powerful, caring little for social equality and protocol. He has rank and privilege and that's the way he wants to keep it. As the story unfolds, Tom serves as a foil to Gatsby, marking a striking contrast from Gatsby's newly found wealth and dreamy nature.
A key theme introduced at the dinner party is that of societal expectation. Much of The Great Gatsby centers on appearances and the rift between who or what one is and who or what society wishes or expects. Fitzgerald has already proved this theme when first introducing the Buchanans: They're expected to be gracious and generous, but instead seem shallow and superficial. While sitting outside, he sees Gatsby's silhouette as he crosses to the water. Nick, seeing something in Gatsby's behavior that suggests he wishes to be alone, remains in the shadows watching. Gatsby proceeds to the water and stretches out his arms toward the water, trembling. Nick, looking to see what Gatsby was gesturing to, finds nothing but "a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock." This single green light has gone on to become one of the most famous symbols in all of American literature. The light marks Daisy's house — Gatsby's gesture toward it, as the later chapters show, is a gesture of love.