Chapter 2, pages 23-38

Summary


     In Chapter 2, Nick and Tom take the commuter train to the "valley of ashes." There, Tom and Nick stop off at George Wilson's car repair shop where Tom talks about selling a car and coincidentally we meet Myrtle Wilson, George's wife and Tom's mistress. Tom tells Myrtle he wants to see her, so she tells her husband she's going to visit her sister in New York. From the garage, Tom buys Myrtle a dog and they (along with Nick) go to Tom's apartment that he keeps for the affair. Myrtle decides to throw a party and invites her sister, Catherine, and their neighbors, the McKees, over. They end up smoking and drinking heavily and Nick tries to leave but he's mesmerized by the way they were partying. The festivities ended as Myrtle began getting a bit carried away and kept repeating Tom's wife's name when he had told her not to. He broke her nose and Nick left with Mr. McKee and went on the 4 am train back to Long Island. 


Character Analysis

• Myrtle Wilson
• "Mrs. Wilson rejected the compliment by raising her eyebrow in disdain."
• Myrtle's Best Qualities: 
• She likes dogs
• Myrtle's Bad Qualities:
• She's cheating on her husband
• She's superficial
• She's arrogant
• She's fake and annoying
• She only cares about herself
• Myrtle's Role in the story is to be Tom's mistress. In my opinion, she is exactly just like Tom, but a woman. She and Tom have the same personality and are both extremely arrogant. Myrtle and Tom's not-so-secret relationship empowers her because she feels like she can do whatever she wants, regardless of whether she's a woman. This is the opposite of Daisy, who is still married to Tom because of the comfort and ease.

  Important Quote & Significance


"With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change."

I found this quote extremely significant because it not only explains Myrtle, but also Tom. I feel like they are so similar the only difference is their gender. I also find both of them very fake and deceptive. I think this theme will be coming up a lot as the novel progresses because this high class group of people exemplifies the wealthy society of the time and their life style. Also, I found it significant because it shows that we never really know a person completely. Like their clothes, they can just change depending on certain circumstances.

Chapter 1, pages 1-21

Summary

     In the first chapter of The Great Gatsby we are introduced to Nick Carraway; alumnus of New Haven, veteran of the Great War and inhabitant of West Egg. He tells us (vaguely) of his neighbor, Mr. Gatsby, and his extravagant house. We are also given a glimpse of the differences (though few) of East and West egg, the people that live in both Eggs and the type of writing being published in that time. As the chapter progresses, Nick presents 3 other characters to us: Jordan Baker and Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is Nick's cousin and she lives on East Egg with her husband Tom and baby daughter. We find out that Tom has a woman in New York and that Jordan is a competative golfer. 

Character Analysis  

• Tom Buchanan 
• "It was a body capable of enormous leverage - a cruel body."
• Tom's Best Qualities: 
• He had been one of the most powerful ends that ever played football at New Haven
• He is married to Daisy Buchanan
• He is strong/muscular
• He likes Nick 
• Tom's Bad Qualities: 
• He is extremely arrogant
• He is wealthy and shows it 
• He abuses Daisy
• He is cheating on Daisy with a woman from New York
• He lives in the past, constantly dwelling on his football years
• He is racist
•  Tom's role in the novel is to show us the general high society male of the time: rude, insensitive, arrogant, abusive and a hypocrite. He is portrayed as Nick's polar opposite. I also believe that Tom's role in the novel is an example for readers of how not to live and be. His irritability and lack of morals prove his lack of friends in his college years along with his pompous and elitist ideals.

Important Quote & Significance

     " And as I walked on I was lonely no longer. I was a guide, a pathfinder, an original settler." 

This quote stood out to me because of its versatility. It can be understood in many ways to everyone. Along from it explaining Nick's successful fit into his neighborhood in West Egg and its presentation of his strength and independence, it can also exemplify our struggle in life to find a place where we fit in and be truly happy.