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- Gatsby symbolizes both the corrupted Dream and the original uncorrupted Dream. He sees wealth as the solution to his problems, pursues money via shady schemes, and reinvents himself so much that he becomes hollow, disconnected from his past. Yet Gatsby's corrupt dream of wealth is motivated by an incorruptible love for Daisy.
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Gatsby is stretching his arms toward the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. For Gatsby, this light represents Daisy, his lost love; in the wider context of the book and its arguments about the American Dream, the green light can also be seen as symbolizing money, success, and the past.
- The Great Gatsby: Sparklet Chapter Summaries | SparkNotes
Chapter 1. In the summer of 1922, Nick Carraway moves to...
- The Great Gatsby: Sparklet Chapter Summaries | SparkNotes
Gatsby symbolizes both the corrupted Dream and the original uncorrupted Dream. He sees wealth as the solution to his problems, pursues money via shady schemes, and reinvents himself so much that he becomes hollow, disconnected from his past.
You can examine various aspects of Gatsby's dream—the flashbacks to his first memories of Daisy in Chapter 8, the moment when they reunite in Chapter 5, or the disastrous consequences of the confrontation of Chapter 7 —to illustrate Gatsby's deferred dream.
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
In the summer of 1922, Nick Carraway moves to West Egg, a lavish area in Long Island, home of the so-called “new rich.” After an awkward dinner with his cousin Daisy, her husband Tom, and their friend Jordan Baker, Tom and Daisy hint that Nick should pursue Jordan romantically. Once home, Nick sees his neighbor Gatsby reaching out toward the water,...
On their way into New York City, Nick and Tom stop at George Wilson’s garage located on the edge of the valley of the ashes to pick up Wilson’s wife and Tom’s lover, Myrtle. Tom, Nick, and Myrtle proceed to have an impromptu party at Myrtle’s sister’s Catherine’s apartment with her neighbors. The party grows increasingly wild as the group continues...
Nick attends a party at Gatsby’s mansion where he runs into Jordan. The two overhear numerous rumors and fantastic stories concerning Gatsby, such as him having graduated from Oxford and once having killed a man in cold blood. Later, Nick meets Gatsby and remarks that Gatsby does not drink and prefers to separate himself from the festivities. After...
While driving Nick into the city for lunch, Gatsby relates to Nick a series of stories about his life and accomplishments that Nick finds apocryphal and unrealistic. At lunch, Nick meets a shady associate of Gatsby’s named Meyer Wolfsheim, which leads him to believe that Gatsby acquired his wealth through nefarious and illegal means. After lunch, N...
Initially, Daisy and Gatsby’s reunion at Nick’s house is awkward, but after Nick returns after leaving them alone for some time, he finds them elated. Gatsby invites Nick and Daisy back to his house where Daisy is brought to tears by Gatsby’s lavish lifestyle, his collection of English shirts, and how Gatsby has longed for her. Read a full Summary ...
Nick recounts the true story of Gatsby’s life and how he came to gain his wealth. One Saturday night, Daisy and Tom attend one of Gatsby’s parties, even though Tom dislikes and is suspicious of Gatsby, but they leave after Tom makes disparaging remarks about Gatsby to Daisy. Nick finds a distraught Gatsby later that evening and reminds him that he ...
One afternoon, Tom realizes that Gatsby and Daisy have feelings for one another and decides that the group should drive into the city. While at the Plaza Hotel, Tom becomes confrontational toward Gatsby, accusing him of lying and bootlegging, until eventually Tom forces Gatsby to drive Daisy home. On their way back to Long Island, Tom and Nick lear...
When Nick visits Gatsby the next day, Gatsby relates the story of how he fell in love with Daisy, and how the two were to marry after he returned from the war, but instead she married Tom. After Nick leaves Gatsby, the narrative shifts to Wilson who concludes that whoever killed Myrtle must have also been her secret lover and determines to seek out...
Two years after Gatsby’s death, Nick explains the events that occurred after Gatsby’s murder, how even more outlandish rumors about him circulated, and how only a few people, including Nick and Gatsby’s father, attended Gatsby’s funeral, a stark contrast to the swath of attendees at Gatsby’s parties. Before Nick leaves New York for good, Tom tells ...
The American Dream. The American Dream refers to a shared set of ideals that guide the spirit of the United States. These shared ideals include a notion of freedom that ensures all Americans the possibility of upward social mobility, as long as they work for it.
Gatz's appearance confirms that Gatsby rose from humble beginnings to achieve the American Dream. Yet in the process he left behind his father, who truly loves him. He gave up his past.
The American Dream. Fitzgerald continues to develop the theme of the American Dream, using the symbolic valley of ashes to show the readers what has happened to that dream in the modern...
