F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby :: essays research papers

The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald published The Great Gatsby in 1925. The novel is in general about middle and upper class American citizens. The novel tells about their lives after World War I had ended. The setting is Long Island, New York.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In chapter one, the book introduces Tom Buchanan and his wife, Daisy. Nick, the narrator, and Tom knew each other. Nick and Tom had gone to Yale together. Nick and Daisy are distant cousins. Tom is an adulterer. During dinner, Tom receives a phone call from his mistress.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dr. J. T. Eckleburg is on a billboard overlooking the Valley of Ashes. Tom’s mistress is a woman named Myrtle. Myrtle is exactly the opposite of Daisy. The only reason Myrtle is with Tom is to move up into a more sophisticated class. Myrtle’s sister tells Nick that the only reason Tom and Myrtle will not marry is because Daisy is catholic. The real reasons; however, is because Myrtle is not the â€Å"arm ornament† that Daisy is. Myrtle says Daisy’s name and Tom hits her. Myrtle’s nose starts bleeding.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A man named Jay Gatsby lives beside Nick. Nick does not know anything about his neighbor. Gatsby is always having parties. Finally, Gatsby invites Nick to a party. Nick thinks that Gatsby’s parties are wild and not very organized. Nick and Jordan Baker become attached at this party. Nick and Jordan hear that the host may have killed someone. They have never met Gatsby, so they do not really know what kind of person he is. Nick and Jordan hear that Gatsby was a German spy during the war. They also hear that Gatsby was in the American army during the war. Nick and Jordan begin wondering around. They go into Gatsby’s library. In the library, they meet â€Å"Owl Eyes.† â€Å"Owl Eyes† is a very strange person with glasses. He is always drunk. â€Å"Owl Eyes† can not believe Gatsby’s books are real.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Nick finally meets Gatsby, he finds out the rumors were not true. Nick learns that him and Gatsby were in the same division during the war. They were also stationed near each other. Gatsby was not at all the person Nick thought.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The date is now July 5, 1922. Gatsby and Nick begin to get closer. Gatsby tells Nick a little about his past. Gatsby tells Nick that his world travels were a way to forget a sad event.