Gatsby’s World: A Chapter-by-Chapter Synopsis
Chapter 1: The Green Light
In the first chapter, the reader gets an introduction to the characters and their character traits:
- Jordan Baker: Uninhibited
- Nick Carraway: Unpolarized
- Daisy Buchanan: Sassy
- Tom Buchanan: Aggressive
- Jay Gatsby: Mysterious
Chapter 2: The Valley of Ashes
In chapter two, the reader learns that Tom Buchanan is unfaithful. Nick, being observant, rides with Tom on the train to the valley of ashes to see Tom’s mistress, Myrtle. Myrtle tells her husband that she’s going to visit her sister, but instead goes to an apartment that Tom has for her and hosts a party where her sister and some neighbors come over to drink and gossip. At the end of the party, Myrtle has a bloody nose because Tom hit her after she repeatedly says Daisy’s name.
Chapter 3: An Invitation to Gatsby’s Party
In chapter three, Nick gets an invite to Gatsby’s party where a lot of people show up uninvited. At the party, there is a live band, alcohol, and gossip. People at the party talk about Gatsby; his money, his possessions, and a dress. In this chapter, Nick finally gets to meet Gatsby for the first time. Nick is intrigued by Gatsby’s personality, which radiates through his smile.
Chapter 4: Lunch with Gatsby
This chapter starts off with Nick reading a list of the names of people who were at Gatsby’s party. As Nick is eating out with Gatsby, Gatsby talks about his background that he fabricated himself; he claims to be the son of deceased, wealthy parents from the Midwest. When Nick asks which city he was from, Gatsby replies with “San Francisco.” Then Nick is introduced to Meyer Wolfshiem. Nick meets with Jordan Baker, and she then reveals that Gatsby loves Daisy and has been trying to get her back (the reason why his house is across from her dock).
Chapter 5: The Tea Party
Nick hosts a tea party where he invites Daisy to see Gatsby. As Daisy appears, Gatsby disappears from inside of the house. A few moments later, Gatsby decides to finally meet with Daisy after being nervous for a while. At first, the interaction is awkward, but then a few moments later, the mood lightens with passion and joy. Gatsby then invites both Nick and Daisy to his house where he shows off all of his possessions and his lovely shirts.
Chapter 6: The Truth About Gatsby
Nick finally learns about Gatsby’s real background. Gatsby was not an Oxford man but rather a college dropout. He worked for Dan Cody, but later on, Dan Cody died, and Gatsby’s real name is James Gatz. Tom Buchanan finally meets Gatsby for the first time, but the interaction is rather awkward. From that point, Tom Buchanan grew skeptical of Gatsby.
Chapter 7: Confrontations and Revelations
Daisy sees Gatsby more frequently, and no more parties are being held at Gatsby’s house anymore. Gatsby fires all of his servants and hires Wolfshiem’s men. On the hottest day ever, the gang, which consists of Tom, Daisy, Jordan, Gatsby, and Nick, went to the city to book a suite in a hotel to cool off for the day. On the way to the hotel, Tom starts talking a lot of trash about Gatsby and even mocks his habit of saying “old sport.” At the hotel, Tom and Gatsby have a confrontation as to which one of them Daisy loved more. During the confrontation, Tom admits to cheating on Daisy. Tom sends Daisy off with Gatsby to go home. After Myrtle escaped from her husband into the street, Gatsby’s car ran over Myrtle, and Daisy just so happened to be driving the vehicle.
Chapter 8: The Aftermath
After George Wilson found out that Myrtle had been run over, he was distraught. He then wanted to find out who the yellow car belonged to. George Wilson barges into Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s house and points a gun at them, demanding them to tell him who the yellow car belonged to, and Tom pointed to Gatsby. George Wilson came to Gatsby’s house and shot Gatsby when he was in the swimming pool.
Chapter 9: Farewell to West Egg
Barely anyone shows up to Gatsby’s funeral. Nick tries to call Gatsby’s close friends, but they either weren’t available, or they didn’t want to show up. Daisy was unconcerned. Nick and Jordan broke up. Wolfsheim was just as shady as his men. Tom still didn’t have sympathy for Gatsby. Nick now resents the East Coast.