The Great Gatsby: Plot Summary

Full Book Summary

The Great Gatsby is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald set in the 1920s, a time of economic prosperity and cultural change in America. The story follows Nick Carraway, a young man who moves from the Midwest to New York City to work as a bond salesman.

Nick becomes friends with his wealthy neighbor, Jay Gatsby, who throws extravagant parties every weekend but never attends them. Gatsby is known for his mysterious past and his obsession with Daisy Buchanan, a woman he fell in love with years ago but lost when he went off to fight in World War I. Daisy is now married to Tom Buchanan, a wealthy man who is having an affair with a woman named Myrtle Wilson.

Nick learns that Gatsby and Daisy were once in love, and Gatsby is determined to win her back. Gatsby uses his wealth to impress Daisy, and the two begin an affair. Tom becomes suspicious of Daisy’s behavior and confronts Gatsby, leading to a confrontation between the two men.

As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Gatsby has made his fortune through illegal means, including bootlegging and gambling. He becomes increasingly desperate to win back Daisy, going to great lengths to prove his love for her.

The novel climaxes with a tragic event that results in the deaths of two characters. Gatsby is killed by George Wilson, the husband of Myrtle Wilson, who believes that Gatsby was responsible for his wife’s death. The novel ends with Nick reflecting on the events of the summer and the emptiness of the wealthy lifestyle that Gatsby and his acquaintances pursued.

Plot Summary by Chapters

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 1

The first chapter of The Great Gatsby sets the stage for the rest of the novel. The narrator, Nick Carraway, introduces himself and his new neighbors, including his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her wealthy husband Tom. Nick also mentions Jay Gatsby, a mysterious and wealthy man who lives in a nearby mansion. Nick attends a dinner party at Daisy and Tom’s home, during which he learns that Tom is having an affair. Later that evening, Nick sees Gatsby watching the party from his mansion.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 2

In Chapter 2, Tom takes Nick to meet his mistress, Myrtle Wilson, who lives in the Valley of Ashes, a desolate area between New York City and Long Island. Myrtle is married to a working-class man who suspects her of infidelity. During their visit, Tom becomes angry and strikes Myrtle, revealing the violent nature of his relationship with her. The chapter ends with Nick feeling disgusted with Tom and the lifestyle of the wealthy elite.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 3

In Chapter 3, Gatsby invites Nick to one of his lavish parties. The party is filled with music, dancing, and extravagance. Nick observes the behavior of Gatsby’s guests, including the women who seem to be attracted to Gatsby’s wealth and status. Nick is introduced to Gatsby for the first time, but the host seems to be elusive and mysterious, disappearing into the crowd. Jordan Baker, a professional golfer who is attending the party, tells Nick that Gatsby wants to speak with him. However, Gatsby disappears before Nick can speak with him. The chapter ends with Nick reflecting on the curious nature of Gatsby and his guests, feeling both intrigued and skeptical of their behavior.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Great Gatsby provides insight into Jay Gatsby’s past and his rise to wealth. Gatsby invites Nick to lunch in New York City and introduces him to Meyer Wolfsheim, a man rumored to have fixed the 1919 World Series. Gatsby reveals to Nick that he inherited his wealth from a wealthy family member who died, but Nick remains skeptical of his story. Gatsby also mentions his past relationship with Daisy and his plans to win her back.

Later, Gatsby takes Nick for a drive and shows him evidence of his wealthy and glamorous lifestyle, including expensive cars and shirts. Gatsby then asks Nick to invite Daisy to his home for tea, as he hopes to reunite with her.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 5

In Chapter 5, Gatsby and Nick prepare for Daisy’s visit. Gatsby is visibly nervous, and Nick helps him prepare his home and appearance for the meeting. When Daisy arrives, Gatsby is overcome with emotion and leaves the room to compose himself. The reunion between Daisy and Gatsby is tense at first, but they soon become more comfortable with one another. Gatsby shows Daisy around his home and property, and they discuss their past relationship. At one point, Gatsby even shows Daisy his collection of expensive shirts, a symbol of his newfound wealth.

As the day comes to a close, Nick leaves the two alone, sensing a romantic connection between them. Gatsby invites Daisy to his next party, and she agrees to attend.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 6

In Chapter 6, Nick learns more about Gatsby’s past and his true identity. Gatsby reveals that he was born into a poor family and changed his name as he worked his way up to wealth and success. He also admits that he was in love with Daisy and that their separation was devastating for him.

Gatsby then asks Nick to arrange a meeting with Daisy for him. They meet at the Buchanan’s home, where tensions rise between Gatsby and Tom. Gatsby tries to assert his dominance over Tom by reminding Daisy of their love and accusing Tom of being a brute. However, Tom reveals that Gatsby’s wealth came from illegal activities, and Gatsby is unable to refute the claim.

The chapter ends with a heated argument between Gatsby and Tom, with Nick caught in the middle. Daisy leaves with Tom, and Gatsby is left alone and dejected.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 7

Chapter 7 of The Great Gatsby is a pivotal moment in the story, as tensions between the characters come to a head. The chapter opens with Nick receiving an invitation to attend one of Gatsby’s extravagant parties. When Nick arrives, he finds that many of the guests are there solely for the free food and drink and have no genuine interest in Gatsby or his lifestyle.

Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise between Tom and Gatsby over Daisy. Gatsby tries to impress Daisy by showing off his wealth, including his expensive car. However, when they all take a drive together, the group ends up at the Plaza Hotel, where a heated argument between Tom and Gatsby breaks out. Tom accuses Gatsby of being a bootlegger, and Gatsby denies it, leading to a physical altercation.

The chapter ends tragically, with Daisy driving Gatsby’s car back to his home and accidentally hitting and killing Tom’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 8

Chapter 8 focuses on the aftermath of the tragic events in Chapter 7. Nick visits Gatsby at his home and finds him in a state of despair. Gatsby tells Nick about his past with Daisy and how he met her while he was in the military. He also reveals that he bought his home in West Egg specifically to be near her.

Meanwhile, Wilson, Myrtle’s husband, is searching for the owner of the car that hit his wife. He confronts Tom, who lies and tells him that Gatsby was driving the car. Wilson then goes to Gatsby’s home and shoots him, mistaking him for the owner of the car. Gatsby dies alone in his pool, with only Nick and his father attending his funeral.

The Great Gatsby: Chapter 9

In the final chapter of The Great Gatsby, Nick reflects on the events that have transpired over the past few months. He decides to move back to the Midwest, disgusted by the emptiness and materialism he has witnessed in New York. He also realizes that all of the characters he has encountered, including Gatsby, have been driven by their desires and obsessions.

Nick tries to reach out to some of the characters, including Tom and Daisy, but they have moved on with their lives and do not seem to care about the tragedies that have occurred. Nick ends the book with the famous line, “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past,” acknowledging that the characters’ struggles and desires are ultimately futile in the face of the forces of time and history.