Chapter 1

• The chapter opens with Conradian narrator Nick Carraway informing us on his priviliged background, yet he remains self aware and reserved as he understands his priviliged lifestyle.
• "In my younger and more vulnerable years" Nick is making himself out to be experienced, and wise, as if the 1920s has inflicted some kind of moral damage on him that will stay with him until the end of time.
• Nick quotes his father: 'When you feel like criticizing anyone.. just remember all the people in the world haven't had the advantages that you've had' Immediately he can infer that Nick will be a neutral narrator and spectator amongst the controversial upper class demographic of the 1920s.
• 'I'm inclined to reserve all judgements" - Maybe Nick has an air of imposter syndrome with the characters of the novel. This spectator, laid back attitude could stem from something rooted deep within him.
• "Gatsby, who represented everything for which i have an unaffected scorn" Never once was Nick envious of Gatsby's lavish lifestyle - Nick is quite boastful of himself as he repeatedly tries to portray himself as having manners and morals. We could interpret him as a disingenuos
• "There was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life" - Gatsby is a hopeful character with good spirit it seems. Nick seems in awe of him. Yet, this passage almost sounds like a eulogy as Nick details all of his vices in a final send off fashion.
• 'It was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as i have never found in any other person' - Gatsby was one of a kind, he was a romantic and a dreamer but to the extent that his persona oozed this and inflicted something profound on those he interacted with.
• 'Gatsby turned out alright in the end' As we know, he dies, but he gets to see Daisy again, and even kiss her. He dies amongst his riches, with fulfilling the most he could of fulfilled with Daisy despite her marriage.
• 'What foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams' - Gatsby had contributed to poorer parts of New York developing such as the VOA. His line of business (bootlegging - new money) meant he could concentrate his wealth in one area (West Egg) and hence outer suburbs like the VOA were neglected. It is this way of living that then preyed on Gatsby and took his life in the form of George Wilson, an 'ashen fantastic figure' that his dreams predicted would come.
• Nicks background 'The Carraways are something of a clan, and we have a tradition that we're descended from the Duke of Buccleuch" Hints that Nick could have an air of superficiality through the fact that his family are pretend aristocracy.
• 'Everybody i knew was in the bond business, so i supposed it could support one more single man' A follower, but also a chancer.
• 'How do you get to West Egg village?' he asked helplessly. I told him. And as i walked on i was lonely no longer. I was a guide, a pathfinder, an original settler'


  Nick struggles with feeling isolated when away from people or lonely. It makes sense as to why he got involved in Gatsby's parade as it gave him purpose and entertainment.
• Fitzgerald introduces a supporting image for the Mammonism of Gatsby in the description of his house which serves, among other things, as the temple of his Philistinism (Someone who deprecates the arts: Philosophy, literature art etc) “The one house on my right was a colossal affair by any standard - it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. It was Gatsby's mansion (p. 5)
• 'Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water" - White palaces evokes undertones of purity and morality. Perhaps, East Egg is home to more honourable and decent people, whereas the 'less fashionable of the two' Is home to less moral individuals which we later learn to be true.
• 'Acute limited excellence at twenty one that everything afterward savours of anti-climax' Tom now lives a purposeless life, with unlimited riches and no ambition. Carelessness of the upper class is first presented here.
• 'He'd brought down a string of polo ponies from Lake Forest' - Conspicuous consumption.
• 'Why they were in East i dont know. They had spent a year in France for no particular reason, and then drifted here and there unrestfully wherever people played polo and were rich together' - No motive behind their intentions. Money is not a consideration. They are prepared to make foolish decisions out of realising they ahve nothing to lose.
• 'Tom would drift on forever seeking' From the nature of his occupation, a footballer, Tom thrill seeks for the same adrenaline found on the pitch. In a quiet free flowing life, only new experiences can provide the same rush.
• 'Tom Buchanan in his riding clothes was standing on the front porch' Immediate image of dominance and power. Hyper-masculine description.
• "Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward." Toxic masculinity traits. But on the contrary also hints at a lack of confidence and maybe insecurity in the way in which he yearns to appear powerful.
• ‘Gruff, husky tenor’ voice - His speech is profound and holds conviction. Another way in which he can exercise dominance.
• “‘I’ve got a nice place here” he said, his eyes flashing about restlessly” - Even the evaluation of his house is unfulfilling. The restlessness in his eyes suggests he is meticulously scanning for what he could improve.
• ‘Snub-nosed motor-boat that bumped the tide offshore’ Conspicuous consumption.
• ‘Two young women were buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon’ - Women immediately objectified by Fitzgerald - Misogynistic writer perhaps.
• ‘They were both in white and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had been blown back in after a short flight around the house’ The white tells us that they are angelic and pure. Tom’s presence breaks their comfort.
• ‘Then there was a boom as Tom Buchanan shut the rear windows and the caught wind died out about the room, and the curtains and the rugs and the two young women ballooned slowly to the floor’ The women are yet to receive names or descriptions - further emphasising their objectification and supposed lack of purpose. They ballooned to the floor as their self-confidence is burst by the ego inflated Tom who judges them.
• Jordan baker first description “Her chin raised a little, as if she were balancing something on it which was quite likely to fall” - Could be taken two contrasting ways. First, She is arrogant and upturned, and offended that Nick has intruded and disrupted them. Second, she is a fair and just character, as the balancing on her nose represents a level headed expression that isn’t overzealous with herself but only evaluative.
• “I was almost surprised into murmuring an apology for having disturbed her by coming in” She is intimidating - Links to her boisterous vices.
• Daisy's first words:

  ‘I'm p-paralysed with happiness. ' Superficial and patronising remark.

  ‘Low, thrilling voice’ - A voice of intrigue and attraction. It’s clear she holds a yearning for attention.
• ‘It was the kind of voice the ear follows up and down’ Easy to be in awe of her playful persona.
• ‘Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth’ Sad face - Constant unfulfillment. Repetition of “bright” lack of substance, shallow looking individual. 2D persona that revolves around money.
• “Do they miss me?” - Seeking approval
• “How gorgeous! Let's go back, Tom. Tomorrow!” Need to consult her husband on her needs. Traditionally ingrained gender roles. Her superficial nature presents her as ecstatic, and almost discredits the enhanced emancipation of women through the suffragettes movement developing in the 1920s.
• ‘I’d be a god damned fool to live anywhere else!” - Pointless and subjective remark

  “Absolutely!” - Robotic response, forcefully trying to contribute.
• “Slender, small breasted girl, with an erect carriage, which she accentuated by throwing her body backward at the shoulders like a young cadet” - Objectified description + masculine traits. ‘A young cadet’ makes her seem as though she is one of the more vulnerable characters who is learning the ways of pioneering riches but she doesn’t fully know how yet, early association with Nick.
• ‘That’s what you get for marrying a brute of a man, a great, big, hulking physical specimen of a-  “I hate that word hulking” objected Tom crossly “even in kidding”

  Daisy is quick to reveal her feelings that Tom is rough and brutal, his violence is foreshadowed here. Tom’s response adds to his impression of insecurity to be offended by the adjective.
• Daisy mocking Tom vs Myrtle mocking Tom. Parallel: comes in the form of when Daisy teases Tom, he only remarks his annoyance and it passes "I hate that word, hulking", but when Myrtle teases Tom,"Daisy daisy daisy!" he hits her and breaks her nose. This showcases Tom’s underlying fondness and soft spot for Daisy which he rarely suggests he has.
• “The Rise of The Coloured Empires”

  “The white race will be utterly submerged”

  Links to the melting pot of immigration outlook that some upper class members especially adopted.
• Analogy p1: ‘I love seeing you at my table Nick. You remind me of a rose, an absolute rose” , “This was untrue. I am not even faintly like a rose. “ Let’s say for argument's sake, Roses represent true love, for their romantic and attractive nature. Daisy cannot quite understand where to find roses, as she wrongly states that Nick looks like one. Despite the compliment, Nick admits his dis-similarity to a rose. Hence, Daisy cannot quite find true love, as Nick himself doesn’t attain true love in the novel, he has very fleeting and unprosperous attempts with women in the novel.
• Analogy p2. To draw parallel to the end of the novel, when Gatsby’s tragedy unfolds, the description states, “He must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through frightening leaves and shivered as he found what a grotesque thing a rose is” Gatsby upon his deathbed, has finally realised that Daisy never understood true love, and the ‘grotesque’ essence behind this stems from Gatsby's lack of self awareness towards his overconsuming dream of finding true love with Daisy; it’s futility is horrific to him.