Chapter 2 Pages 27-42

Summary: Nick goes to the valley of ashes which is a poor neighborhood in between New York and West Egg. There Nick meets Myrtle, Tom’s mistress, and finds out that she is also married. They go into New York and Tom buys a dog for her. They go back to Myrtle’s house and invite over the McKees and her sister Catherine. They all talk, gossip, and even argue which leads to Tom slapping Myrtle across the face and breaking her nose.

Character: Myrtle Wilson

            “The thickish figure of a woman blocked out the light from the office door. She was in the middle thirties, and faintly stout, but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can. Her face, above a spotted dress of dark blue crepe-de-chine, contained no facet or gleam of beauty but there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her as is the nerves of her body were continually smouldering” (Fitzgerald 29,30).

            Myrtle loves material things. As long as she is getting gifts and buying surplus amounts of unneeded things she will be happy. The only thing she wants in life is to be rich. Myrtle does not care for anything other than money. She loves money and is trying to marry into it. She also buys outrageous things just to prove that she is being taken care of. She also pretends that she is rich and everyone is waiting on her, and wants to be her.

            Myrtle Wilson is married to George Wilson. She lives in a small neighborhood that is not known for it beauty or wealth. She is an average woman that seeks to be higher. She wants to be rich and live a privileged life. She loved her husband until she married him, and realized that the suit he wore was not his and he borrowed it because he could not afford to buy one. Once she meets Tom, a well dressed man that takes taxis, she falls in love because he is rich. Myrtle is envious of Daisy and wishes that she could be Tom’s wife living in a gorgeous mansion in East Egg.

Quote: “Yet high over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share of human secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets, and I was him too, looking up and wondering. I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life” (Fitzgerald 40). I found this quote very interesting because Nick compares himself to Mr. Gatsby. The last time he saw him Gatsby was looking out towards the East Egg wanting something more in life. Now Nick looks out over the city, and finds himself wanting more too. No matter what goes on in life Nick finds it desirable; he will never be bored of life. Nick just like Gatsby has hope.

Chapter 1 Pages 5-26

Summary: Nick Carraway is a young man who lives in the West Egg next to Mr. Gatsby and works for a bonds company. He goes to have dinner at the Buchanans. Daisy Buchannan is his second cousin removed twice. While hanging out at their gorgeous house he meets Jordan Baker, a famous athlete, and learns that Daisy is not happy being married to Tom because he is cheating on her. Tom is on his way out when Daisy asks him about the rumor that he is engaged.

Character: Daisy Buchanan

            “It was the kind of voice that the ear follows up and down as if each speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again. Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth—but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget…” (Fitzgerald 13, 14).

            Daisy hides her emotions and tries to make the best out of everything. She knows that her husband is cheating on her yet she still smiles and laughs all the time. Daisy acts like nothing bothers her in front of her husband, but once she sees Nick, someone she trusts, she pours out her emotions. She is also very charming and memorable to guys.

            Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, who is a wealthy man. They live together in the East Egg and have a daughter who is two years old. Although they are married they do not seem to love each other, but stay together to make things look okay. Daisy is Nick Carraway’s second cousin once removed, and he seems to have really strong emotions towards her. Daisy is definitely going to be a conflict of interest for Tom and Nick.

Quote: “I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald 21). Daisy says this when she is talking to Nick. I find this interesting because it describes Daisy and her emotions. This quote is saying that it is much easier to get through life being girl if you are a fool. Girls are not respected and are looked at as less then men. If you’re a fool enough to not see it; then you can live a happy life and never realize that it is wrong. If you aren’t a fool then you will easily see everything that is wrong and become miserable like Daisy did.

Guidelines

1.     Heading must include the chapter number and page numbers.

2.    Write a five sentence chapter summary.

3.    For each chapter choose a different character to focus on for the following:

a.     Name the character.

b.     Choose a quote the best represents the character

c.     List & describe his/her best qualities, only those mentioned in the story thus far.

d.     In a paragraph describe the characters role in the novel, refer back to other chapters.

4.    From the chapter, choose one meaningful quote, and then describe its significance to you. What made it stand out?