Chapter 1
Nick Carraway is the narrator of the novel The Great Gatsby, and he starts off the story by reflecting back into his youth to a conversation he had with his father, that is the reason why he decided to become a non-judgemental person. His father once told him, ““Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.” (page 1). This notion helps him understand those around him who are less fortunate than he is, so it can be inferred that Nick Carraway came from a family of decent wealth, like the middle class. Nick Carraway is a yale educated war veteran that became a bond-man after returning home, he then moved to West Egg to a small, humble home that was surrounded by rich, elaborate homes of self-made millionaires. He lived right by the water’s edge of the Long Island Sound, across the bay was East Egg. It is where the born millionaires live and it is much more fashionable than West Egg. His neighbor, Jay Gatsby, was a man whom he admired for his success and elaborate lifestyle. One night, he decided to go visit Tom Buchanans, who the is husband of his second cousin Daisy. As they were having dinner Tom got a suspicious phone call from, and as Tom is on the phone Jordan, Daisy’s friend, explains to Nick that Tom has a mistress. The evening there got uncomfortable, in a private conversation with Daisy she says, “that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (page 17). When Nick returned home he sees a shadowy figure at the bay that could be no other than Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s arm was outstretched toward the dark water, which Nick said it was trembling as it reached to a little green light in the distance. This chapter introduces the story in a curious way, there are multiple characters within this character, Tom is cheating on Daisy and everyone knows about it. Daisy seems pretty unhappy with her life in East Egg and Gatsby is still an ambiguous character within the story.