Gatsby Journal Chapter 1

In chapter one, Fitzgerald firsts introduces Nick Carraway who is the books narrator. He first tells a little about himself, his life in Minnesota, why he came to New York, and what he was taught by his father. He came to New York to work in bond business. His father told him to reserve judgement on people and keep private thoughts about people to himself. Nick however, contradicts himself and immediately comments on Gatsby, saying how he is based on everything he scorns. Nick rents a house in Long Island in the part called the West Egg. We learned that Long Island is split into two parts, the East and West Egg. The West Egg is said to be made for the "new rich" and the East Egg is home to the "old rich." Nick's appartment is next door to Gatsby's "gothic mansion." Nick goes to visit his cousin Daisy who lives in the East Egg of Long Island with her husband Tom Buchanan. Tom is ignorant, arrogant, and racist person, not to mention he is very full of himself. When Nick gets the the house he meets Jordan Baker, Daisy's friend. Nick also finds out from Jordan that Tom is cheating on Daisy and has had manny affairs with a woman named Myrtle Wilson. As Nick is leaving Tom as Daisy tell him he should take Jordan on a date. When Nick gets home he sees Gatsby for the first time standing out on his lawn.

When first reading chapter one I was very confused, I had to read it two or three times to fully understand it. I was particularly confused with the whole East and West Egg scenario. I found out that the West Egg was made for the "new rich" people who have recently made their fortune and the West Egg the "old rich" for people the who have had their money for generations and many years. I was a little bored to begin with but the energy picked up when Nick went to Daisy's and then came home and saw Gatsby for the first time.