Keyword Guide · study-guide
This study guide explains Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby in a clear, assignment-ready way. It introduces the narrator, key characters, and major ideas that shape the rest of the novel.
Chapter 1 is told by Nick Carraway, who reflects on his background and values. He has recently moved to West Egg, a wealthy area near New York City, to learn the bond business. Nick presents himself as observant and fair-minded, setting up his role as both participant and commentator in the story.
Nick visits his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom at their home in East Egg. Daisy appears charming but restless, while Tom comes across as aggressive and arrogant. Their marriage already feels tense, hinting at deeper conflicts beneath their wealth and comfort.
During dinner, Tom receives a phone call that disrupts the evening, suggesting an affair. This moment exposes cracks in the polished surface of upper-class life. Nick begins to see how privilege, power, and dishonesty interact in this social world.
At the end of the chapter, Nick notices his neighbor, Jay Gatsby, standing alone and reaching toward a distant green light across the water. Although they do not speak, this quiet moment introduces Gatsby as a mysterious figure driven by longing and hope.
Chapter 1 sets up the narrator, introduces key characters, and establishes themes like wealth, appearance versus reality, and social division.
Nick shapes how readers see the story. His observations guide our first impressions of Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby.
The green light suggests desire and ambition. It hints at Gatsby’s longing for something just out of reach.
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