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TheGreatGatsbyReviewTheGreatGatsbyisprobablyF.ScottFitzgerald'sgreatestnovel--abookthatoffersdamningandinsightfulviewsoftheAmericannouveauricheinthe1920s.TheGreatGatsbyisanAmericanclassicandawonderfullyevocativework.LikemuchofFitzgerald'sprose,itisneatandwell--crafted.Fitzgeraldseemstohavehadabrilliantunderstandingoflivesthatarecorruptedbygreedandincrediblysadandunfulfilled.Thenovelisaproductofitsgeneration--withoneofAmericanliterature'smostpowerfulcharactersinthefigureofJayGatsby,whoisurbaneandworld-weary.Gatsbyisreallynothingmorethanamandesperateforlove.TheAuthorF.ScottFitzgeraldwasbornonSeptember24,1896,inSt.Paul,Minnesota.Hisfirstnovel'ssuccessmadehimfamousandlethimmarrythewomanheloved,buthelaterdescendedintodrinkingandhiswifehadamentalbreakdown.FollowingtheunsuccessfulTenderistheNight,FitzgeraldmovedtoHollywoodandbecameascriptwriter.Hediedofaheartattackin1940,atage44,hisfinalnovelonlyhalfcompleted.OverviewTheGreatGatsbyisastorytoldbyNickCarraway,whowasonceGatsby'sneighbor,andhetellsthestorysometimeafter1922,whentheincidentsthatfillthebooktakeplace.Asthestoryopens,NickhasjustmovedfromtheMidwesttoWestEgg,LongIsland,seekinghisfortuneasabondsalesman.Shortlyafterhisarrival,NicktravelsacrosstheSoundtothemorefashionableEastEggtovisithiscousinDaisyBuchananandherhusband,Tom,ahulking,imposingmanwhomNickhadknownincollege.TherehemeetsprofessionalgolferJordanBaker.TheBuchanansandJordanBakerliveprivilegedlives,contrastingsharplyinsensibilityandluxurywithNick'smoremodestandgroundedlifestyle.WhenNickreturnshomethatevening,henoticeshisneighbor,Gatsby,mysteriouslystandinginthedarkandstretchinghisarmstowardthewater,andasolitarygreenlightacrosstheSound.Oneday,NickisinvitedtoaccompanyTom,ablatantadulterer,tomeethismistress,MyrtleWilson,amiddle-classwomanwhosehusbandrunsamodestgarageandgasstationinthevalleyofashes,adesolateandrun-downsectionoftownthatmarkstheconvergenceofthecityandthesuburbs.Afterthegroupmeetsandjourneysintothecity,MyrtlephonesfriendstocomeoverandtheyallspendtheafternoondrinkingatMyrtleandTom'sapartment.TheafternoonisfilledwithdrunkenbehaviorandendsominouslywithMyrtleandTomfightingoverDaisy,hiswife.DrunkennessturnstorageandTom,inonedeftmovement,breaksMyrtle'snose.Followingthedescriptionofthisincident,Nickturnshisattentiontohismysteriousneighbor,whohostsweeklypartiesfortherichandfashionable.UponGatsby'sinvitation(whichisnoteworthybecauserarelyisanyoneeverinvitedtoGatsby'sparties—theyjustshowup,knowingtheywillnotbeturnedaway),Nickattendsoneoftheextravagantgatherings.There,hebumpsintoJordanBaker,aswellasGatsbyhimself.Gatsby,itturnsout,isagracioushost,butyetremainsapartfromhisguest—anobservermorethanaparticipant—asifheisseekingsomething.Asthepartywindsdown,GatsbytakesJordanasidetospeakprivately.Althoughthereaderisn'tspecificallytoldwhattheydiscuss,Jordanisgreatlyamazedbywhatshe'slearned.Asthesummerunfolds,GatsbyandNickbecomefriendsandJordanandNickbegintoseeeachotheronaregularbasis,despiteNick'sconvictionthatsheisnotoriouslydishonest(whichoffendshissensibilitiesbecauseheisoneofthefewhonestpeoplehehasevermet).NickandGatsbyjourneyintothecityonedayandthereNickmeetsMeyerWolfshiem,oneofGatsby'sassociatesandGatsby'slinktoorganizedcrime.Onthatsameday,whilehavingteawithJordanBaker,NicklearnstheamazingstorythatGatsbytoldherthenightofhisparty.Gatsby,itappears,isinlovewithDaisyBuchanan.Theymetyearsearlierwhenhewasinthearmybutcouldnotbetogetherbecausehedidnotyethavethemeanstosupporther.Intheinterveningyears,Gatsbymadehisfortune,allwiththegoalofwinningDaisyback.HeboughthishousesothathewouldbeacrosstheSoundfromherandhostedtheelaboratepartiesinthehopesthatshewouldnotice.IthascometimeforGatsbytomeetDaisyagain,face-to-face,andso,throughtheintermediaryofJordanBaker,GatsbyasksNicktoinviteDaisytohislittlehousewhereGatsbywillshowupunannounced.Thedayofthemeetingarrives.Nick'shouseisperfectlyprepared,duelargelytothegenerosityofthehopelessromanticGatsby,whowantseverydetailtobeperfectforhisreunionwithhislostlove.Whentheformerloversmeet,theirreunionisslightlynervous,butshortly,thetwoareonceagaincomfortablewitheachother,leavingNicktofeelanoutsiderinthewarmththetwopeopleradiate.Astheafternoonprogresses,thethreemovethepartyfromNick'shousetoGatsby's,wherehetakesspecialdelightinshowingDaisyhismeticulouslydecoratedhouseandhisimpressivearrayofbelongings,asifdemonstratinginaverytangiblewayjusthowfaroutofpovertyhehastraveled.Atthispoint,Nickagainlapsesintomemory,relatingthestoryofJayGatsby.BornJamesGatztoshiftlessandunsuccessfulfarmpeople,Gatsbychangedhisnameatseventeen,aboutthesametimehemetDanCody.CodywouldbecomeGatsby'smentor,takinghimoninavaguepersonalcapacityforfiveyearsashewentthreetimesaroundtheContinent.BythetimeofCody'sdeath,Gatsbyhadgrownintomanhoodandhaddefinedthemanhewouldbecome.Neveragainwouldheacknowledgehismeagerpast;fromthatpointon,armedwithafabricatedfamilyhistory,hewasJayGatsby,entrepreneur.Movingbacktothepresent,wediscoverthatDaisyandTomwillattendoneofGatsby'sparties.Tom,ofcourse,spendshistimechasingwomen,whileDaisyandGatsbysnea