Reiner 1

Cole Reiner

Mr. Price

AP English Lit, Period 1

5 December 2016

College Bound Reading; The Great Gatsby

The 1920s brought to America a great prosperous economy, and with that, the

people in this time living easy, careless, and reckless lives. Everyone recognized the importance

of having money and many worked hard and long to get where the wealthy already were. The

Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, is about the story of a group of wealthy

young people and their crazy and complex lives. Nick Carraway is the narrator of the book he

displays the American lifestyle in the 1920s by narrating his life as well as getting to know his

neighbor, Jay Gatsby and other friends he meets. There are many times in this story where it is

key knowing what is going on. In the Great Gatsby, it is important to know how Plot, Setting,

and the character are portrayed and shown through the book.

The plot of The Great Gatsby can be confusing and complex at first because it is a story

inside of a story, but with thorough analysis, it becomes easier to connect with the book. The

plot is vital to understanding all the ideas behind the book. As most all plots can be identified by

just reading the book, the same goes for this one. The whole book is about the reader's

understanding what exactly it was like to be a rich New Yorker. Fitzgerald uses the exposition,

climax, and resolution skillfully throughout the book in order to keep the reader entertained and

hooked.
 Reiner 2

The Great Gatsby starts with Nick Carraway narrating what has happened the beginning.

First, the story starts off with the introduction of the narrator, Nick lived at West Egg [His]

house was at the very tip of the egg, only fifty yards from the Sound, and squeezed between two

huge places that rented for twelve or fifteen thousand a season(F. Scott Fitzgerald 6). Nick

Carraway comes from a middle class family and he decides to move to the east in order to find a

new job. His family approves and he is even given a loan to start living for a short time so he

has time to find a job. More background on the narrator showing [Nick] graduated from New

Haven in 1915, just a quarter of a century after my father, and a little later [he] participated in

that delayed Teutonic migration known as the Great War (4). Nick has had many experiences

already from what he has told and moving to New York could be his next big experience. He

soon meets more people once he makes it to New York, and reunites with some old forgotten

friends. Nick shows his connections to people when he drove over there to have dinner with the

Tom Buchanans. Daisy was [his] second cousin once removed, and Id known Tom in college

(5). Tom and Daisy are introduced as well as his neighbor Mr. Gatsby later on, and all of these

people start to get to know each other. The group starts talking a little more and they go to many

of Gatsbys parties and they hang out with each other. This concludes the exposition introducing

many main characters, but the rising action and climax are arguably the most important pieces of

a story.

The real tensions start once Gatsby confesses his love for Daisy and people start finding

out. Soon after Daisy fell in love with Gatsby who had been in love with her for years Daisy

does something crazy, he left the room again she got up and went over to Gatsby and pulled his

face down, kissing him on the mouth (99). Daisy, who is married, kissed Gatsby, who has been

in love with her for years. They kept this very secretive for a while because the fear that her
 Reiner 3

husband Tom would find out about this. Ironically, Tom has also been cheating on Daisy with a

woman named Myrtle. Eventually the word got out that Gatsby was James Gatz that was

really, or at least legally, his name (131). Eventually Tom and Gatsby have a huge quarrel and

Tom tries to win Daisy back over by showing how Gatsby is most likely a bootlegger. This

almost works, but it was not proven he was and Daisy still supposedly loves Gatsby still. Nick

narrates He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: I never

loved [him] (143). This was the huge climax of the story, Daisy had to choose between her

husband or Gatsby. Tom had to tell Daisy why Gatsby is so bad and why it would be a terrible

reason to go with Gatsby. The rising action had some major tensions between the two

characters, Gatsby and Tom using the rising action to lead to the climax, but the falling action to

resolution shows more important details.

The falling action and resolution take a dark turn and the story of Jay Gatsby becomes

even more sad. On the way home from Daisy hit Myrtle and Nick asks Was Daisy driving?

Yes, he said after a moment, but of course Ill say I was. [he] see, when [they] left New York

she was nervous and she thought it would steady her to drive and this woman rushed out at us

just as [they] were passing a car coming the other way(193). Daisy accidentally hit Myrtle, the

woman that Tom was cheating on her with. Gatsby, protecting the person he loved so dearly,

took the blame for her so as to save her life. Then, The chauffeur he was one of

Wolfsheims proteges heard the shots (162). At this point, the people that heard the

gunshots, knew that someone was killed, Jay Gatsby was the victim of this murder and the killer

was George Wilson, Myrtles Husband. He saved the person he loved the most even though it

costed him his life. Nick looks back and thinks about Gatsby so he says, [He] tried to think

about Gatsby then for a moment, but he was already too far away, and I could only remember,
 Reiner 4

without resentment, that Daisy hadnt sent a message or a flower (202). After the incident

everything settled down, but Daisy never even knew that Gatsby was killed because they already

moved away heading back to Chicago. It was found out that the man that killed Gatsby killed

himself right after. After the funeral, Nick moves back to the Midwest after witnessing the

horrors he was involved in.

The Great Gatsby uses the exposition, climax, and resolution to create a detailed and

smooth plot. The exposition starts with all happy people getting together and becoming friends

for the most part. Then the rising action shows all the tension between Jay Gatsby and Daisys

husband Tom because of the love for Daisy. Then, Gatsby takes the blame for Daisy and ends

up being killed. No one even shows up to his funeral later on except his father. The whole book

gets more sad and we realize the tragedy that Gatsby faces. The plot has a major effect on the

book, but the setting of this book also gives to the intense feeling that the book puts on.

Setting in the Great Gatsby really shows what living like a rich person is like when

looking at it with detail. The setting brings the people that read The Great Gatsby into a few

places that gives the reader a unique feel and adds to the story. There are many reasons why the

settings were in the places that they had and it shows different things for every setting. Setting in

The Great Gatsby is used great in time, East Egg, and West Egg.

The 1920s were a very interesting if read readers really look into what happened

during this time in America. During the 1920s the Prohibition was a law and people could not

sell or buy alcohol. The book goes into great detail and Gatsby is accused of bootlegging, which

means he is a illegal smuggling alcohol. [Nick] participated in that delayed Teutonic migration

known as the Great War (4). The Great War was during this time and people, like Nick,

actually were veterans of that war. It was a time in America after the war where people were
 Reiner 5

becoming economically prosperous and economy was booming. Corruption also became

widespread through this time because of the changes happening and all the new businesses and

companies starting up. Like Jay Gatsby, many people became rich through their families during

this time. It really was the time for that American dream that everyone was hoping they may

once be a part of in the future. Now that it is easy to know what time period the book was set in,

readers can look at some locations that were in the book, like East Egg.

East Egg was a side where that was known for being the nice side of the area. Nick says

...West Egg, the well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to

express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them (page 10). This shows that

Nick prefers East Egg over West Egg, the other half of the neighborhood, because it was more

fashionable and he had other reasons. He also explains how people are stereotypically

considered better than the other side. Leeches, and a man named Bunsen, whom I knew at

Yale, and Doctor Webster Civet, who was drowned last summer up in Maine. And the

Hornbeams and the Willie Voltaires, and a whole clan named Blackbuck, who always gathered

in a corner and flipped up their noses like goats at whosoever came near (82). There appear

more known people on the East Egg and maybe because it was the older side and the people that

live there have lived for a long time. Meaning, that this side is more of a stable neighborhood

because everyone knows each other. East Egg glittered along the water (9). This just tops

onto how East Egg is basically the better than West Egg. This is not by a long shot though, most

people just simply prefer this place more than West in the story for the atmosphere. Even though

East Egg is better than east egg, most main characters live in the West Egg village making it an

important location in this story.

 Reiner 6

West Egg has an important role in setting due to fact of it being where many of the main

characters live....West Egg, the well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most

superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them (page 10).

This quote is used a second time to highlight West Egg, showing how West Egg is in fact not as

nice as East Egg. This is well known also because West Egg is a lot newer and not as

established. I live at West Egg. Really? I was down there at a party about a month ago. At a

man named Gatsbys (50). West Egg is more of the party zone with all the newer rich people

that just moved in recently are more of the party people. They are living the American dream of

richness and recklessness and don't care what happens tomorrow . The differences between the

two villages may not seem physically major, but it is the people that inhabit them. West Egg just

shows how crazy and extreme the life of a rich American was in the 1920s and some people

liked to party and waste their money because they could and all they wanted to do. West Egg

bears a big contrast to East Egg, but the setting makes the story more eventful and more

interesting to read.

Setting for the Time, as well as East Egg, and West Egg is a major part of the story. It

does show the difference between the way people lived in certain areas in the book. The time

that this story was set in made the story more easy to understand why each neighborhood was

what it was. Without this setting, the story could have been something different. If it were

written based off of 2016, this story would probably be out of context because this type of thing

only happened back then in the early 1900s. Also, characters are the one that use this setting for

the story.

The story of Jay Gatsby is like a wild roller coaster that ends in the demise of the

character himself. Jay Gatsby is the main protagonist in The Great Gatsby and he has one of the
 Reiner 7

most tragic endings that has ever been seen in a story. The character has many flaws that end up

leading to his death. Along with his flaws, he has some undeniable traits that are attached to him

throughout the book. Gatsby is mysterious and only till some time after reading does the reader

find out who he really is. Jay Gatsby is a dynamic and round character that has a some tragic

flaws, some important traits, and has major some changes throughout the story.

The fall of Jay Gatsby was mainly due to love and sacrificing all his life for the life of the

lady he loved dearly. When Nick was on the phone he had to say thatMr. Gatsby's dead.

(210). The reason Gatsby died was because he took the blame for killing Myrtle even though it

was really not his fault. This was the biggest flaw of all because in the end, he probably didn't

even save Daisy because she was already moved by the time anything went down. Gatsby got

trapped by love and he he lost his life trying to win this girl that he never really had a chance

with for more than a couple of days. Mr. Gatsby, it was a mansion inhabited by a gentleman of

that name (9). Gatsby got almost anything he wanted. Coming from a rich family, Gatsby is

pretty used to getting what he wants, like his mansion that he lives alone in, he wanted it so he

went ahead and bought it. The problem is, this is not how love works. People have to build

relationships and there is no way to buy a love in the end of it all, which is a little hard for Jay

Gatsby realizes and he tries so hard to win her over. There were some other minor flaws, but

Daisy was his main downfall and is easily seen because of his death. Gatsby did have a major

flaw, but he also had some traits that were specific to him in the book.

Gatsby had a few large traits that were discovered through the story mainly

through his friend Nick. The main trait that will be focused on is his untrustworthiness. Nick

finds out that his name is not Jay or Gatsby at all but, it was actually James Gatz that was

really, or at least legally, his name (131). This leads to some immediate suspicion that the
 Reiner 8

people around him try to unveil to see really who Gatsby or should it be said James Gatz is.

People automatically become a little more suspicious once secret things come out about a person

and the same went for when Nick found out about Gatsbys name. Also, Tom accuses Gatsby of

being a bootlegger or smuggler and Nick responds saying Some big bootlegger? Where'd

[he] hear that? [Nick] inquired. [he] didnt hear it. [He] imagined it. A lot of these newly rich

people are just big bootleggers, you know (85). Gatsby never tells anyone how he got so rich,

so it could be assumed that Gatsby may have been an smuggler of alcohol. It is never proven,

but this adds to his trait of untrustworthiness. Another smaller trait that Gatsby has is that he is

loyal. Gatsby never cheated on anyone and stayed true to who he loved throughout the entire

story. Even Daisys own husband cheated on her and was unloyal to her. Now, loving Daisy

and having Daisy love him back was also unloyalty on her part, but from the perspective of

Gatsby, he was as loyal as a man can be. These traits were a part of Gatsbys character, but

Gatsby also changed throughout the entire story line.

Gatsby was the most changed character by the end of the story compared to any other

character. Gatsby started off as a huge party man that loved to just live life recklessly. Nick

says here that, [He] had gone to two of his parties(83). These were just a few that Nick went

to, this does not include the tens of others that he has thrown that he did not go to. Gatsby

partied every week like there was no tomorrow and he lived like that for a good while until he

shifted his aim towards new goal, Daisy. Daisy made him try to pursue more of a relationship

with Daisy, who was currently married to Tom. He tries persistently to win Daisy over to him,

but obviously, Tom fights him back and his main goal at this point is to make Daisy realize how

much better she would be with him. Saying this, Gatsby will do almost anything to protect her

and keep her out of harm's way. Daisy still had doubts and Gatsby could never succeed in his
 Reiner 9

goal unfortunately, but he still did not know this. Some man heard the shots (162). It was the

shots that killed Gatsby. Gatsby started off being a bit selfish and just did not really care about

the real purpose of life and he partied hard. Then realizing that love is a strong thing, he

eventually became to humble, he was willing to lose his life and take the blame for the girl he

loved. This is a pretty drastic change compared to the beginning of the story, the character of

Gatsby sure is a wild ride that even makes the reader feel bad for him.

The character of the Gatsby is shown through his major flaws, his traits, and his change

over time. It is easy to feel bad for the story of Gatsby because he really was a loyal man, but his

love of his life just was not choosing him. Mainly because of the things he might have done that

no one knows about. He was not honest with his life, which may have been the only thing that

stopped Daisy love him. It is crazy to think that love really can make you do crazy and intense

things in order to try to get to the end goal of the relationship, and like in the case of Gatsby the

worst possible outcome happened to him. Now that there is a clear analysis of the character, Jay

Gatsby, the whole essay meets back together to show the responses of the topic.

In the Great Gatsby, it is important to know how Plot, Setting, and the character are

portrayed and shown through the book because it gives more of an understanding of the story.

The Great Gatsby was wonderfully written and perfectly portrays the life of some wealthy

Americans in the early 1900s and the problems they faced. The book also shows how difficult

and nasty relationships can be. This can even translate into modern day, people still have the

same problems, and unfortunately, people still cheat on others. The Great Gatsby has an

amazing plot, setting, and character depth and while reading, it is very easy to identify these

devices.
Reiner 10