The Great Gatsby Chapter 1 Summary

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Chapter 1 Nick Carraway, the narrator, begins his story by recalling the words of his father, "Whenever you feel like criticizing any one...just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." Chapter 1, pg. 1. From an early age Nick was raised not to judge others since they may not have been as fortunate as he. Living in the East had changed this philosophy, and Nick returned home again to the Midwest with a set of defined ideals rather than accepting just any group of people for friends. The exception of his general dislike for Easterners is Jay Gatsby. As described by Nick, Gatsby is a man still free of guilt, except for some tragic flaw or sickness of character that had disillusioned him. Nick…show more content…
Gatz in Minnesota. He comes at once to attend the funeral, a sparse old man full of nervousness after seeing the news of his son's death reported in a Chicago newspaper. After viewing Gatsby's body Mr. Gatz becomes more interested in exploring the expanse of the house since "He had reached an age where death no longer has the quality of ghastly surprise, and when he looked around him now for the first time and saw the height and splendor of the hall...his grief began to be mixed with an awed pride." Chapter 9, pg. 168-9. He talks about how ambitious his son had been and what a great man he would have become had he not been slain at such an early age. His son had always liked the East best, he said, since it was there that he had earned all of his wealth and had even bought Henry's home in Minnesota for him. Despite Jay's efforts to disguise his meager family history, he nevertheless had felt some connection or he would not have gone so far as to buy his father a house. Mr. Gatz was a simple man and Nick did not see any need to inform him of the complications with Daisy or about the illegal means by which his money was earned, but rather let Gatz enjoy the pride he felt for his

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