The year is 1922, the setting Long Island, New York. At West Egg live Jay Gatsby and his neighbor Nick Carraway; Gatsby in a elegant mansion, Nick in a small cramped cottage. In more fashionable East Egg live Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Midway between West Egg and New York City lies a vast ash dump near, which are the garage and home of George and Myrtle Wilson. Significantly all the characters pass through this " valley of ashes, " a symbol of the unfertile wasteland they inhabit. It is here too, that the terrible climax of the novel occurs. Upon this gloomy setting stares the eyes of.
Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, a billboard advertisement placed in front of the ash dump. These eyes stare unfeelingly at the tragic events that happen before them.
After serving in World War I and getting an education at Yale, Nick begins work as a bond salesman. Settled in West Egg, he renews his relationship with his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom. From Daisy's friend Jordan Baker, Nick learns that Tom is unfaithful and Daisy is aware of his habits. Tom insists that Nick meet his mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Nick joins Tom and Myrtle at their private New York apartment. The climax of the party occurs when Tom breaks Myrtle's nose for daring to mention Daisy's name.
Caught up in the bitterness of the Buchanans" turmoil, Nick finds himself immediately trapped as well in Gatsby's turbulent life. Gatsby's is a lavish world of weekend parties attended by guests who rarely meet their host. Gatsby's showy parties fail to satisfy his central passion, to reclaim Daisy who he won and then lost while he was a board during the war. To reach his goal he obtains the help of both Nick and Jordan who both know Daisy. A meeting is arranged and soon Daisy is again Gatsby's mistress.
For a short time Gatsby and Daisy share a happiness neither has known for a long time.
In a hot hotel room in New York City Gatsby demands, in the presence of Tom, Daisy, Nick, and Jordan that Daisy leave her husband and admit that she has never loved him.