The Great Gatsby summary

The Great Gatsby is narrated by Nick Carraway, a young man from the Midwest who moves to West Egg, Long Island, to learn about the bond business. He lives next to the mysterious and wealthy Jay Gatsby, who is famous for his lavish parties. Nick reconnects with his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom, who live in the more fashionable East Egg.

Gatsby reveals to Nick that he is in love with Daisy and has been for years, ever since they met before he went to fight in World War I. Gatsby's wealth and extravagant lifestyle are all part of his plan to win Daisy back from Tom. Nick arranges for Gatsby and Daisy to meet, and they begin an affair.

Tension builds as Tom becomes suspicious of Daisy's relationship with Gatsby. During a confrontation in a New York City hotel, Tom exposes Gatsby's criminal background, and Daisy decides to stay with Tom. On the way back, Daisy accidentally kills Tom's mistress, Myrtle Wilson, in Gatsby's car, but Gatsby takes the blame.

Gatsby waits for Daisy to call him, hoping she will choose him, but she never does. Tom tells Myrtle's husband, George Wilson, that Gatsby owns the car that killed Myrtle. George, in a fit of grief and rage, goes to Gatsby's mansion and shoots him before taking his own life.

Nick is left to arrange Gatsby's funeral, which is sparsely attended despite the hundreds who frequented his parties. Disillusioned by the people around him, Nick decides to return to the Midwest. Before leaving, he reflects on the American Dream and the passage of time.

The novel ends with Nick contemplating the green light at the end of Daisy's dock, a symbol of Gatsby's unreachable dream, and concludes with the famous line about how we are all driven by dreams of the past.