The Great Gatsby: Chapter One

Chapter one is an introduction to most of the main characters in the narrative...

Narrative perspectives/voices:
The first character that we are introduced to is Nick; he is the narrator; and tells the story through his perspective, whilst ‘reserving all judgements’, letting the reader come to their own conclusions, supposedly. In the first chapter, the character of Nick highlights humans’ inability to not ‘criticise’ or ‘reserve all judgement’; as we clearly get a biased response on most of the characters throughout Fitzgerald’s narration through Nick- whether it be, the use of description in dialogue, ’he remarked decisively’: portraying Tom to be a firm character, quite proud and certain in his own knowledge, so potentially impudent and a threat to another character, or the lack of- ‘I’m p-paralysed with happiness’: creating the impression that Daisy is very innocent, and has no ulterior motives.

Time Period:

We are given some background to Nick; being told that he ‘graduated’ in 1915, and ‘came East’ in 1922, interestingly after the ‘Great War’. At this point, we are introduced to Nick’s house.

Setting:

Nick is staying in a ‘weather-beaten cardboard bungalow’ next to ‘Gatsby’s mansion’.
‘It was a matter of chance that I should have rented a home in one of the strangest communities in North America. It was on that slender riotous island which extends itself due east of New York – and where there are, among other natural curiosities, two unusual formations of land.’

·         Words highlighted are very peculiar to use in a description of the setting; could have another meaning: possible each summing up the outline/ progression of the story/ relationships between characters within it?

The next setting is at ‘the Tom Buchanans’; use of ‘the’ and ‘Tom’ rather than ‘family’, shows superior/ inferior roles within the marriage- could be linked to era, or reflection of the poor relationship status.

·         Tom: described as ‘powerful’ ‘accomplished’ ‘national figure’ ‘acute limited excellence’ ‘enormously wealthy’; giving the impression that he is the superior character in the Buchanan’s relationship. Immediately after, Nick makes a judgemental statement- ‘I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game.’ Implying that there could be a foreseeable problem involving Tom and something or multiple things that he is ‘forever seeking’, but is actually ‘irrecoverable’.

·         Daisy’s character is not described at first, highlighting the dominance of Tom; and how Fitzgerald (through Nick), wants the reader to pick up on him. Nick says ‘I had no sight into Daisy’s heart’- portraying Daisy as a more mysterious character; and making Tom seem a lot more easy to read, giving the impression that this could potentially lead to his downfall.

·         Collectively, they were ‘two old friends whom I scarcely knew at all’- highlighting their flamboyant lifestyle, and possibly their lack of willingness to change- hinting that this could cause tension soon.

·         Jordan: Originally only narrated as ‘Miss Baker’, comes across quite boring- ‘completely motionless’ ‘nodded at me almost imperceptibly’- and does not have much of a role at this point.

Narrative Techniques, Elements and Themes:

Descriptive detail and writing; of Nick’s house, Gatsby himself
Sensual description; ’enormous power of that body’ ‘aggressively forward’ ‘a cruel body’ (Tom) Surreal description; of Nick’s house...’unquiet darkness’
References to; ‘a rose’ (Daisy to Nick)
Use of colours; ‘crimson room’ ‘our white girlhood was passed together there. Our beautiful white-’   ‘red petrol pumps’ ‘silver pepper of the stars’ ‘grey sun-strained eyes’ ‘red-and-white Georgian Colonial mansion’
Colloquial language; ‘we’ve got to beat them down’ (Daisy)
Time references; description of Nick’s past -1915, 1922
Use of names; Interesting: ‘the Tom Buchanans’ Miss Baker’ ‘Only Gatsby’