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What happens in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby?

In the summer of 1922, Nick Carraway moves to West Egg, a lavish area in Long Island, home of the so-called “new rich.” After an awkward dinner with his cousin Daisy Buchanan, her husband Tom, and their friend Jordan Baker, Tom and Daisy hint that Nick should pursue Jordan romantically. Once home, Nick sees his neighbor Gatsby reaching out toward the water, but all Nick sees is a distant green light.

Looking for our Summary & Analysis of Chapter 1? Click here! (3-minute read)

Read one-paragraph summaries of all 9 chapters of The Great Gatsby. (2-minute read)

What main characters are introduced in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby?

Jay Gatsby, the novel’s protagonist, makes a brief but dramatic appearance at the end of Chapter 1, but most of the focus is on Nick Carraway, the book’s narrator and from whose point of view the story will be told. In addition, we are also introduced to Nick’s charming but superficial cousin Daisy Buchanan, her brutish and physically intimidating husband Tom Buchanan (the novel’s antagonist), as well as the Buchanans’ attractive but standoffish friend, Jordan Baker.

Read our brief Character List descriptions of these characters and others. (2-minute read)

Read our in-depth Character Analysis of Jay Gatsby. (2-minute read)

Read our in-depth Character Analysis of Nick Carraway. (1-minute read)

Read our in-depth Character Analysis of Daisy Buchanan. (1-minute read)

Read our in-depth Character Analysis of Tom Buchanan. (1-minute read)

Read our in-depth Character Analysis of Jordan Baker. (1-minute read)

What do we learn about the setting of The Great Gatsby in Chapter 1?

We are introduced to two of the novel’s four settings: the Long Island communities of East Egg and West Egg, respectively the homes of those with inherited wealth and those who have recently gotten rich. Most of the novel will take place in the two towns, and understanding their contrasts is crucial to your grasp of the novel’s key Motif of Geography.

Read more about the importance of Setting in The Great Gatsby. (1-minute read)

Read more about how Geography is a core Motif of The Great Gatsby. (1-minute read)

What important themes from The Great Gatsby are introduced in Chapter 1?

All the key Themes of The Great Gatsby are present to at least some extent in Chapter 1, including the American Dream, Love and Marriage, and the role of Class in the novel’s society. Reading the brief SparkNotes descriptions of these now should increase your understanding of how these themes will play out over the course of the rest of the work.

Read about the key Themes of The Great Gatsby. (3-minute read)

What key symbols from The Great Gatsby are introduced in Chapter 1?

One of the novel’s crucial symbols, the Green Light at the end of Daisy and Tom’s dock, makes an enigmatic appearance at the end of Chapter 1.

Read about the Green Light as a key Symbol in The Great Gatsby. (1-minute read)

Is the foreshadowing of events to come included in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby?

Yes, Fitzgerald foreshadows early (and often) in his most famous novel. You can read about how developments early in the book are tied to events that occur in later chapters by clicking the link below.

Read about Foreshadowing in The Great Gatsby. (2-minute read)

What metaphors and similes are used in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby? 

Fitzgerald employs several metaphors and similes in the opening chapter, including two references to the important motif of geography and two used to describe aspects of Tom Buchanan's character.

Read about 5 Metaphors & Similes in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby. (2-minute read)

What’s the most famous quote in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby?

“I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

Daisy makes this startling comment about her hopes for her infant daughter to Nick and Jordan. The comment reveals a great deal about Daisy’s cynical character as well as about the social standing of American women during the 1920s.

Read our complete explanation of Daisy’s famous quote from Chapter 1. (1-minute read)

Read our explanations of 21 important quotes from Chapter 1. (4-minute read)

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