The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Set in the glitz and gloom of the Roaring Twenties, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald explores wealth, love, and illusion. Through the eyes of Nick Carraway, it reveals the rise and fall of Jay Gatsby—a man driven by dreams and haunted by the past. This classic novel still echoes today with its deep look into the American Dream.

Who May Benefit from the Book

Students exploring American literature and the Jazz Age
Readers interested in stories about wealth and social class
Fans of character-driven novels with emotional depth
People questioning the meaning of the American Dream
Writers and storytellers looking to study classic narrative structure
Anyone drawn to tales of tragic love and lost hope
Readers who enjoy deep symbolism and moral conflict

Top 3 Key Insights

Gatsby’s dream is rooted in illusion, not reality, leading to his ultimate downfall.
The green light represents unreachable dreams and the false hope of reclaiming the past.
Wealth and status cannot replace emotional truth or heal broken human connections.

7 More Lessons and Takeaways

Social class defines relationships, power, and perception in subtle yet powerful ways.
Superficial charm often hides emotional emptiness and moral weakness.
People often choose comfort over courage, even in love.
The American Dream has limits—especially when built on illusion or deceit.
Loneliness exists even in the middle of crowds and celebrations.
The pursuit of love can become obsessive when mixed with regret.
Narrators shape stories with their own judgments, doubts, and values.

The Book in 1 Sentence

A tragic tale of love, illusion, and ambition that exposes the hollow pursuit of wealth and lost dreams.

The Book Summary in 1 Minute

Nick Carraway moves to West Egg to study bonds and meets Jay Gatsby, his mysterious, wealthy neighbor. Gatsby throws extravagant parties to attract Daisy Buchanan, his former love now married to Tom. Nick helps reunite them. Daisy hesitates between Gatsby and Tom. Tensions explode. Daisy accidentally kills Tom’s mistress, Myrtle, while driving Gatsby’s car. Gatsby takes the blame. Myrtle’s husband, George, kills Gatsby then himself. Nick becomes disillusioned with the moral decay of the rich and returns to the Midwest. The green light—Gatsby’s dream—remains distant and unreachable, symbolizing the failure of the American Dream.

The Book Summary in 10 Minutes

A New Start in West Egg

Nick Carraway moves to Long Island’s West Egg. He’s a Yale graduate and a war veteran. He plans to study the bond business. His new home sits beside the mansion of the elusive Jay Gatsby. Across the bay in East Egg live his cousin Daisy and her husband, Tom Buchanan. During a visit, Nick learns Tom is having an affair with a woman named Myrtle.

Though surrounded by wealth and charm, Nick senses a lack of integrity in his new circle. Beneath the polished surface lies deceit, emptiness, and emotional confusion.

Gatsby’s Mystique and Dreams

Jay Gatsby is the most talked-about man in town. His weekend parties draw the rich and curious. Nobody knows the truth about him. Wild rumors fill the air—spy, murderer, Oxford man. One day, Gatsby personally invites Nick to his party. There, Nick finally meets him—a polite, mysterious man who seems both grand and lonely.

Gatsby shares with Nick that he once loved Daisy. They met before the war but lost touch. Gatsby returned to find her married to Tom. He believes his wealth will win her back. The parties were his way of drawing her close again.

Love Rekindled

Nick arranges a meeting between Gatsby and Daisy. Their reunion stirs old feelings. They begin an affair, seeing each other secretly. Gatsby dreams of repeating the past, of picking up where they left off. He believes Daisy never loved Tom and only married him for security.

But Daisy is conflicted. She enjoys Gatsby’s affection but hesitates to change her life. Gatsby, meanwhile, becomes obsessed with the idea that everything can return to the way it was.

The Green Light and the American Dream

Gatsby watches a green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. It stands as a symbol of hope. But this light also shows how far his dream is from reality.

Symbol	Meaning
Green Light	Gatsby’s hopes for Daisy and the future
Valley of Ashes	Moral decay hidden behind wealth
Gatsby’s Parties	Illusion of joy and connection

His dream isn’t just about love. It’s about achieving everything—wealth, status, and the perfect life. This dream becomes his downfall.

Conflict in New York

On a hot summer day, the group travels to New York. Tension boils over at the Plaza Hotel. Gatsby asks Daisy to say she never loved Tom. She can’t. She once loved Gatsby, but she also loved Tom. The truth is messy. Tom wins the argument. Gatsby’s dream begins to crumble.

On the way home, Daisy drives Gatsby’s car. She accidentally hits and kills Myrtle, Tom’s mistress. Gatsby takes the blame to protect her.

The Tragic End

Tom tells George Wilson—Myrtle’s husband—that Gatsby owns the car. Grief-stricken and furious, George believes Gatsby killed Myrtle. He finds Gatsby at home and shoots him. Then he turns the gun on himself.

Nick handles Gatsby’s funeral. Almost nobody comes. The friends and admirers vanish. Daisy disappears with Tom. Gatsby’s dream dies with him. All he built was for Daisy. But she was never fully his.

Nick’s Realization

Nick reflects on what he’s seen. He feels disgusted by the carelessness of the rich. Tom and Daisy, safe in their wealth, leave others to suffer the consequences. Gatsby had deep feelings, but he built his life on a false dream.

Nick returns to the Midwest. He no longer believes in the world he saw in the East. The story ends with Nick reflecting on Gatsby’s endless hope—and how that hope was always chasing a dream that would never come true.

About the Author

F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the most iconic figures in American literature, lived a life that was as dramatic and emotionally charged as the characters in his novels. His journey from a middle-class Midwestern boy to the voice of the Jazz Age is both inspiring and tragic.

Early Life and Education

Born on September 24, 1896, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Fitzgerald was named after his distant cousin Francis Scott Key, the lyricist of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Raised in a Catholic family, his childhood was marked by financial instability. His father lost his job in the wicker-furniture business and later worked for Procter & Gamble until 1908, when he was fired. Despite their limited means, his mother’s inheritance allowed the family to live a middle-class life.

Fitzgerald’s academic journey took him from Catholic schools in Buffalo to St. Paul Academy and eventually the Newman School in New Jersey, where a teacher named Father Sigourney Fay recognized and encouraged his literary potential.

Princeton and a Doomed Romance

In 1913, Fitzgerald enrolled at Princeton University. There, he formed friendships with future literary critics Edmund Wilson and John Peale Bishop and immersed himself in campus literary circles. During a Christmas break, he met Ginevra King, a wealthy debutante who would later inspire several of his fictional heroines, including Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby. Unfortunately, her family dismissed Fitzgerald due to his modest background, and the relationship ended.

Army Years and Meeting Zelda

Heartbroken, Fitzgerald joined the army in 1917. While stationed in Alabama, he met Zelda Sayre, a Southern belle who would become his wife and muse. Though Zelda initially refused to marry him until he proved financially secure, their passionate and often turbulent relationship would later define much of Fitzgerald’s life and work.

Literary Breakthrough

After the war, Fitzgerald returned to New York to pursue writing. Despite initial setbacks, he revised an earlier manuscript into This Side of Paradise, which was accepted by Scribner’s in 1919. The novel’s success made him a literary star overnight and convinced Zelda to marry him in 1920.

Other Selected works

Novels

1920 – This Side of Paradise
1922 – The Beautiful and Damned
1922 – The Diamond as Big as the Ritz (Novella)
1925 – The Great Gatsby
1934 – Tender Is the Night
1941 – The Last Tycoon (unfinished)

Short stories

1920 – “The Ice Palace”
1920 – “Bernice Bobs Her Hair”
1920 – “May Day”
1922 – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
1922 – “Winter Dreams”
1924 – “Absolution”
1926 – “The Rich Boy”
1931 – “Babylon Revisited”

Essays

1931 – “Echoes of the Jazz Age”

Fitzgerald’s life, marked by both brilliance and personal turmoil, reflected the spirit of the era he so famously captured. His work endures as a testament to the highs and lows of the American dream and the complexities of love, ambition, and identity.

How to Get the Best of the Book

Read slowly to absorb the story’s tone and symbols. Reflect on each character’s choices and flaws. Pay attention to descriptions—they reveal deeper meanings. Reread key scenes to understand the emotional weight and conflicts. Think about how dreams can both drive and destroy us.

Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby celebrated its 100th anniversary on April 10, 2025. Though it received a modest reception at first, the novel has since become one of the most iconic works in American literature. Its exploration of the American Dream, social class, love, and ambition continues to captivate readers and inspire new generations.

A Closer Look at Its Legacy:

Early Response: When first published, The Great Gatsby sold under 40,000 copies and was considered a commercial disappointment during Fitzgerald’s lifetime.
Rising Fame: Over time, the novel gained recognition and became a staple in schools, literature courses, and popular culture.
Timeless Themes: Its portrayal of ambition, wealth, illusion, and heartbreak still resonates with modern readers and sparks critical discussion.
Adaptations: The story has been reimagined in multiple films, stage plays, and a Broadway musical, keeping it alive in the public imagination.
Lasting Influence: Fitzgerald’s lyrical prose and vivid portrayal of the Jazz Age have inspired countless authors and scholars, cementing the novel’s place in literary history.

Adaptations

The book has been widely adapted in many fields. Here’s a concise summary of the major adaptations of The Great Gatsby across various media:

Stage

1926 Broadway Play: First stage adaptation by Owen Davis, directed by George Cukor, starring James Rennie and Florence Eldridge.
2006 Guthrie Theater: Simon Levy’s adaptation for the Guthrie’s new building.
2010 Off-Broadway: Gatz by Elevator Repair Service, staging the novel’s full text.
1999 Opera: Composed by John Harbison, commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera.
Ballet: Performed by BalletMet (2009) and The Washington Ballet (2010, encore in 2011).

Film

1926: Silent film (now lost), based on the Broadway play.
1949: Directed by Elliott Nugent, starring Alan Ladd.
1974: Directed by Jack Clayton, starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.
2013: Directed by Baz Luhrmann, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan.
Upcoming: Animated film announced in 2021, directed by William Joyce.

Television

1955: NBC’s Robert Montgomery Presents.
1958: CBS Playhouse 90 episode.
2000: A&E TV movie starring Toby Stephens and Paul Rudd.

Musicals

1956: First musical by Yale Dramatic Association.
1998: Jazz musical in Wales by Stage One.
2023–24: Broadway-bound musical starring Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada.
2024: Gatsby: An American Myth featuring music by Florence Welch.

Literary Retellings

Since entering the public domain in 2021, several reinterpretations emerged:
- Nick by Michael Farris Smith (2021)
- The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (2021)
- The Pursued and the Pursuing by AJ Odasso (2021)
- Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore (2022)

Radio

1950: CBS’s Family Hour of Stars with Kirk Douglas.
2008: BBC World Service reading.
2012: BBC Radio 4 dramatization by Robert Forrest.

Video Games

2010: Classic Adventures: The Great Gatsby (hidden object game).
2011–2022: 8-bit NES-style game by Charlie Hoey and Pete Smith.
2013: The Great Gatsby: The Video Game by Slate (symbolic adaptation).

Let me know if you want a visual timeline or table version of these adaptations!

Key Characters

Below are the characters you need to know for understanding the story in full-fledge.

Nick Carraway
The observer of moral decay
Nick serves as both narrator and moral compass of the novel. A Midwesterner with grounded values, he enters the glittering world of East Egg only to witness its hollow core. Through his eyes, readers see the disintegration of the American elite. Though initially intrigued by Gatsby and his dazzling world, Nick ultimately grows disillusioned and rejects the East’s superficiality, returning to his roots with a deeper understanding of integrity and loss.

Jay Gatsby
The dreamer chasing a ghost
Jay Gatsby, the mysterious millionaire with a shady past, is driven by an unwavering dream—to rekindle a lost romance with Daisy Buchanan. He throws lavish parties not for social pleasure, but in the hope that Daisy might walk through his door. Gatsby’s idealism, charm, and obsessive hope make him both a romantic hero and a tragic figure. His story is a haunting reminder of how the American Dream can blur into illusion and end in heartbreak.

Daisy Buchanan
The beautiful illusion
Daisy, Nick’s cousin and the object of Gatsby’s longing, is at once enchanting and evasive. Trapped in a loveless marriage with Tom Buchanan, she flirts with the idea of love with Gatsby but ultimately chooses the safety of wealth and status. Her voice, famously “full of money,” embodies the seductive, yet empty promise of high society. Daisy’s indecision and emotional fragility play a pivotal role in Gatsby’s demise.

Tom Buchanan
The brute behind the wealth
Tom is the embodiment of old money arrogance. Racist, unfaithful, and domineering, he represents the decay beneath privilege. He clings to his power and social superiority, using both to manipulate others and maintain control. Tom’s actions not only destroy lives but also expose the entitlement and cruelty that hide behind a polished exterior.

Jordan Baker
The cool cynic
A professional golfer and friend of Daisy’s, Jordan is modern, independent, and morally ambiguous. Her relationship with Nick is casual and emotionally distant, reflecting her overall detachment. Jordan’s dishonesty and jaded outlook mirror the ethical emptiness of the society around her—making her a sharp contrast to Nick’s initially earnest character.

Myrtle Wilson
The restless striver
Myrtle is Tom’s mistress and the unhappy wife of George Wilson. Desperate to escape her working-class life, she clings to Tom as her ticket to a better future. Her pursuit of status and desire for more lead to her tragic end. Myrtle symbolizes the darker side of the American Dream—the cost of chasing illusions at any price.

George Wilson
The forgotten man
George is Myrtle’s weary husband, a garage owner living in the bleak Valley of Ashes. A passive and defeated figure, his world crumbles when he learns of Myrtle’s affair and later her death. Driven to the brink, George becomes the tragic instrument of Gatsby’s downfall. His despair reflects the crushing weight of unfulfilled dreams and the forgotten people left behind in the pursuit of wealth.

Conclusion

The Great Gatsby offers a haunting look at love, ambition, and illusion. It warns us about chasing dreams that aren’t grounded in truth. Through Gatsby’s rise and fall, we see the emptiness that can hide behind beauty and wealth. A timeless story that still speaks to our hearts today.