The Great Gatsby

Nick Carraway pilots his boat across the harbor to East Egg where his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom live. He quickly senses trouble in Tom and Daisy's marriage, and learns Tom is having an affair with a woman in New York. The scene establishes Nick's outsider perspective and the glittering yet hollow social world around Gatsby.

Nick is introduced to his mysterious neighbor Gatsby, a decorated WWI veteran who throws extravagant parties. Nick learns Gatsby's wealth and presence dominate the social scene on West Egg. The lavish spectacle contrasts with Gatsby's quiet, enigmatic persona.

Tom takes Nick to meet his mistress, Myrtle, who is married to George Wilson. The couple's strained dynamic becomes a social and moral backdrop to the story. Myrtle flings Daisy's name in Tom's face, highlighting love, money, and power entanglements.

Daisy asks Nick to set him up with her friend Jordan Baker, a professional golfer. The arrangement foreshadows the social circle Nick will be drawn into. This setup paves the way for Nick's later acquaintances with Gatsby.

Nick and Jordan attend one of Gatsby's famous parties and are swept into Gatsby's world of wealth, gossip, and spectacle. Gatsby privately asks Nick to lunch the next day so they can talk. The invitation marks Gatsby's intention to arrange a direct meeting with Daisy through Nick.

Jordan tells Nick to invite Daisy to his house so Gatsby can meet her in a private setting. The plan is set in motion as Nick coordinates the reunion. Gatsby prepares to reveal himself to Daisy in person.

Gatsby unexpectedly arrives for lunch with Daisy at Nick's house. It becomes clear that Gatsby and Daisy had a romance in the past, but Daisy refused to marry Gatsby because he was poor. The scene marks the rekindling of their relationship and Gatsby's fragile hope.

Daisy and Gatsby's relationship grows more intimate as they spend time together. Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, Jordan, and Nick continue their social circle while the affair becomes more obvious. Gatsby arranges for a trip into the city to continue their liaison.

In the Plaza Hotel, Gatsby and Daisy confront the reality of their affair. Gatsby pleads with Daisy to say she never loved Tom, but she cannot. The argument underscores the impossibility of resurrecting Gatsby's dream.

On the drive back, Daisy, driving Gatsby's car, strikes Myrtle as she runs into the street. The incident triggers a chain of events that will lead to tragedy and confusion. The car becomes a symbol of the collision between illusion and reality.

George Wilson, distraught believing Gatsby killed his wife, goes to Gatsby's mansion and fatally shoots him. He then commits suicide, completing a grim turn of events that devastates all involved.

Nick holds Gatsby's funeral and meets Gatsby's father, who reveals that Gatsby's real name was James Gatz. The funeral is sparsely attended, underscoring Gatsby's isolation and the failure of his ambitions.

Daisy and Tom drift back into their social world, seemingly unaffected by the tragedies. Nick breaks up with Jordan Baker and moves back to the Midwest, lamenting Gatsby's inability to escape his past.