The Great Gatsby

In 1948, Nick Carraway and Jordan Baker visit Gatsby's gravesite. Nick reflects on Gatsby's life and condemns the path he pursued, using a proverb to suggest that Gatsby's ascent was morally precarious. The scene sets the moral lens through which the story will be viewed.

In 1928, during Prohibition, Gatsby shoots and kills two rival gangsters in a street confrontation. With his fortune secured, he buys a Long Island Sound estate to host lavish parties and to lure Daisy back into his orbit. The operation marks the birth of his infamous, protective empire.

Gatsby convinces Jordan Baker to arrange a private meeting with Daisy, offering his Duesenberg roadster as incentive. He believes that presenting wealth and glamour will persuade Daisy to leave Tom. The schemed reunion becomes Gatsby's central mission.

Gatsby and Daisy had fallen in love during World War I, and Gatsby promised to marry her once he earned a fortune. The memory of their past fuels Gatsby's determination to close the gap between dream and reality. The union is repeatedly deferred by time and money.

Gatsby yearns for Daisy while she remains married to Tom Buchanan. He uses wealth and social spectacle to prove that he can provide what money and status cannot. The tension between past love and present marriage drives the plot forward.

Gatsby, Daisy, Jordan, and Nick spend time in New York City. Daisy's presence exposes her unhappiness with Tom and with the life she leads, hinting at a potential rekindling of old passions. The group dynamics heighten the lure and danger of Gatsby's pursuit.

While driving Gatsby's car through the city, Daisy accidentally strikes Myrtle Wilson in the street. The accident eclipses earlier tensions and sows guilt, fear, and rumors that ripple through the lives of all involved. The event becomes a catalyst for ensuing tragedy.

Returning home, Daisy confesses to Tom, Nick, and Jordan that she killed Myrtle. The revelation reframes who bears responsibility for the tragedy and deepens the moral complexity surrounding Gatsby's fate. The confession also isolates Gatsby from his allies.

Tom, Daisy, and Jordan try to pin Myrtle's death on Gatsby to protect themselves. Nick objects to the plan and steps back, choosing to detach from the scheming circle. The rift foreshadows Gatsby's imminent exposure and downfall.

George Wilson grows convinced that Gatsby was involved in Myrtle's death and confronts Tom at his home. Tom refuses to reveal Gatsby's name, further entangling the web of deceit. The tension between truth and convenience pushes events toward a tragic conclusion.

Tom tries to call Gatsby to warn him of the danger looming over him, but Gatsby does not answer the phone. The missed connection seals Gatsby's vulnerability to Wilson's vengeance. The inaction underscores Gatsby's isolation from the people around him.

Gatsby, talking with Nick by the pool, renounces his sinful life and the criminal means by which he gained his wealth. Moments later, Wilson shoots Gatsby dead, ending Gatsby's dream and his life. The pool becomes a stark symbol of fragile dreams and their abrupt end.

Gatsby's funeral is sparsely attended, with only Nick and Jordan present to say goodbye. The lack of mourners emphasizes the hollow nature of Gatsby's ascent and the emptiness of the world he sought to join. The scene underscores the story's critique of the era's values.

In the wake of Gatsby's death, Nick and Jordan decide to marry and depart for the Midwest, leaving behind the East's glitter and disillusionment. Nick's narration closes the tale with a sober reflection on dreams, morality, and consequence.