The Great Gatsby — Study Guide (Chapter 1)
1) Quick Chapter Snapshot
Nick Carraway introduces himself and his guiding “rule” about reserving judgment. He moves East to learn the bond business and rents a small house in West Egg beside Gatsby’s mansion. Nick visits Daisy and Tom Buchanan in East Egg, meeting Jordan Baker and witnessing the uncomfortable hints of Tom’s infidelity. The chapter ends with Nick seeing Gatsby for the first time—alone, reaching toward a distant green light across the water.
2) Themes / Big Ideas (and how Chapter 1 sets them up)
1. Judgment vs. Moral Responsibility
- Nick claims he “reserves all judgments,” but admits he has limits. This sets up a major question of the novel: Can a person stay neutral while surrounded by wrongdoing? - Nick’s narration invites readers to ask: Is Nick truly fair—or selectively sympathetic?
2. Class, Privilege, and “Advantages”
- The father’s advice about “advantages” frames the novel’s obsession with wealth, social class, and inherited power. - The “eggs” (West Egg vs. East Egg) symbolize new money vs. old money, and how the same “shape” (wealth) can hide deep social divisions.
3. The American Dream / Hope vs. Corruption
- Gatsby is introduced as someone with an “extraordinary gift for hope.” - But Nick also hints that something “foul” follows Gatsby’s dreams—introducing the idea that dreams can be stained by the methods used to chase them.
4. Appearance vs. Reality (Performance and Image)
- Daisy’s charm, Tom’s dominance, and Jordan’s coolness all feel staged or performative. - Nick notices the “basic insincerity” in Daisy—suggesting people in this world act roles rather than speak honestly.
5. Gender Expectations and Cynicism
- Daisy’s comment about hoping her daughter will be “a beautiful little fool” shows how women may be expected to survive by being decorative and agreeable. - This ties to the novel’s critique of a society where women’s power is limited and often indirect.
6. Restlessness, Carelessness, and Moral Drift
- Tom and Daisy “drift” through life with money and status protecting them. - The phone call from Tom’s mistress intruding at dinner shows how carelessness harms others while the wealthy continue comfortably.
7. Setting as Symbol (East/West, Eggs, Light)
- The geography matters: East = money, glamour, corruption; West = older values (as Nick imagines it). - The green light becomes a central symbol of longing, distance, and desire.
3) Vocabulary List (Chapter 1)
| Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| vulnerable | adjective | open to emotional or physical harm; easily affected |
| advantages | noun | benefits or favorable circumstances that help someone succeed |
| communicative | adjective | able/willing to share thoughts and feelings |
| reserve (judgements) | verb | to hold back; delay forming an opinion |
| privy | adjective | having secret or private knowledge |
| feigned | verb | faked; pretended |
| levity | noun | lightness; joking humor (often at an inappropriate time) |
| plagiaristic | adjective | copied; unoriginal (as if stolen from others) |
| suppressions | noun | deliberate concealments; holding things back |
| snobbishly | adverb | in a way that shows superiority based on class/status |
| decencies | noun | socially/morally proper behavior |
| exempt | adjective | free from an obligation or reaction; not included |
| scorn | noun | strong contempt or disdain |
| temperament | noun | a person’s usual mood or emotional nature |
| abortive | adjective | failing to develop fully; unsuccessful |
| elations | noun | moments of great happiness or excitement |
| prominent | adjective | well-known; important; noticeable |
| clan | noun | a close-knit family group (often with shared status/tradition) |
| restless | adjective | unable to relax; dissatisfied; unsettled |
| anticlimax | noun | a disappointing drop after an exciting moment |
| supercilious | adjective | arrogantly superior; contemptuous |
| fractiousness | noun | irritability; tendency to argue or cause trouble |
| imperatively | adverb | in a commanding, forceful way |
| languidly | adverb | in a slow, relaxed, dreamy way |
| inconsequence | noun | lack of logical connection or importance; randomness |
| claret | noun | red wine |
| pessimist | noun | someone who expects bad outcomes |
| submerged | verb/adjective | covered/overwhelmed; figuratively “overtaken” |
| tangible | adjective | able to be touched; clear and real |
| peremptorily | adverb | in a bossy, decisive, no-argument way |
| libel | noun | a false written/spoken statement that harms reputation |
| silhouette | noun | a dark outline of a figure against a lighter background |
| intimation | noun | a subtle hint or suggestion |
| vanished | verb | disappeared suddenly |
4) Quotes to Look For (Key Passages + Why They Matter)
Nick’s father’s advice (privilege + judgment)
- “…all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”
- Look for how this becomes Nick’s excuse for tolerance—and how it may hide a class attitude.
Nick’s “reserve judgments” philosophy (narrator reliability)
- “I’m inclined to reserve all judgements…”
- Important because Nick is telling the story—his “fairness” shapes everything we learn.
Nick’s moral limit (his values will clash with the East)
- “…after a certain point I don’t care what it’s founded on.”
- Signals Nick is not endlessly tolerant; he will judge when pushed.
First major statement about Gatsby (hope + romantic idealism)
- “…an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness…”
- This frames Gatsby as exceptional—almost mythic.
The “eggs” description (class division)
- “…a pair of enormous eggs, identical in contour…”
- The eggs symbolize two rich worlds that look similar but operate differently.
Tom’s physical description (power + brutality)
- “…a cruel body.”
- Establishes Tom as dominant and potentially violent.
Tom’s racist “science” rant (social ideology + decay)
- “Civilization’s going to pieces…”
- Reveals Tom’s worldview: fear, entitlement, and the urge to “dominate.”
Daisy’s “beautiful little fool” line (gender + cynicism)
- “…a beautiful little fool.”
- One of the most famous lines—captures Daisy’s bitterness and the era’s limits on women.
Nick’s realization Daisy is insincere (appearance vs reality)
- “…the basic insincerity of what she had said.”
- Helps readers see Daisy’s charm as a kind of performance.
Gatsby reaching toward the green light (desire + distance)
- “…he stretched out his arms toward the dark water…”
- The green light becomes a central symbol of longing and unreachable dreams.
5) Study/Discussion Questions (Optional Self-Check)
- Does Nick truly “reserve judgment,” or is he judging constantly in subtle ways?
- What do we learn about Tom and Daisy from the dinner scene—and what do they try to hide?
- Why introduce Gatsby silently, at night, reaching toward a distant light? What mood does that create?
- How do West Egg and East Egg already feel like different worlds, even though both are wealthy?
If you want, I can add a character map (Nick, Tom, Daisy, Jordan, Gatsby) for Chapter 1 or a short symbol tracker (green light, eggs, wind/curtains, phone calls).