Setting

• The story takes place in 1922.

• The narrator, Nick, has moved from Minnesota (the "middle-west") to New York City.

• Unlike the conservative, aristocratic, "old money" East Egg, West Egg is home to the “new rich,” those who, having made their fortunes recently, have neither the social connections nor the refinement to move among the East Egg set.

East Egg represents...

• Good breeding

• Taste

• Aristocracy

• Leisure

West Egg represents...

• Ostentation

• Garishness

• Flashy wealth

Characters so far...

• Nick: narrator who tells us he will reserve judgment - but does he?

• Tom: friend of Nick's from college who is disgustingly wealthy

• Daisy: Tom's wife, Nick's cousin (second, once removed); she appears cynical of everything

• Jordan Baker: famous golfer friend of Daisy's; snobby

Tom and Daisy's Relationship

• Seems to have some problems; Tom has a mistress

• They have a daughter who is two - where is she?

• As part of the East Egg wealthy people, they cover up their problems with superficial pleasantness, pretending they don't exist.