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The Great Gatsby - Plot Map
2
Character Tracker: Jay Gatsby
In chronological order
Tyler Ugarte - Period 5
Gatsby's Adolescence
James Gatz grew up in North Dakota with parents who
were "shiftless and unsuccessful farm people". His family
was very poor, and he came up with a different version of
himself (Jay Gatsby) as an outlet for his imagination. He worked
as a clam-digger and a salmon fisher on the "south shore of Lake Superior" when he was about 16. He attended college for two weeks, gave up, and came back.
This qualifies as fairly ill fortune for Gatsby. He could have had a
much worse upbringing, but he wasn't particularly wealthy and he didn't have a great relationship with his parents. He also
didn't actually go to Oxford like he said he did, and he
didn't have a decent-paying job until he was 17, when
he met Dan Cody.
Why Did The Author Do This?
Why is it like this?
I think F. Scott Fitzgerald made Gatsby's real backstory not as interesting as the story he tells people partially for contrast and partially to make Gatsby's character more interesting. Making character who has frivolous spending habits and an enormous property in New York start his life in the 12th least-visited state as a clam-digging teenager creates contrast, and thus interest, in a character.
a North Dakota landscape.
Gatsby Works as a Clam-Digger for a Year
When Gatsby was 16, he lived in Minnesota, "beating his way along the south shore of Lake Superior as a clam-digger and a salmon-fisher or in any other capacity that brought him food and bed." (VI, p 98) While it wasn't a huge part in the book, this was the time Gatsby had to himself, away from his parents and away from North Dakota. He had this time to become the self Nick meets in the book. He lives just barely eating and sleeping off of the money he makes from odd jobs.
This qualifies as mildly ill fortune. Objectively, Gatsby's situation doesn't look very bright, but he doesn't ever seem to be troubled about it during the book. It could be worse, but
it's not the best.
Why Did The Author Do This?
I think the author set aside this time in Gatsby's life to develop
himself; that is, his personality and his goals in life. This was before
he met Daisy, so all of his goals are purely self-motivated and unaffected by his obsession with Daisy that comes later. It also sets
up his meeting with Dan Cody, who conveniently shows up right
when Gatsby needs to get off the ground somehow.
Why is it like this?
The south shore of Lake Superior.
Dan Cody Dies, Gatsby is Robbed of his Inheritance
After meeting Dan Cody, Gatsby works for him for 5 years up until Cody's untimely death. During those 5 years, Gatsby got a taste of what life was like for excessively rich people. He developed his manners and style of dress with Cody's help, and learned of his distaste for drinking after seeing Cody and his party attendees horribly drunk on multiple occasions. After Cody dies, Gatsby learns he was entitled to a $25,000 (almost half a million dollars in today's money) inheritance, but Ella Kaye kept it from him and Gatsby got nothing.
This qualifies as moderately ill fortune. It's not the worst that could happen to him, but losing your best friend/
employer/mentor was likely very hard on him, and he
never recieved the hefty inheritance that should
have gone to him and Cody's mistress (who
was already set to recieve millions).
Why Did The Author Do This?
I think F. Scott Fitzgerald designated this time in Gatsby's life to develop
himself; that is, his personality and his goals in life. This was before he met
Daisy, so all of his goals are purely self-motivated. It also set up the opportunity
for Gatsby, a simple farm boy, to learn how to act like a wealthy gentleman in
the 1930's, from someone qualified. Killing Dan Cody easily disposes of his
character such that he won't need to be written about or questioned later. The
fact that Dan Cody was his mentor and best friend adds a little bit of drama to Gatsby's character as well, having lost someone close to him at a young age. Not letting Gatsby keep his inheritance also prevents Gatsby from qualifying as "old money".
Why is it like this?
Gatsby Meets Daisy and Falls in Love
While at Camp Taylor, Gatsby met Daisy, and they fall in
love. They start dating, and that's pretty much it. As we know, Gatsby was in love with her, but he was also infatuated with Daisy to an almost stalker-ish point. This was when they were together and he stopped working toward his goal for himself and instead chose to work towards a fancy estate with everything Daisy could ever want rather than everything he wanted.
This is quite good fortune for Gatsby, as he met someone and fell in love with her. That was the life goal of many people back then, to find love, and that was it. Gatsby stumbled upon it
and then clung tightly—and maybe unwisely, though it's debatable—to it for the next 5 years.
Why Did The Author Do This?
I think the author wrote this in for plot mostly. It's part of the plot
that Gatsby and Daisy knew each other before Daisy got married,
and it sets up the drama that comes when Gatsby and Tom argue in the hotel room 5 years in their future.
Why is it like this?
WWI, Gatsby Does Well but is Still Broke
World War I begins, forcing Gatsby and Daisy to separate. He does very well, earning multiple medals for bravery and the like. When he returns however, he still doesn't have any money, and for a while he was said to have worn his uniform for days because he didn't have any other clothes.
This qualifies as slightly ill fortune. Compared to everything else that happened to him beforehand, going to the war, doing well, earning medals, and not coming home in a body bag is pretty good fortune. On the other hand, being sent to war with
a girlfriend and other obligations at home isn't great. That's
why this checks in at slightly below normal or neutral
fortune.
Why Did The Author Do This?
Why is it like this?
I think F. Scott Fitzgerald set up the timing such that Gatsby
would have to fight in WWI so that he and Daisy would
separate, which in turn sets up the opportunity for the drama
with Daisy getting married to someone she doesn't fully love. Daisy and Gatsby's situation had to be set up such that Gatsby would
need to leave for a valid reason. It also helps reveal some of Daisy's true character when we learn she started dating again after Gatsby left and married Tom because she apparently couldn't wait. The fact
that Daisy did this and Gatsby still loved her afterward adds to their character; Daisy is not as sweet as she seems, and Gatsby is show
to be just as obsessively in love when he was younger as he is 5
years later. Also, making Gatsby broke after the war gives him
the opportunity to become filthy rich through bootlegging
alcohol and gambling.
Gatsby Goes to Oxford, Can't See Daisy
After the war, Gatsby is sent to Oxford University in England through a program for officers, but he only stays 5 months. Upon returning to the United States, Gatsby learns that Daisy had gotten married to Tom Buchanan while he was away.
This qualifies as mildly ill fortune. It wasn't good for Gatsby because he was delayed in seeing Daisy, but it was partially his own fault for staying so long. Also, having the opportunity to go to Oxford, as a poor boy from North Dakota, is pretty good, but Gatsby didn't treat it that way. That's why this doesn't count as good fortune for him.
Why Did The Author Do This?
Why is it like this?
I think the author wrote in this part so Gatsby (or people who
attended his parties) could say he was "an Oxford man", just for
effect. It added interest to his character, the fact that he was able to attend such a prestigious school, but it also is telling of his character and of his love for Daisy to have him give up an amazing opportunity like this one purely for Daisy's sake. I think it was also to set up the drama with Daisy not recieving the letter from Gatsby in time for her
to cancel the wedding. Having him stay a little longer in another country gave Daisy a little more time to get married in a
reasonable amount of time.
Daisy Gets Engaged and Married before Gatsby Returns
While Gatsby is at Oxford, Daisy gets engaged to Tom Buchanan. She writes him a letter that she was going to get married to him, but it likely reached him late. He responds, telling her not to do it because he's alive and coming home, but this reaches Daisy on the night before her wedding and by that point it's too late. When Gatsby arrives home in the U.S., Daisy has already gotten married.
This qualifies as pretty bad fortune. This is the second worst thing that happens to Gatsby in this book, not including when he's shot and killed. Gatsby himself may not have seen this
as a setback (which may say something about his morals)
but objectively, coming home too late and seeing the
love of your life be married to someone else
wouldn't be a good event in anyone's life.
Why Did The Author Do This?
Why is it like this?
I think F. Scott Fitzgerald mostly wrote this in as plot. Having
Gatsby come home too late and letting Daisy and Tom get married
instead creates drama and interest for the plot, especially
coupled with the fact that Tom doesn't really love her (cheated on
her for years, once during their honeymoon) and Daisy won't divorce him simply for religious reasons. It forces Tom into the story and
keeps him there, tied to Daisy, who Gatsby is after the whole time.
Gatsby Conveniently Gets Filthy Rich
Sometime between the time that Gatsby got home from the
war and the time that he met Nick, Gatsby became
unbelievably and unnecessarily rich. We are told in random snippets throughout the book that Gatsby has worked in many fields. Apparently some of his money came from gambling, some came from bootlegging alcohol and selling it over the counter in drugstores he owned, some came from gang business, and further more of it came from a "side project" having to do with stocks and bonds. After he gets rich, he buys himself an enormous mansion with over 40 acres of yard, a marble pool, a private beach, a hydroplane, and two fancy custom cars. He throws tremendous parties every single weekend, with enough food, alcohol, and entertainment to sustain hundreds of people for several hours.
This qualifies as extremely good fortune. It is the life goal of
many Americans, both today and during the 1930's when
The Great Gatsby took place, to become rich enough
to live comfortably and do whatever they want.
Gatsby achieved this; the only thing he was
missing was Daisy.
Why Did The Author Do This?
Why is it like this?
I think the author made Gatsby become super rich for
well-written convenience. If Gatsby had not made that much
money, he wouldn't have been able to see Daisy's house from
across the bay, and he wouldn't have been able to meet her again.
He likely wouldn't be allowed to talk to her due to the class
difference. To make this easier to justify within the novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald just made it part of Gatsby's character that he's
determined, ambitious, and he would do anything for Daisy. Thus, Gatsby conveniently becomes mega-rich, and no one ever
decides to question it (except for Tom, but that was under the
"jealous husband" grounds and not out of actual concern).
Gatsby Meets Daisy Again, They Fall in Love
When Gatsby ""stops by"" for tea while Daisy is over at Nick's house, Nick conveniently has to stand outside in the rain for no reason and he leaves them alone for an hour. When he comes back, Gatsby and Daisy are sitting close to each other, talking happily (and most important, not awkwkardly). Daisy starts her own affair with Gatsby and they hang out a lot. Gatsby has her over, they throw shirts everywhere and dance in an empty ballroom, it's a good time. In fact, this (as far as we know) is probably the highest point in Gatsby's life.
This is when Gatsby is the most hopeful for the future. Daisy
is really in love with Gatsby again, and while he's been
practically ready to pack up and run off with Daisy
almost his whole life, Daisy's with him on it this
time. He's the most happy here, more than
any other point in the book.
Why Did The Author Do This?
Why is it like this?
I think F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote this in as the "rising action", as it
would be in a traditional story arc model. This is the calm before the storm; that is, this is the best things are for everyone before shit hits the fan. Tom and Myrtle are good (aside from her broken nose), Mr. Wilson hasn't figured out that Myrtle is having an affair, Gatsby and Daisy are happy, and Nick is blissfully unaware of his fifth-wheeling. Immediately after this is when everything starts to go downhill for Gatsby.
Tom and Gatsby Argue, Daisy Won't Admit She Never Loved Tom
When everyone tensely goes to New York and rents out a
hotel suite for no reason, Tom and Gatsby start arguing. Gatsby is quick to speak for Daisy and uses the fact that "she never loved him" as his main arguing point. Daisy, who never asked to be thrown into this conversation, uncomfortably and hesitantly says she never loved Tom, and then immediately takes it back. Tom decides to be a dick to show that he feels he's won and Gatsby loses his shit, unintentionally pushing Daisy further away. She and Gatsby drive home, unintentionally killing Myrtle on the way.
This is pretty much the worst it can get for someone in one
day. Gatsby unintentionally pushed the love of his life
away, then his dreams of running away with her
afterward were crushed, then they
accidentally killed someone. The only
way it could get worse is if
he died...
Why Did The Author Do This?
Why is it like this?
I think F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote this as the climax of the book. This
is where everything goes wrong, for everyone except Nick. He may
have decided that Gatsby and Daisy weren't going to get a happily
ever after because sometimes it's boring to read those, or maybe
because he had a specific moral or lesson in mind that he wanted to
convey and he wouldn't have gotten his point across if he didn't
make this happen.
Gatsby is Shot and Killed
After Myrtle was run over, Tom decided to try to "comfort"
Mr. Wilson by telling him who the yellow car belonged to. At
this point, Gatsby's fame and reputation backfires, as it's very
easy to find where Gatsby lives because of it. Wilson gets through to Gatsby's backyard while Gatsby uses his swimming pool for the first time all summer. Gatsby is waiting for a phone call from Daisy, but never recieves it. Even if she did call, Gatsby wouldn't have picked up, because he had already been shot in the back.
One's fortune literally cannot get any worse than dying, especially by being shot unexpectedly and bleeding out. Granted, he did end up dying in a marble swimming pool
that was a part of his enormous New York estate; Gatsby
probably died with a view of his private beach,
Manhasset Bay, and Daisy's house right across
from him. It's not bad, but he still
died, so that's automatically
the worst.
Why Did The Author Do This?
Why is it like this?
I think the author killed off Gatsby for a bit of closure. If he had left
him alive, there would have still been tension and issues between
him and Tom. A lot of pining between Daisy and Gatsby likely would
have occurred, and that just doesn't feel very final. Having Gatsby
be dead gives Tom closure, as he doesn't have to worry about Daisy cheating anymore; it gives Daisy closure as now she doesn't have to choose her favorite significant other; and it gives Mr. Wilson
closure, though he only had it for 10 or so seconds after he killed
Gatsby and before he killed himself. It helps bring the novel to
a close.