Chapter 1 Reflection: Introduction to new life in "East Egg"

Nick is a symbol of the "American Dream" this character is moved out from is normal life into the hospitality of East Egg. The first thing that Nick notices is the extravagant and lavish decor on the exterior of the house. When he walks up to the front steps of Tom's house he is greeted by a rather large man. Tom stands up and greets Nick with a pompous and arrogant statement "I've got a nice place here." Tom's ego is out on a joy ride, but his decency is left up to dry. Their house, on the outside, is everything you could dream of, yet when Nick steps into the house he realizes that all of it is just a show. Mrs. Baker is a stuck up woman that does not even give Nick a glance when he walks into the house. Daisy on the other hand is over joyed to see Nick. Even though Mrs. Baker is a guest at the Buchanan's, she has not right to treat Nick in this manner. Nick just shrugs it all off his shoulders and chats with the two women sitting on the couch. Evanescently, they start talking about Gatsby, but they are interrupted by the call of dinner. When they exit out of the back of the house, there is a table set for them with candles on the table. Going out of their way to look elegant and civilized, only makes them seem more ridiculous to Nick's eyes. Throughout the entire table conversation Tom and Daisy are passively arguing. This chemistry between them shows an early sign of trouble in the near future. Tom gets a call in the middle of dinner, but it is by someone who will only make this situation worse for everyone. Mrs. Baker tells Nick that Tom is cheating on Daisy with some girl. Tom's live is in the process of deterioration. He is desperately trying to hold on to what is climatic in his life. When is all said and done Nick leaves for the day. On his way out Daisy comments on a rumor that she heard from three people. The insists that the rumor that she heard must be true. Nick is disgusted because Daisy thinks she knows more about his life than he does. At the end of the book Nick sees a figure looking up at the stars. Nick thinks that the figure resembles Gatsby and he almost calls out to him, but he does not. Gatsby looks as if he is trembling over the water. As soon as Nick looks back at that spot, Gatsby is long gone. Goodbye Gatsby!