The Great Gatsby Analysis Chapter 1

In the first chapter of The Great Gatsby we are introduced to the narrator Nick, who also characterizes himself as the writer of the book too. One of the first things that he does is pass on some advice that his father gave him which is “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this would haven 't had the advantages that you 've had”, as a result of this he is nonjudgemental. I like this quote because it reminds me that whenever I want to talk bad about someone or even complain about something I must remember that some people have it worse that I, and that I am blessed to have all of the things that I have. We learn that Nick is from the Carraway family which apparently means that he’s got class and wealth. Nick introduces us to the setting of the book which is …show more content…
This is said by Daisy when she is talking to Nick and Jordan about her first words to her infant daughter. While Daisy is not a fool she grew up in an environment and an era where the intelligence of women is not of value. Even though she refers to the values of the era she does not challenge is because of the boredom that she has experienced she thinks it would be better to be a fool, and just have more fun while living a simplistic life. In chapter two Nick introduces us to the land between New York City and the West egg, he refers to it as the “Valley of ashes”. The valley of the ashes is a desolate plain where New York dumps its ashes, the men who work there shovel up the ashes. Unlike the other settings of the book this one shows us a picture of absolute desolation and poverty, it doesn 't have the glamorous appeal of the other settings. The valley symbolizes the moral decay that is hidden beneath the allure of the West egg and East egg. The valley of ashes is the home of the only poor character that we see in the