The Great Gatsby

Chapter 1 Synopsis

        The narrator of the book is called Nick Carraway and in the beginning he commends himself and explains what he has learnt from his father who said, "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this would haven't had all the advantages that you've had". Nick speaks about himself at a very high standard and mentions that Gatsby represented everything he scorned but that he exempts Gatsby from such judgment and that his personality is nothing short of "gorgeous". 

Nick writes about the hesitation of his relatives to approve his decision to move but eventually went on  to West Egg where he worked in the bond business. From Nick's explanations of two cities East Egg seems to be more conservative while West Egg was home to the rich. Nick mentioned that his house was door to Gatsby's and that his house looked like an eyesore in comparison to Gatsby's.

One night, Nick drove to East Egg to visit and have dinner with his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan and their house is observed with a level of poise, the yard, Tom standing on the veranda, his voice and mostly, inside the house which seemed to be the icing on the cake. Nick describes Jordan attitude toward him coldly as she did not even look in his direction when he entered the room. the conversation over dinner was on the Nick found hard to fit into as he said "You make me feel uncivilized, Daisy, cant you talk about crops or something?". Dinner was interrupted by a phone call for Tom which made Daisy also leave the room and in their absence Jordan tells Nick that "Tom's got some woman in New York" and insists that he quite's himself so that she can listen. Daisy shared with Nick what she had said after the nurse told her she had a daughter and as he left Tom and Daisy hinted for Nick to take an interest in Jordan.

Upon Nick's arrival home he sees who he assumes to be Gatsby but is reluctant to tell him hi because of  the signals he seemed to be getting from Gatsby.

The significance of the green light at the end of chapter one could be that it symbolized Gatsby's hopes and dreams, as Nick describes him as reaching toward it trembling as if he was trying to touch it to bring it closer.                                                                                         

Chapter 2 Synopsis 

There's a dump for ashes midway between West Egg and New York City that's overlooked by a man by the name of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg with various workers. Nick and Tom are passing that area when Tom forces Nick to see "[his] girl" and they hop off the train at one of the stops the train makes and proceeds to George Wilson's garage. Tom and George make small talk until Myrtle arrives and is clearly taken in by Tom  as she c,loses the distance between them. Tom and Myrtle agreed to meet "by the news stand on the lower level" and they all (except George) continue on to an apartment which Tom has put aside for his affair with Myrtle after doing some shopping. There was a small party with whiskey at that apartment to which Myrtle's sister Catherine was invited to meet Nick. 

On many occasions Nick tried to leave the party but was pulled back in his seat by the conversations taking place. Nick said that Myrtle seemed to have changed with her dress as she became louder with her conversations. At the end of the night Tom and Myrtle was seen arguing about Tom's wife Daisy, Tom was saying that she should not be speaking of his wife but Myrtle insisted that she could say Daisy's name as much as she wanted to until Tom Hit her in the face with his palm and broke her nose. Nick and Mr Mckee leaves, both seeming to be drunk and Nick waits for the 4 am train to arrive.  

Answers to short answer questions

Act 4, Scene 4
1)  According to Margaret's monologue, she "lurked in the shadows to watch (her) enemies downfall."
2) Margaret plans to go to France one most of her curse is fulfilled.
3) Richard needs to die for her curse to be complete.
4) Elizabeth asks Margaret to teach her to curse her enemies.
5) Margaret told Elizabeth that if she did not sleep at night, did not eat during the day, compared what she has lost with what she has suffered, remembered her children sweeter than they were, their murder worst than he is and by making her loss greater, it will make the person who caused it worst, this mind set would teach Elizabeth to curse.
6) Richard's mother, the Duchess, told him that "blood will be his end."

Act 4, Scene 5
1) Richard is holding Stanley's son, George Stanley hostage.
2) Stanley explains the hostage situation to Sir Christopher.
3) Elizabeth agrees to let Richard marry her daughter.
4) Richmond is at Pembroke or at Harfordwest in Wales when Stanley leaves Richard.
5) Sir Walter Herbert is a renowned soldier who has joined Richmond.
6) Richmond and his supporters plan to head straight to London if there are no resistance.

Act 5, Scene 1
1) Buckingham is executed in Salisbury.
2) Buckingham is executed on All-Souls' day.
3) Buckingham calls Margaret a Prophetess on his way to his execution.
4) Richard is who Buckingham wanted to speak with before his execution.
5) Buckingham talks to Sheriff right before he is executed.
6) Buckingham believes that he is being executed because he was false to King Edward's children and his wife's allies and that he got exactly what he wished for.

Act 5, Scene 2
1) This scene is taken place near the town of Leicester.
2) Richmond wants to take over the thrown of England to bring everlasting peace to the violent war.
3) Richmond says that Richard's supporters support him because they are afraid of Richard.
4) Richmond is a day's march away from Richard when he receives Stanley's letter.
5) Richmond describes Richard's reign as wretch and bloody.
6) In Richmond's speech he mentions that "hope is swift."

Act 5, Scene 3
1) Richard orders for his tent to be set up in Bosworth Field.
2) Richard lifts his troops spirit by mentioning that their troop is three time the size of Richmond's.
3) Stanley camps out in his regiment.
4) Richard orders someone to wake Stanley when the cock crows.
5) The first ghost to appear to Richard in his dream is the ghost of Prince Edward, King Henry VI's son.
6) According to Richard's almanac, the sun should have risen an hour ago.