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In the beginning of the story, Nick is introduced to us [the readers]. He has moved from the Midwest to New York [specifically, West Egg] to get rich quick by becoming a stock broker. Also living in New York is his second cousin, Daisy, who is married to Tom Buchanan. Nick is soon invited out and about and learns of many things: Firstly, he learns of Gatsby, who he knows as his next-door neighbor. Secondly, he learns of Daisy and Gatsby’s past relationship [They used to be a couple but broke up due to the fact that Gatsby was away at war - World War I - and had lost his riches, which didn’t really make him worth loving in comparison to Tom]. Finally, Nick learns of Tom’s relationship with Myrtle which is going on behind Daisy’s back. From the moment he heard about Gatsby and saw his house, he was envious and dying to meet the man and he gets his opportunity when Gatsby’s chauffeur brings him an invitation to Gatsby’s latest bash. When Nick goes over to the party, he meets Jordan and Gatsby and learns that he and Gatsby had fought in the same war (World War I) and same division (Third Division; Ninth Machine-Gun Battalion). A friendship has begun to build up, and Nick fits in.

Nick has begun to enjoy New York, the pace and feel of the city, etc. He has a certain routine that he does almost everyday and is enjoying himself for once. Another high point is that in midsummer, he meets up with Jordan Baker again, whom he hasn’t seen for a while. The end up going places together and he learns more about her and they become closer friends. Meanwhile, Nick and Gatsby have also become good friends, closer and often dine out. While they dined out one day, he meets up with Jordan again and she tells him of how she met Gatsby – through Daisy. She had met him when Daisy and Gatsby were still together and this is the first time Nick had heard of this. Jordan and Nick then formulate a plan to get Daisy and Gatsby back together – buy inviting Daisy and Gatsby over to Nick’s house on the same day. When they finally meet again [after 5 years that November], Daisy and Gatsby fall in love again and what wins Daisy over is the amount of shirts [good, clean, "beautiful" shirts] that Gatsby has as well as his house [his house is like Daisy’s old house, it overlooks the bay, is big, etc.] and they fall in love again. After a while, we find out that Gatsby’s name isn’t really Jay Gatsby but rather James Gatz. He had it legally changed when he was 17 as he figured that his name didn’t really "suit" him very well. Since Daisy has been hanging around with Gatsby, Tom was beginning to feel suspicious and neglected so he started going around to Gatsby’s parties with her. After one of the parties, however, Gatsby begins to feel far away from Daisy, as if their relationship isn’t like it was before. Before they used to sit and talk for hours says Gatsby. All Gatsby wants is for Daisy to go to Tom and say "I never loved you", then go live happily ever after in Louisiana like they did before the war.

One day, Tom and Daisy invite Gatsby, Nick, Miss Baker and Jordan out to lunch at their house in New York. During this trip, Daisy and Gatsby finally reveal their love in public in front of Tom as Daisy finds out about Toms affair with Myrtle Wilson [George Wilson’s husband]. They then all go to town where Daisy and Gatsby act very much in love and Tom gets extremely jealous. Later, when they are all out to dinner, he accuses Gatsby of trying to start trouble in his house and they begin to fight with Daisy declaring that she loves Gatsby and that she doesn't love Tom anymore. Next, Tom tells Daisy and Gatsby to leave in Gatsby's car. While all of this is going on, George Wilson and his wife, Myrtle [whom Tom is having an affair with] are also having an argument. She runs out of the house, only to be hit by a car [which doesn't stop] and is killed instantly. Tom comes by after the other car has left and sees that his lover is dead. However, this has no affect on him. Later on, Tom tells Wilson that Gatsby did it [hit Myrtle]. Wilson then goes to Gatsby's house, kills Gatsby then shoots himself. When Nick is making funeral arrangements, trying to find some of Gatsby's friends, he realizes that Gatsby doesn't have many friends and those who are don't really care about him except for their little "group". Saddened by Gatsby's death, Nick moves back to the Midwest to start a new life.

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