Chapter 1

In the first chapter of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, there are many references to eggs so the picture of an egg is relevant to this chapter. One reason why the picture of an egg is relevant to the first chapter is because the main character and narrator of the novel, Nick Carraway, lives on an island in the state of New York called “West Egg”. There is also a neighboring island called “East Egg”. He says that the islands resemble eggs from above. Not an egg in a shell but an egg white. Nick Carraway also tells the reader that he resembles a great uncle who he has seen in a “hard-boiled painting”. “Hard-boiled” is of course another egg reference. Also in the first chapter of the novel, we meet Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Tom is an old friend of Nick’s from college and Daisy is Nick’s cousin. They, like most of the characters in The Great Gatsby, are similar to eggs. They are similar to eggs because their how the look and feel on the outside is completely different to how they look and feel on the inside.

Quotes

"'Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone' he told me, 'just remember that all the people in the world haven't had the advantages you have'" (5). -Nick on his father's advice on not passing judgment. He supposedly lives by this advice but constantly contradicts it throughout the novel.

"I'm supposed to look like him- with special reference to the rather hard-boiled painting that hangs in father's office" (7).- Nick making an egg reference while talking about his great-uncle.

"I lived at West Egg, the- well, the less fashionable of the two..." (9).- Nick on the village in which he lives in. An egg reference.

"Two shining, arrogant eyes..." (11). - Nick on Tom Buchanan.