The Great Gatsby starts out with the narrator of the novel, Nick, moving into a small house on the Long Island shore. What was peculiar about this house is that it is surrounded by multiple mansions, including Jay Gatsby's. Throughout the summer Gatsby's house is the site of many outlandish parties. Shortly after moving into his house Nick spends time with his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom, who live across the bay from Nick and Gatsby. After spending time with these two, he is invited (seemingly out of the blue) to one of Gatsby's parties, a rare instance as most of the party-goers are not invited and simply show up. There he runs into Gatsby and begins to talk to him, but is interrupted as Gatsby is called away to business. As Gatsby heads off he invites Nick on a ride in his hydroplane.
Over the next few weeks as Nick gets to know Gatsby better he learns a few things about him. Namely that he bought his house specifically so he could live directly across from Daisy (with whom he had an old fling with). He has been throwing massive parties with the hope that she will come over, but has not yet. Eventually Nick reintroduces the two and they restart their flame. This all comes to a head when one day Nick, Jordan Baker (Nick's girlfriend), Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby drive into the city. There an argument erupts between Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby, leaving everyone to storm off back to Long Island. On the way back Daisy hits and kills Tom's mistress (Mrs. Wilson) who is crossing the street in Gatsby's car. A few days later Mr. Wilson, finds Gatsby in his pool and shoots him dead before committing suicide.
Over the next few weeks as Nick gets to know Gatsby better he learns a few things about him. Namely that he bought his house specifically so he could live directly across from Daisy (with whom he had an old fling with). He has been throwing massive parties with the hope that she will come over, but has not yet. Eventually Nick reintroduces the two and they restart their flame. This all comes to a head when one day Nick, Jordan Baker (Nick's girlfriend), Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby drive into the city. There an argument erupts between Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby, leaving everyone to storm off back to Long Island. On the way back Daisy hits and kills Tom's mistress (Mrs. Wilson) who is crossing the street in Gatsby's car. A few days later Mr. Wilson, finds Gatsby in his pool and shoots him dead before committing suicide.