I
Inmyyounger
i
andmorevulnerableyearsmyotac
fathergavemesomeadvicekoji
thatI’vebeenturningoverinmyumu
mindeversince.“Wheneveryoufeellikecriticizinganyone,”hetold
mi
me,“justrememberthatallna
thepeopleinthisworldhaven’thadna
theadvantagesthatyou’vehad.”Hedidn’tsayany
više
more,butwe’vealwaysbeenunusuallycommunicativeinje
areservedway,andIunderstoodda
thathemeantagreatdealviše
morethanthat.Inconsequence,I’minclinedtoreserve
sve
alljudgements,ahabitthathasopenedupmnoge
manycuriousnaturestomei
andalsomademethevictimofnotje
afewveteranbores.Theabnormal
um
mindisquicktodetecti
andattachitselftothisqualitykada
whenitappearsinanormalperson,i
andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustlyaccusedofbeingapolitician,jer
becauseIwasprivytona
thesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.Većina
Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,ili
orahostilelevitywhenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignda
thatanintimaterevelationwasquiveringonthehorizon;fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,
ili
oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressih
them,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.Reservingjudgementsisa
stvar
matterofinfinitehope.Iamstilla
malo
littleafraidofmissingsomethingako
ifIforgetthat,asmyotac
fathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthefundamentaldecenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.I
And,afterboastingthiswayofmytolerance,Icometotheadmissionthatithasalimit.Conduct
može
maybefoundedonthehardrockili
orthewetmarshes,butnakon
afteracertainpointIdon’tzanima me
carewhatit’sfoundedon.Kad
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastprošle
lastautumnIfeltthatIwantedtheworldtobeinuniformi
andatasortofmoralattentionforever;Iwantedno
više
moreriotousexcursionswithprivilegedglimpsesintothehumansrce
heart.OnlyGatsby,themanwhogiveshis
ime
nametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,whorepresentedsve
everythingforwhichIhaveanunaffectedscorn.Ako
Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewasnešto
somethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightenedsensitivitytona
thepromisesoflife,asako
ifhewererelatedtooneofonih
thoseintricatemachinesthatregisterearthquakesdeset
tenthousandmilesaway.Thisresponsivenesshadnothingtodo
s
withthatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichisdignifiedunderthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftfornadu
hope,aromanticreadinesssuchasIhaveneverfoundinanydruge
otherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshallevernaći
findagain.No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightatthe
kraju
end;itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,whatfouldustfloatedinthewakeofhisdreamsthattemporarilyclosedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrows
i
andshort-windedelationsofmen.My
obitelj
familyhavebeenprominent,well-to-doosoba
peopleinthisMiddleWesterngradu
cityforthreegenerations.TheCarrawaysare
nešto
somethingofaclan,andwehaveje
atraditionthatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,ali
buttheactualfounderofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrat
brother,whocamehereinfifty-one,sentje
asubstitutetotheCivilRat
War,andstartedthewholesalehardwareposao
businessthatmyfathercarriesondanas
today.Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,
ali
butI’msupposedtolookkao
likehim—withspecialreferencetona
theratherhard-boiledpaintingthathangsinfather’suredu
office.IgraduatedfromNewHavenin1915,
samo
justaquarterofacenturynakon
aftermyfather,andamalo
littlelaterIparticipatedinthatdelayedTeutonicmigrationknownastheVeliki
GreatWar.Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughly
da
thatIcamebackrestless.Insteadofbeing
na
thewarmcentreoftheworld,na
theMiddleWestnowseemedkao
liketheraggededgeofna
theuniverse—soIdecidedtootići
goEastandlearnthebondposao
business.EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportone
još
moresingleman.Allmyaunts
i
andunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolformi
me,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”sa
withverygrave,hesitantfaces.Otac
Fatheragreedtofinancemeforje
ayear,andaftervariousdelaysIcameEast,permanently,Ithought,inna
thespringoftwenty-two.Thepracticalthingwasto
naći
findroomsinthecity,ali
butitwasawarmseason,andIhadupravo
justleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees,sokad
whenayoungmanattheuredu
officesuggestedthatwetakeje
ahousetogetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedkao
likeagreatidea.Hefoundthe
kuću
house,aweather-beatencardboardbungalowateightyje
amonth,butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,a
andIwentouttothecountryalone.Ihad
je
adog—atleastIhadhimforje
afewdaysuntilheranaway—andanstarog
oldDodgeandaFinnishžene
woman,whomademybedi
andcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnishwisdomtoherselfovertheelectricstove.Itwaslonelyfor
je
adayorsountilonejutra
morningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedod
thanI,stoppedmeontheroad.“Howdoyou
doći
gettoWestEggvillage?”heaskedhelplessly.
Itold
mu
him.AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.
Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehadcasuallyconferredonmethefreedomoftheneighbourhood.
I
Andsowiththesunshinei
andthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,baš
justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliarconvictionthatživot
lifewasbeginningoveragains
withthesummer.Therewassomuchto
čitanje
read,foronething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutoftheyoungbreath-givingzraka
air.Iboughtadozenvolumesonbanking
i
andcreditandinvestmentsecurities,i
andtheystoodonmyshelfinredi
andgoldlikenewmoneyfromthemint,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatsamo
onlyMidasandMorganandMaecenasknew.I
AndIhadthehighintentionofreadingmnoge
manyotherbooksbesides.Iwasratherliteraryincollege—one
godine
yearIwroteaseriesofvrlo
verysolemnandobviouseditorialsforna
theYaleNews—andnowIwasgoingtobringvratiti
backallsuchthingsintomyživot
lifeandbecomeagainthatmostlimitedofallspecialists,na
the“well-roundedman.”Thisisn’t
samo
justanepigram—lifeismuchmoresuccessfullylookedatfromasinglewindow,nakon
afterall.Itwasamatterofchance
da
thatIshouldhaverentedje
ahouseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.ItwasonthatslenderriotousislandwhichextendsitselfdueeastofNewYork—and
gdje
wherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,dvije
twounusualformationsofland.Twentymilesfrom
na
thecityapairofenormouseggs,identicalincontouri
andseparatedonlybyacourtesybay,jutoutintona
themostdomesticatedbodyofsaltvode
waterintheWesternhemisphere,na
thegreatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyare
oboje
bothcrushedflatatthecontactend—buttheirphysicalresemblancemora
mustbeasourceofperpetualwondertothegullskoji
thatflyoverhead.Tothewinglessamoreinterestingphenomenonistheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshape
i
andsize.IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,thelessfashionableofthetwo,
iako
thoughthisisamostsuperficialtagtoexpressthebizarrei
andnotalittlesinistercontrastizmeđu
betweenthem.Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,
samo
onlyfiftyyardsfromtheZvuka
Sound,andsqueezedbetweentwohugeplaceskoja
thatrentedfortwelveorfifteenthousandje
aseason.Theoneonmyrightwas
je
acolossalaffairbyanystandard—itwasje
afactualimitationofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,s
withatowerononestrani
side,spankingnewunderathinbeardofrawivy,i
andamarbleswimmingpool,i
andmorethanfortyacresoflawni
andgarden.ItwasGatsby’smansion.
Ili
Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasje
amansioninhabitedbyagentlemanofthatimena
name.Myownhousewasaneyesore,
ali
butitwasasmalleyesore,i
andithadbeenoverlooked,soIhadje
aviewofthewater,je
apartialviewofmyneighbour’slawn,i
andtheconsolingproximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsje
amonth.AcrossthecourtesybaythewhitepalacesoffashionableEastEggglitteredalongthe
vodu
water,andthehistoryofthesummerstvarno
reallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertamo
theretohavedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.Daisywasmy
druga
secondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.I
AndjustafterthewarIspentdva
twodayswiththeminChicago.Her
suprug
husband,amongvariousphysicalaccomplishments,hadbeenoneofthemostpowerfulendsthateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinje
away,oneofthosemenwhoreachsuchanacutelimitedexcellenceattwenty-onethatsve
everythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.His
obitelj
familywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedoms
withmoneywasamatterforreproach—butsada
nowhe’dleftChicagoandcomeEastinje
afashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway:forinstance,he’dbroughtdown
je
astringofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.Itwas
teško
hardtorealizethatačovjek
maninmyowngenerationwaswealthydovoljno
enoughtodothat.WhytheycameEastIdon’t
znam
know.TheyhadspentayearinFrancefor
bez
noparticularreason,andthendriftedovdje
hereandthereunrestfullywhereverljudi
peopleplayedpoloandwererichzajedno
together.Thiswasapermanent
potez
move,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,ali
butIdidn’tbelieveit—IhadnosightintoDaisy’ssrce
heart,butIfeltthatTomwoulddriftonforeverseeking,je
alittlewistfully,forthedramaticturbulenceofneke
someirrecoverablefootballgame.AndsoithappenedthatonawarmwindyeveningIdroveovertoEastEggtosee
dva
twooldfriendswhomIscarcelyknewatall.Their
kuća
housewasevenmoreelaboratenego
thanIexpected,acheerfulred-and-whiteGeorgianColonialmansion,overlookingna
thebay.Thelawnstartedatthebeach
i
andrantowardsthefrontvratima
doorforaquarterofje
amile,jumpingoversundialsi
andbrickwalksandburninggardens—finallykada
whenitreachedthehousedriftingupthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthemomentumofitsrun.The
prednji
frontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,glowingsada
nowwithreflectedgoldandwideopentothewarmwindyafternoon,andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandings
withhislegsapartontheprednji
frontporch.Hehadchanged
od
sincehisNewHavenyears.Sada
Nowhewasasturdystraw-hairedčovjek
manofthirty,witharatherhardmouthi
andasuperciliousmanner.Twoshiningarroganteyeshadestablisheddominance
nad
overhisfaceandgavehimtheappearanceofuvijek
alwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.Noteventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidetheenormouspowerofthatbody—heseemedtofillthoseglisteningboots
dok
untilhestrainedthetoplacing,i
andyoucouldseeaveliki
greatpackofmuscleshiftingkad
whenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.Itwas
je
abodycapableofenormousleverage—acrueltijelo
body.Hisspeakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtotheimpressionoffractiousnessheconveyed.
Therewas
je
atouchofpaternalcontemptinga
it,eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenkoji
whohadhatedhisguts.“Now,don’t
misliti
thinkmyopiniononthesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtosay,“justzato što
becauseI’mstrongerandmoreofamuškarac
manthanyouare.”Wewereinthesameseniorsociety,
i
andwhilewewereneverintimateIuvijek
alwayshadtheimpressionthatheapprovedofmei
andwantedmetolikehims
withsomeharsh,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.Wetalkedfora
nekoliko
fewminutesonthesunnyporch.“I’vegot
je
aniceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.Turningmearoundbyonearm,hemoved
je
abroadflathandalongna
thefrontvista,includinginitssweepje
asunkenItaliangarden,apola
halfacreofdeep,pungentroses,i
andasnub-nosedmotorboatthatbumpedna
thetideoffshore.“ItbelongedtoDemaine,theoilman.”
Heturnedmearound
opet
again,politelyandabruptly.“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalked
kroz
throughahighhallwayintoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothekuću
housebyFrenchwindowsateitherkraja
end.Thewindowswereajar
i
andgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrassvani
outsidethatseemedtogrowje
alittlewayintothekući
house.Abreezeblewthroughthe
sobu
room,blewcurtainsinatonekraju
endandouttheotherlikepaleflags,twistingthemuptowardthefrostedwedding-cakeoftheceiling,andthenrippledoverthewine-colouredrug,makingje
ashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.The
jedini
onlycompletelystationaryobjectinthesobi
roomwasanenormouscouchonkojem
whichtwoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponananchoredballoon.Theywere
oboje
bothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingandflutteringasiftheyhadupravo
justbeenblownbackinnakon
afterashortflightaroundthekuće
house.Imusthavestoodfora
nekoliko
fewmomentslisteningtothewhipi
andsnapofthecurtainsi
andthegroanofapictureonthewall.Thentherewas
je
aboomasTomBuchananshuttherearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutoko
abouttheroom,andthecurtainsandtherugsandthedvije
twoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.Theyoungerofthetwowas
je
astrangertome.Shewasextended
punu
fulllengthatherendofthedivan,completelymotionless,a
andwithherchinraisedje
alittle,asifshewerebalancingnešto
somethingonitwhichwasvrlo
quitelikelytofall.Ifshesawmeoutofthecornerofhereyesshegave
nijedan
nohintofit—indeed,Iwasgotovo
almostsurprisedintomurmuringanapologyforhavingdisturbedherbycomingu
in.Theothergirl,Daisy,madeanattempttorise—sheleanedslightlyforward
sa
withaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,anabsurd,charminglittlelaugh,andIlaughedtakođer
tooandcameforwardintothesobu
room.“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughed
opet
again,asifshesaidnešto
somethingverywitty,andheldmyruku
handforamoment,lookingupintomylice
face,promisingthattherewasnema
nooneintheworldshesomuchwantedtovidjeti
see.Thatwasawayshehad.
Shehintedin
je
amurmurthatthesurnameofthebalancingdjevojka
girlwasBaker.(I’vehearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwas
samo
onlytomakepeopleleantowardher;anirrelevantcriticism
koja
thatmadeitnolesscharming.)Atanyrate,
Gđice
MissBaker’slipsfluttered,shenoddedatmegotovo
almostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherglavu
headbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredje
alittleandgivenhernešto
somethingofafright.Again
je
asortofapologyarosetomylips.Gotovo
Almostanyexhibitionofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsastunnedtributefrommene
me.Ilookedbackatmycousin,whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.
Itwasthekindofvoicethattheearfollows
gore
upanddown,asifsvaki
eachspeechisanarrangementofnotesthatwillnikada
neverbeplayedagain.Her
lice
facewassadandlovelys
withbrightthingsinit,brighteyesi
andabrightpassionatemouth,ali
buttherewasanexcitementinhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttozaboraviti
forget:asingingcompulsion,awhispered“Listen,”
je
apromisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustje
awhilesinceandthatthereweregay,excitingthingshoveringinthenextsatu
hour.ItoldherhowIhadstoppedoffinChicagofor
je
adayonmywayEast,i
andhowadozenpeoplehadsenttheirljubav
lovethroughme.“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“The
cijeli
wholetownisdesolate.Allthecars
imaju
havetheleftrearwheelpaintedcrno
blackasamourningwreath,i
andthere’sapersistentwailsvi
allnightalongthenorthshore.”“Howgorgeous!
Let’sgoback,Tom.
Tomorrow!”
Thensheaddedirrelevantly:
“Yououghtto
vidjeti
seethebaby.”“I’dliketo.”
“She’sasleep.
She’s
tri
threeyearsold.Haven’tyoueverseenher?”
“Never.”
“Well,yououghtto
vidjeti
seeher.She’s—”.
TomBuchanan,
koji
whohadbeenhoveringrestlesslyaboutthesobi
room,stoppedandrestedhisruku
handonmyshoulder.“Whatyoudoing,Nick?”
“I’mabondman.”
“Whowith?”
Itold
mu
him.“Neverheardofthem,”heremarkeddecisively.
Thisannoyed
me
me.“Youwill,”Iansweredshortly.
“Youwill
ako
ifyoustayintheEast.”“Oh,I’ll
ostati
stayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesaid,glancingatDaisya
andthenbackatme,asifhewerealertfornešto
somethingmore.“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
AtthispointMissBakersaid:
“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddenness
to
thatIstarted—itwastheprva
firstwordshehadutteredotkad
sinceIcameintothesobu
room.Evidentlyitsurprisedherasmuchasitdid
mene
me,forsheyawnedands
withaseriesofrapid,deftmovementsstoodupintothesobu
room.“I’mstiff,”shecomplained,“I’vebeenlyingonthatsofaforaslongasIcanremember.”
“Don’t
gledaj
lookatme,”Daisyretorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”“No,thanks,”saidMissBakertothe
četiri
fourcocktailsjustinfromthepantry.“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Herhostlookedatherincredulously.
“Youare!”
Hetookdownhis
piće
drinkasifitwereje
adropinthebottomofje
aglass.“Howyoueverget
nešto
anythingdoneisbeyondme.”IlookedatMissBaker,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”
Ienjoyedlookingat
nju
her.Shewasaslender,small-breasted
djevojka
girl,withanerectcarriage,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshoulderskao
likeayoungcadet.Hergreysun-strainedeyeslooked
natrag
backatmewithpolitereciprocalcuriosityoutofawan,charming,discontentedlice
face.Itoccurredtome
sada
nowthatIhadseenher,ili
orapictureofher,somewhereprije
before.“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“Iknow
nekoga
somebodythere.”“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“You
mora
mustknowGatsby.”“Gatsby?”
demandedDaisy.
“WhatGatsby?”
Prije
BeforeIcouldreplythathewasmyneighbourdinnerwasannounced;wedginghistensearmimperatively
ispod
undermine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromna
theroomasthoughheweremovingje
acheckertoanothersquare.Slenderly,languidly,theirhandssetlightlyontheirhips,the
dvije
twoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-colouredporch,opentowardthesunset,gdje
wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.“Whycandles?”
objectedDaisy,frowning.
Shesnappedthemoutwithherfingers.
“In
dva
twoweeksit’llbethelongestdan
dayintheyear.”Shelookedatus
sve
allradiantly.“Doyoualwayswatchforthelongest
dan
dayoftheyearandthenmissga
it?Ialwayswatchforthelongest
dan
dayintheyearandthenmissit.”“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawnedMissBaker,sittingdownatthetableasifsheweregettingintobed.
“Allright,”saidDaisy.
“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdo
ljudi
peopleplan?”BeforeIcould
odgovoriti
answerhereyesfastenedwithanawedexpressiononherlittlefinger.“Look!”
shecomplained;
“Ihurtit.”
We
svi
alllooked—theknucklewasblacki
andblue.“Youdidit,Tom,”shesaidaccusingly.
“I
znam
knowyoudidn’tmeanto,ali
butyoudiddoit.That’swhatIgetformarryingabruteofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysicalspecimenofa—”.
“Ihatethat
riječ
word‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”“Hulking,”insistedDaisy.
Ponekad
SometimessheandMissBakertalkedatonce,unobtrusivelyi
andwithabanteringinconsequencekoja
thatwasneverquitechatter,koja
thatwasascoolastheirwhitedressesi
andtheirimpersonaleyesintheabsenceofalldesire.Theywere
ovdje
here,andtheyacceptedTomi
andme,makingonlyapolitepleasantefforttoentertainili
ortobeentertained.Theyknew
da
thatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverandamalo
littlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverandcasuallyputaway.ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,
gdje
whereaneveningwashurriedfromphasetophasetowardsitsclose,inje
acontinuallydisappointedanticipationorelseinsheernervousdreadofthemomentitself.“Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,”Iconfessedonmysecondglassofcorky
ali
butratherimpressiveclaret.“Can’tyou
pričati
talkaboutcropsorsomething?”Imeant
ništa
nothinginparticularbythisremark,ali
butitwastakenupinanunexpectednačin
way.“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”brokeoutTomviolently.
“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresby
ovog
thismanGoddard?”“Why,no,”Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
“Well,it’s
je
afinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadto
it.Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthewhiterace
će
willbe—willbeutterlysubmerged.It’s
sve
allscientificstuff;it’sbeenproved.”