I
Inmyyounger
ja
andmorevulnerableyearsmyfatherantoi
gavemesomeadvicethatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.“Wheneveryoufeellikecriticizinganyone,”he
sanoi
toldme,“justrememberthatallthepeopleinthisworldhaven’thadtheadvantagesettä
thatyou’vehad.”Hedidn’t
sanonut
sayanymore,butwe’veaina
alwaysbeenunusuallycommunicativeinareservedway,ja
andIunderstoodthathetarkoitti
meantagreatdealmorethanettä
that.Inconsequence,I’minclinedtoreserve
kaikki
alljudgements,ahabitthathasopenedupmonia
manycuriousnaturestomeandmyös
alsomademethevictimofnotafewveteranbores.Theabnormalmindisquicktodetectandattachitselftothisquality
kun
whenitappearsinanormalperson,andsoitcameaboutettä
thatincollegeIwasunjustlyaccusedofbeingapolitician,koska
becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.Useimmat
Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedunta
sleep,preoccupation,orahostilelevitykun
whenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignettä
thatanintimaterevelationwasquiveringonthehorizon;fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,
tai
oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressthem,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.Reservingjudgementsisa
asia
matterofinfinitehope.Iamstillalittleafraidofmissing
jotakin
somethingifIforgetthat,asmyfathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthefundamentaldecenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.And,
kun
afterboastingthiswayofmytolerance,Icometotheadmissionettä
thatithasalimit.Conduct
voi
maybefoundedonthehardrocktai
orthewetmarshes,butjälkeen
afteracertainpointIdon’tvälitä
carewhatit’sfoundedon.Kun
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastviime
lastautumnIfeltthatIwantedtheworldtobeinuniformandatasortofmoralattentionforever;I
halunnut
wantednomoreriotousexcursionswithprivilegedglimpsesintothehumanheart.Vain
OnlyGatsby,themanwhoantaa
giveshisnametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,whorepresentedeverythingforwhichIon
haveanunaffectedscorn.Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewas
jotakin
somethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightenedsensitivitytothepromisesofelämän
life,asifhewererelatedtooneofthoseintricatemachinesthatregisterearthquakestenthousandmilesaway.Tämä
Thisresponsivenesshadnothingtotekemistä
dowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichisdignifiedunderthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforhope,aromanticreadinesssuchasIhavekoskaan
neverfoundinanyotherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverlöydä
findagain.No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightattheend;
itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,whatfouldustfloatedinthewakeofhisdreamsthattemporarily
sulki
closedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrowsandshort-windedelationsofmen.Myfamily
on
havebeenprominent,well-to-dopeopleinthisMiddleWesterncityforthreegenerations.TheCarrawaysaresomethingofaclan,andwehaveatradition
että
thatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,mutta
buttheactualfounderofmylinewasmygrandfather’sveli
brother,whocamehereinfifty-one,lähetti
sentasubstitutetotheCivilWar,andstartedthewholesalehardwarebusinessettä
thatmyfathercarriesonnykyään
today.Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,
mutta
butI’msupposedtolookkuin
likehim—withspecialreferencetotheratherhard-boiledpaintingthatroikkuu
hangsinfather’soffice.IgraduatedfromNewHavenin1915,
vain
justaquarterofacenturyjälkeen
aftermyfather,andavähän
littlelaterIparticipatedinthatdelayedTeutonicmigrationtunnetaan
knownastheGreatWar.Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughly
että
thatIcamebackrestless.Insteadofbeingthewarmcentreofthe
maailman
world,theMiddleWestnowseemedliketheraggededgeoftheuniverse—soIdecidedtomennä
goEastandlearnthebondbusiness.Kaikki
EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditvoisi
couldsupportonemoresinglemiehen
man.Allmyauntsanduncles
keskustelivat
talkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolforminulle
me,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”withhyvin
verygrave,hesitantfaces.Fatheragreedtofinancemeforayear,and
jälkeen
aftervariousdelaysIcameEast,permanently,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.Thepracticalthingwasto
etsiä
findroomsinthecity,mutta
butitwasawarmseason,andIhadjuuri
justleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees,sokun
whenayoungmanattheofficesuggestedettä
thatwetakeahouseyhdessä
togetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedlikeagreatidea.He
löysi
foundthehouse,aweather-beatencardboardbungalowateightyamonth,mutta
butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,ja
andIwentouttothecountryyksin
alone.Ihadadog—at
ainakin
leastIhadhimforamuutaman
fewdaysuntilheranaway—andanvanha
oldDodgeandaFinnishnainen
woman,whomademybedja
andcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnishwisdomtoherselfovertheelectricstove.Itwaslonelyfora
päivä
dayorsountiloneaamuna
morningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedkuin
thanI,stoppedmeontheroad.“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
he
kysyi
askedhelplessly.Itoldhim.
Ja
AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
He
oli
hadcasuallyconferredonmethefreedomoftheneighbourhood.Andsowiththesunshineandthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihad
että
thatfamiliarconvictionthatlifewasbeginningoveruudestaan
againwiththesummer.Therewasso
paljon
muchtoread,foronething,andsopaljon
muchfinehealthtobepulledalas
downoutoftheyoungbreath-givingair.I
ostin
boughtadozenvolumesonbankingja
andcreditandinvestmentsecurities,ja
andtheystoodonmyshelfinredja
andgoldlikenewmoneyfromthemint,lupasivat
promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatvain
onlyMidasandMorganandMaecenastiesivät
knew.AndIhadthe
suuri
highintentionofreadingmanymuita
otherbooksbesides.Iwasratherliteraryincollege—one
vuonna
yearIwroteaseriesofhyvin
verysolemnandobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andnyt
nowIwasgoingtotuoda
bringbackallsuchthingsintomylifeandtulla
becomeagainthatmostlimitedofkaikki
allspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”Tämä
Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeispaljon
muchmoresuccessfullylookedatfromasinglewindow,kun
afterall.Itwasamatterofchance
että
thatIshouldhaverenteda
ahouseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.Itwasonthatslenderriotousisland
joka
whichextendsitselfdueeastofNewYork—andjossa
wherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,kaksi
twounusualformationsofland.Twentymilesfromthecityapairofenormouseggs,identicalincontourandseparated
vain
onlybyacourtesybay,jutoutintothemostdomesticatedbodyofsaltwaterintheWesternhemisphere,thegreatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyare
molemmat
bothcrushedflatatthecontactend—buttheirphysicalresemblancetäytyy
mustbeasourceofperpetualwondertothegullsthatflyoverhead.Tothewinglessamoreinterestingphenomenonistheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshape
ja
andsize.IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,thelessfashionableofthetwo,though
tämä
thisisamostsuperficialtagtoexpressthebizarreandnotalittlesinistercontrastbetweenthem.Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,
vain
onlyfiftyyardsfromtheSound,andsqueezedbetweenkahden
twohugeplacesthatrentedfortwelvetai
orfifteenthousandaseason.Theoneonmy
aivan
rightwasacolossalaffairbyanystandard—itwasa
afactualimitationofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,witha
atowerononeside,spankinguusi
newunderathinbeardofrawivy,anda
amarbleswimmingpool,andmorethanfortyacresoflawnandgarden.ItwasGatsby’smansion.
Tai
Or,rather,asIdidn’ttuntenut
knowMr.Gatsby,itwasamansioninhabitedbyagentlemanofthatname.Myownhousewasaneyesore,
mutta
butitwasasmalleyesore,andithadbeenoverlooked,soIhadaviewoftheveteen
water,apartialviewofmyneighbour’slawn,andtheconsolingproximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.AcrossthecourtesybaythewhitepalacesoffashionableEastEggglitteredalongthe
veden
water,andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIajoin
droveovertheretohavedinnerkanssa
withtheTomBuchanans.Daisywasmy
toinen
secondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.Ja
AndjustafterthewarIspentkaksi
twodayswiththeminChicago.Her
miehensä
husband,amongvariousphysicalaccomplishments,hadbeenyksi
oneofthemostpowerfulendsettä
thateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinaway,yksi
oneofthosemenwhoreachniin
suchanacutelimitedexcellenceattwenty-oneettä
thateverythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedomwithmoneywasa
asia
matterforreproach—butnowhe’dleftChicagoja
andcomeEastinafashionthatratherotti
tookyourbreathaway:forinstance,he’dbrought
alas
downastringofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.Itwas
vaikea
hardtorealizethatamies
maninmyowngenerationwaswealthyenoughtotehdä
dothat.WhytheycameEastIdon’t
tiedä
know.Theyhadspenta
vuoden
yearinFrancefornoparticularsyytä
reason,andthendriftedhereja
andthereunrestfullywhereverpeoplepelasivat
playedpoloandwererichyhdessä
together.Thiswasapermanentmove,
sanoi
saidDaisyoverthetelephone,mutta
butIdidn’tbelieveit—Ihadei
nosightintoDaisy’sheart,mutta
butIfeltthatTomwoulddriftonforeverseeking,alittlewistfully,forsitä
thedramaticturbulenceofsomeirrecoverablefootballgame.Ja
AndsoithappenedthatonawarmwindyeveningIajoin
droveovertoEastEggtoseetwooldfriendswhomIscarcelytunsin
knewatall.Theirhousewasevenmoreelaborate
kuin
thanIexpected,acheerfulred-and-whiteGeorgianColonialmansion,overlookingthebay.Thelawnstartedatthebeachandrantowardsthefront
ovelle
doorforaquarterofamile,jumpingyli
oversundialsandbrickwalksandburninggardens—finallykun
whenitreachedthehousedriftingylös
upthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthemomentumofitsrun.ThefrontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,glowing
nyt
nowwithreflectedgoldandwideauki
opentothewarmwindyafternoon,andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasseisoi
standingwithhislegsapartonthefrontporch.He
oli
hadchangedsincehisNewHavenyears.Nyt
Nowhewasasturdystraw-hairedmies
manofthirty,witharatherkova
hardmouthandasuperciliousmanner.Kaksi
Twoshiningarroganteyeshadestablisheddominanceoverhisfaceandantanut
gavehimtheappearanceofaina
alwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.Not
edes
eventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidetheenormouspowerofthatbody—heseemedtofillne
thoseglisteningbootsuntilhestrainedthetoplacing,andyoucouldnähdä
seeagreatpackofmuscleshiftingkun
whenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.Itwasabodycapableofenormousleverage—acruelbody.
His
puhuva
speakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtotheimpressionoffractiousnessheconveyed.Therewasatouchofpaternalcontemptinit,
jopa
eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenjotka
whohadhatedhisguts.“Now,don’tthinkmyopinionon
näistä
thesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtosay,“justbecauseI’mstrongerandenemmän
moreofamanthanyouare.”Wewereinthe
samassa
sameseniorsociety,andwhilewewerekoskaan
neverintimateIalwayshadtheimpressionettä
thatheapprovedofmeandhalusi
wantedmetolikehimwithsomeharsh,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.We
puhuimme
talkedforafewminutesonthesunnyporch.“I’vegota
mukava
niceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.Turningmearoundbyonearm,he
siirsi
movedabroadflathandpitkin
alongthefrontvista,includinginitssweepasunkenItaliangarden,apuoli
halfacreofdeep,pungentroses,andasnub-nosedmotorboatthatbumpedthetideoffshore.“ItbelongedtoDemaine,theoilman.”
He
käänsi
turnedmearoundagain,politelyja
andabruptly.“We’llgoinside.”
We
kävelimme
walkedthroughahighhallwayintoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehousebyFrenchwindowsateitherend.Thewindowswereajar
ja
andgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrassulkona
outsidethatseemedtogrowalittlewayintothehouse.Abreezeblew
läpi
throughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatoneendandulos
outtheotherlikepaleflags,twistingthemylös
uptowardthefrostedwedding-cakeoftheceiling,andthenrippledoverthewine-colouredrug,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.The
ainoa
onlycompletelystationaryobjectinthehuoneessa
roomwasanenormouscouchonwhichkaksi
twoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponananchoredballoon.Theywere
molemmat
bothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingja
andflutteringasiftheyhadjuuri
justbeenblownbackinjälkeen
afterashortflightaroundthehouse.I
täytyi
musthavestoodforamuutaman
fewmomentslisteningtothewhipandsnapofthecurtainsandthegroanofapictureonthewall.ThentherewasaboomasTomBuchanan
sulki
shuttherearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutabouttheroom,ja
andthecurtainsandtherugsja
andthetwoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.Theyoungerofthetwowasastrangerto
minulle
me.Shewasextendedfulllengthather
lopussa
endofthedivan,completelymotionless,andwithherchinraisedalittle,asifshewerebalancingjotain
somethingonitwhichwasmelko
quitelikelytofall.Ifshe
näki
sawmeoutofthecornerofhereyessheantanut
gavenohintofit—indeed,Iwasmelkein
almostsurprisedintomurmuringanapologyforolin
havingdisturbedherbycomingin.Theother
tyttö
girl,Daisy,madeanattempttorise—sheleanedslightlyforwardwithaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,anabsurd,charmingpieni
littlelaugh,andIlaughedmyös
tooandcameforwardintotheroom.“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughed
taas
again,asifshesaidjotakin
somethingverywitty,andheldmyhandforamoment,lookingupintomyface,lupasi
promisingthattherewasnooneintheworldshesomuchhaluaisi
wantedtosee.Thatwasa
tapa
wayshehad.Shehintedinamurmur
että
thatthesurnameofthebalancinggirlwasBaker.(I’ve
kuullut
hearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwasvain
onlytomakepeopleleantowardhäntä
her;anirrelevantcriticismthat
tehnyt
madeitnolesscharming.)Atanyrate,MissBaker’slipsfluttered,shenoddedatme
melkein
almostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherpäänsä
headbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancingoli
hadobviouslytotteredalittleandgivenhersomethingofafright.Jälleen
Againasortofapologyarosetomylips.Lähes
Almostanyexhibitionofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsastunnedtributefromme.I
katsoin
lookedbackatmycousin,joka
whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.Itwasthe
sellainen
kindofvoicethattheearseuraa
followsupanddown,asifjokainen
eachspeechisanarrangementofnotesthatwillkoskaan
neverbeplayedagain.Herfacewassad
ja
andlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesja
andabrightpassionatemouth,mutta
buttherewasanexcitementinhervoicethatmenjotka
whohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget:asingingcompulsion,awhispered“Listen,”a
lupaus
promisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustawhilesinceja
andthatthereweregay,excitingthingshoveringinthenexttunnin
hour.ItoldherhowIhadstoppedoffinChicagoforadayonmywayEast,
ja
andhowadozenpeoplehadsenttheirlovethroughme.“Dothey
kaipaa
missme?”shecriedecstatically.
“Thewhole
kaupunki
townisdesolate.Allthecars
on
havetheleftrearwheelpaintedblackasamourningwreath,ja
andthere’sapersistentwailallyön
nightalongthenorthshore.”“Howgorgeous!
Let’s
mennään
goback,Tom.Tomorrow!”
Thensheaddedirrelevantly:
“Yououghtto
nähdä
seethebaby.”“I’dliketo.”
“She’sasleep.
She’sthreeyearsold.
Haven’tyouever
nähnyt
seenher?”“Never.”
“Well,yououghttosee
hänet
her.She’s—”.
TomBuchanan,who
oli
hadbeenhoveringrestlesslyabouttheroom,pysähtyi
stoppedandrestedhishandonmyshoulder.“Whatyou
teet
doing,Nick?”“I’mabondman.”
“Whowith?”
I
kerroin
toldhim.“Neverheardofthem,”heremarkeddecisively.
Tämä
Thisannoyedme.“Youwill,”I
vastasin
answeredshortly.“Youwillifyou
pysyt
stayintheEast.”“Oh,I’ll
jään
stayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesanoi
said,glancingatDaisyandthentakaisin
backatme,asifhewerealertforsomethingenemmän
more.“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
Atthis
vaiheessa
pointMissBakersaid:“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwasthe
ensimmäinen
firstwordshehadutteredsinceItulin
cameintotheroom.Evidentlyitsurprisedheras
paljon
muchasitdidme,forsheyawnedandwithaseriesofrapid,deftmovementsstoodupintotheroom.“I’mstiff,”shecomplained,“I’vebeenlyingonthatsofaforas
kauan
longasIcanremember.”“Don’t
katso
lookatme,”Daisyretorted,“I’vebeenyrittänyt
tryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”“No,thanks,”
sanoi
saidMissBakertothefourcocktailsjuuri
justinfromthepantry.“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Herhost
katsoi
lookedatherincredulously.“Youare!”
He
otti
tookdownhisdrinkasifitwereadropinthebottomofaglass.“Howyouevergetanythingdoneisbeyondme.”
I
katsoin
lookedatMissBaker,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”Ienjoyedlookingat
hänen
her.Shewasaslender,small-breasted
tyttö
girl,withanerectcarriage,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshoulderskuin
likeayoungcadet.Hergreysun-strainedeyeslookedbackatmewithpolitereciprocalcuriosityoutofawan,charming,discontentedface.
Itoccurredtome
nyt
nowthatIhadseenher,tai
orapictureofher,somewhereennen
before.“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“I
tunnen
knowsomebodythere.”“Idon’t
tunne
knowasingle—”.“Youmust
tuntea
knowGatsby.”“Gatsby?”
demandedDaisy.
“WhatGatsby?”
BeforeIcouldreply
että
thathewasmyneighbourdinnerwasannounced;wedginghistensearmimperatively
alle
undermine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweresiirtäisi
movingacheckertoanothersquare.Slenderly,languidly,theirhandssetlightlyontheirhips,the
kaksi
twoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-colouredporch,auki
opentowardthesunset,whereneljä
fourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.“Whycandles?”
objectedDaisy,frowning.
Shesnappedthemoutwithherfingers.
“In
kahden
twoweeksit’llbethelongestpäivä
dayintheyear.”She
katsoi
lookedatusallradiantly.“Doyou
aina
alwayswatchforthelongestdayofthevuoden
yearandthenmissit?I
aina
alwayswatchforthelongestdayinthevuoden
yearandthenmissit.”“Weoughtto
suunnitella
plansomething,”yawnedMissBaker,istuen
sittingdownatthetableasifsheweregettingintobed.“Allright,”
sanoi
saidDaisy.“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdo
ihmiset
peopleplan?”BeforeIcould
vastata
answerhereyesfastenedwithanawedexpressiononherpikku
littlefinger.“Look!”
shecomplained;
“Ihurtit.”
We
kaikki
alllooked—theknucklewasblackja
andblue.“Youdidit,Tom,”she
sanoi
saidaccusingly.“Iknowyoudidn’t
tarkoittanut
meanto,butyoudidteit
doit.That’swhatIgetformarryingabruteofa
miehen
man,agreat,big,hulkingphysicalspecimenofa—”.“Ihatethatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”
“Hulking,”insistedDaisy.
Joskus
SometimessheandMissBakertalkedatonce,unobtrusivelyandwithabanteringinconsequencethatwaskoskaan
neverquitechatter,thatwasasviileä
coolastheirwhitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesintheabsenceofalldesire.Theywere
täällä
here,andtheyacceptedTomja
andme,makingonlyapolitepleasantefforttoentertaintai
ortobeentertained.They
tiesivät
knewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverja
andalittlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverja
andcasuallyputaway.ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,
missä
whereaneveningwashurriedfromphasetophasetowardsitsclose,inacontinuallydisappointedanticipationtai
orelseinsheernervousdreadofthehetkestä
momentitself.“Youmakeme
tuntemaan
feeluncivilized,Daisy,”Iconfessedonmysecondglassofcorkymutta
butratherimpressiveclaret.“Can’tyou
puhua
talkaboutcropsorsomething?”I
tarkoittanut
meantnothinginparticularbytällä
thisremark,butitwasotettiin
takenupinanunexpectedtavalla
way.“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”brokeoutTomviolently.
“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresbythismanGoddard?”
“Why,no,”I
vastasin
answered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.“Well,it’sa
hieno
finebook,andeverybodyoughttolukea
readit.Theideais
jos
ifwedon’tlookoutthevalkoinen
whiteracewillbe—willbeutterlysubmerged.It’sallscientificstuff;
it’sbeenproved.”