I
Inmyyounger
és
andmorevulnerableyearsmyfatheradott
gavemesomeadvicethatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.“Wheneveryoufeel
mint
likecriticizinganyone,”hetoldnekem
me,“justrememberthatallthepeopleinthisvilág
worldhaven’thadtheadvantageshogy
thatyou’vehad.”Hedidn’t
mondott
sayanymore,butwe’vemindig
alwaysbeenunusuallycommunicativeinareservedmódon
way,andIunderstoodthathejelentett
meantagreatdealmorethanhogy
that.Inconsequence,I’minclinedtoreserve
minden
alljudgements,ahabitthatvagyok
hasopenedupmanycuriousnaturestomeés
andalsomademethevictimofnotegy
afewveteranbores.Theabnormal
elme
mindisquicktodetectés
andattachitselftothisqualityamikor
whenitappearsinanormalperson,és
andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustlyaccusedofbeingegy
apolitician,becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.Legtöbb
Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,vagy
orahostilelevitywhenIrealizedbyvalamilyen
someunmistakablesignthatanintimaterevelationwasquiveringonthehorizon;fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,
vagy
oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressőket
them,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.Reservingjudgementsisamatterofinfinite
remény
hope.Iamstilla
kicsit
littleafraidofmissingsomethingha
ifIforgetthat,asmyfathersnobbishlysuggested,és
andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthefundamentaldecenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.És
And,afterboastingthiswayofmytolerance,Icometotheadmissionthatitvan
hasalimit.Conductmaybefoundedonthe
kemény
hardrockorthewetmarshes,de
butafteracertainpointIdon’térdekel
carewhatit’sfoundedon.Amikor
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastlastautumnIfeltthatIakarom
wantedtheworldtobeinuniformés
andatasortofmoralattentionforever;I
akartam
wantednomoreriotousexcursionswithprivilegedglimpsesintoaz
thehumanheart.OnlyGatsby,the
férfi
manwhogiveshisnametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,aki
whorepresentedeverythingforwhichIvan
haveanunaffectedscorn.Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewas
valami
somethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightenedsensitivitytothepromisesofélet
life,asifhewererelatedtooneofazoknak
thoseintricatemachinesthatregisterearthquakestenthousandmilesaway.Thisresponsiveness
volt
hadnothingtodowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichisdignifiedalatt
underthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforhope,aromanticreadinessolyan
suchasIhaveneverfoundinanymás
otherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverfindagain.No—Gatsbyturned
ki
outallrightatthevégén
end;itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,whatfouldustfloatedinthewakeofhisdreamsthattemporarilyclosedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrows
és
andshort-windedelationsofmen.Myfamilyhavebeenprominent,well-to-do
emberek
peopleinthisMiddleWesterncityforhárom
threegenerations.TheCarrawaysaresomethingof
egy
aclan,andwehaveegy
atraditionthatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,de
buttheactualfounderofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrother,aki
whocamehereinfifty-one,sentegy
asubstitutetotheCivilWar,és
andstartedthewholesalehardwarebusinessamit
thatmyfathercarriesonma
today.Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,
de
butI’msupposedtolookmint
likehim—withspecialreferencetotheratherhard-boiledpaintingthathangsinfather’soffice.IgraduatedfromNewHavenin1915,
csak
justaquarterofacenturyután
aftermyfather,andakicsit
littlelaterIparticipatedinamit
thatdelayedTeutonicmigrationknownastheNagy
GreatWar.Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughly
hogy
thatIcamebackrestless.Insteadofbeingthewarmcentreofthe
világ
world,theMiddleWestnowseemedmint
liketheraggededgeoftheuniverse—soIdecidedtomegyek
goEastandlearnthebondbusiness.Mindenki
EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportegy
onemoresingleman.Allmyaunts
és
andunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingegy
aprepschoolforme,és
andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”withnagyon
verygrave,hesitantfaces.Fatheragreedtofinancemefor
egy
ayear,andaftervariousdelaysIjöttem
cameEast,permanently,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.Thepractical
dolog
thingwastofindroomsinthecity,de
butitwasawarmseason,és
andIhadjustleftegy
acountryofwidelawnsés
andfriendlytrees,sowhenegy
ayoungmanattheofficesuggestedthatwevegyünk
takeahousetogetherinegy
acommutingtown,itsoundedlikeegy
agreatidea.Hefoundthe
házat
house,aweather-beatencardboardbungalowateightyegy
amonth,butattheutolsó
lastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,és
andIwentouttothecountryegyedül
alone.Ihadadog—atleastI
volt
hadhimforafewdaysamíg
untilheranaway—andanöreg
oldDodgeandaFinnishnő
woman,whomademybedés
andcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnishwisdomtoherselfoveraz
theelectricstove.Itwaslonelyforadayorso
amíg
untilonemorningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedthanI,stoppedmeonaz
theroad.“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
he
kérdezte
askedhelplessly.Itoldhim.
És
AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynem
nolonger.Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehadcasuallyconferredonmethefreedomoftheneighbourhood.
És
Andsowiththesunshineés
andthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowingyors
fastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliarconvictionhogy
thatlifewasbeginningoverújra
againwiththesummer.Therewassomuchtoread,foronething,
és
andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutofaz
theyoungbreath-givingair.Ibought
egy
adozenvolumesonbankingés
andcreditandinvestmentsecurities,és
andtheystoodonmyshelfinpiros
redandgoldlikenewmoneyfromthemint,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatcsak
onlyMidasandMorganandMaecenastudott
knew.AndIhadthe
nagy
highintentionofreadingmanymás
otherbooksbesides.Iwasratherliteraryincollege—one
évben
yearIwroteaseriesofnagyon
verysolemnandobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andmost
nowIwasgoingtohozni
bringbackallsuchthingsintomylifeés
andbecomeagainthatmostlimitedofösszes
allspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”Ez
Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeissokkal
muchmoresuccessfullylookedatfromasinglewindow,afterall.Itwasamatterof
véletlen
chancethatIshouldhaverentedaházat
houseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.Itwasonthatslenderriotousisland
ami
whichextendsitselfdueeastofNewYork—andahol
wherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,két
twounusualformationsofland.Twentymilesfromthecity
egy
apairofenormouseggs,identicalincontourés
andseparatedonlybyacourtesybay,jutoutintothemostdomesticatedbodyofsaltwaterintheWesternhemisphere,thenagy
greatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbus
történet
story,theyarebothcrushedflatatthecontactend—buttheirphysicalresemblancekell
mustbeasourceofperpetualwondertothegullsthatflyoverhead.Tothewingless
egy
amoreinterestingphenomenonistheirdissimilarityinminden
everyparticularexceptshapeandsize.I
éltem
livedatWestEgg,the—well,thelessfashionableofthekettő
two,thoughthisisamostsuperficialtagtoexpressthebizarreés
andnotalittlesinistercontrastbetweenthem.Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,
mindössze
onlyfiftyyardsfromtheSound,és
andsqueezedbetweentwohugeplacesthatrentedfortwelvevagy
orfifteenthousandaseason.Theoneonmy
jobb
rightwasacolossalaffairbyminden
anystandard—itwasafactualimitationofvalamilyen
someHôteldeVilleinNormandy,withatowerononeoldalon
side,spankingnewunderathinbeardofrawivy,és
andamarbleswimmingpool,és
andmorethanfortyacresoflawnés
andgarden.ItwasGatsby’smansion.
Vagy
Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasegy
amansioninhabitedbyagentlemanofthatname.My
saját
ownhousewasaneyesore,de
butitwasasmalleyesore,és
andithadbeenoverlooked,soIvolt
hadaviewofthewater,apartialviewofmyneighbour’slawn,és
andtheconsolingproximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.Acrossthecourtesybaythe
fehér
whitepalacesoffashionableEastEggglitteredmentén
alongthewater,andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertheretohavedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.Daisywasmy
második
secondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.És
AndjustafterthewarIspentkét
twodayswiththeminChicago.Her
férje
husband,amongvariousphysicalaccomplishments,volt
hadbeenoneofthemostpowerfulendshogy
thateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinaway,oneofazoknak
thosemenwhoreachsuchanacutelimitedexcellenceattwenty-onehogy
thateverythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedomwithmoneywas
egy
amatterforreproach—butnowhe’dleftChicagoés
andcomeEastinafashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway:forinstance,he’dbroughtdown
egy
astringofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.Itwas
nehéz
hardtorealizethataember
maninmyowngenerationwaswealthyelég
enoughtodothat.Whythey
jöttek
cameEastIdon’tknow.They
voltak
hadspentayearinFrancefornoparticularok
reason,andthendriftedhereés
andthereunrestfullywhereverpeopleplayedpoloés
andwererichtogether.Thiswas
egy
apermanentmove,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,de
butIdidn’tbelieveit—Ivolt
hadnosightintoDaisy’sheart,de
butIfeltthatTomfog
woulddriftonforeverseeking,egy
alittlewistfully,forthedramaticturbulenceofvalamilyen
someirrecoverablefootballgame.Andsoit
történt
happenedthatonawarmwindyeveningIdroveovertoEastEggtoseekét
twooldfriendswhomIscarcelyknewatall.Theirhousewas
még
evenmoreelaboratethanIexpected,egy
acheerfulred-and-whiteGeorgianColonialmansion,overlookingthebay.Thelawnstartedatthebeach
és
andrantowardsthefrontajtó
doorforaquarterofamile,jumpingoversundialsés
andbrickwalksandburninggardens—finallyamikor
whenitreachedthehousedriftingfel
upthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthemomentumofitsfutott
run.Thefrontwasbrokenby
egy
alineofFrenchwindows,glowingmost
nowwithreflectedgoldandwideopentothewarmwindyafternoon,és
andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandingwithhislegsapartonthefrontporch.Hehadchanged
óta
sincehisNewHavenyears.Most
Nowhewasasturdystraw-hairedférfi
manofthirty,witharatherkemény
hardmouthandasuperciliousmanner.Két
Twoshiningarroganteyeshadestablisheddominanceoverhisfaceés
andgavehimtheappearanceofmindig
alwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.Not
még
eventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothestudta
couldhidetheenormouspowerofthatbody—heseemedtofillazokat
thoseglisteningbootsuntilhestrainedthefelső
toplacing,andyoucouldseeegy
agreatpackofmuscleshiftingamikor
whenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.Itwas
egy
abodycapableofenormousleverage—acrueltest
body.Hisspeakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtotheimpressionoffractiousnessheconveyed.
Therewas
egy
atouchofpaternalcontemptinit,eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenakik
whohadhatedhisguts.“Now,don’tthinkmyopiniononthesemattersisfinal,”heseemedto
mondja
say,“justbecauseI’mstrongerés
andmoreofamanmint
thanyouare.”Wewereinthesameseniorsociety,
és
andwhilewewereneverintimateImindig
alwayshadtheimpressionthatheapprovedofmeés
andwantedmetolikehimwithvalamilyen
someharsh,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.Wetalkedfora
pár
fewminutesonthesunnyporch.“I’vegota
szép
niceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.Turningmearoundbyonearm,hemovedabroadflat
kezét
handalongthefrontvista,includinginitssweepasunkenItaliangarden,afél
halfacreofdeep,pungentroses,és
andasnub-nosedmotorboatthatbumpedthetideoffshore.“ItbelongedtoDemaine,
az
theoilman.”Heturnedmearound
megint
again,politelyandabruptly.“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalkedthrough
egy
ahighhallwayintoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehousebyFrenchwindowsateithervégén
end.Thewindowswereajar
és
andgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrasskívül
outsidethatseemedtogrowegy
alittlewayintothehouse.Abreezeblewthroughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatone
végén
endandouttheotherlikepaleflags,twistingthemfelfelé
uptowardthefrostedwedding-cakeoftheceiling,és
andthenrippledoverthewine-colouredrug,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.The
egyetlen
onlycompletelystationaryobjectintheroomwasegy
anenormouscouchonwhichkét
twoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponegy
ananchoredballoon.Theywerebothinwhite,
és
andtheirdresseswereripplingés
andflutteringasiftheyvoltak
hadjustbeenblownbackinután
afterashortflightaroundtheház
house.Imusthavestoodfora
pár
fewmomentslisteningtothewhipés
andsnapofthecurtainsés
andthegroanofapictureonthewall.Thentherewas
egy
aboomasTomBuchananshuta
therearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutabouta
theroom,andthecurtainsés
andtherugsandthekét
twoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytoa
thefloor.Theyoungerofthe
kettő
twowasastrangertome.Shewasextended
teljes
fulllengthatherendofthedivan,completelymotionless,és
andwithherchinraisedegy
alittle,asifshewerebalancingvalami
somethingonitwhichwaselég
quitelikelytofall.Ifshe
látott
sawmeoutofthecornerofhereyessheadott
gavenohintofit—indeed,Iwasmajdnem
almostsurprisedintomurmuringanapologyforhavingdisturbedherbycomingin.The
másik
othergirl,Daisy,madeanattempttorise—sheleanedslightlyforwardwithaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,anabsurd,charminglittlelaugh,és
andIlaughedtooandcameforwardintotheroom.“I’mp-paralysed
a
withhappiness.”Shelaughedagain,asifshesaid
valami
somethingverywitty,andheldmyhandforamoment,lookingupintomyface,promisingthattherewasnooneintheworldshesomuchakarna
wantedtosee.Thatwasawayshe
volt
had.Shehintedinamurmur
hogy
thatthesurnameofthebalancinglány
girlwasBaker.(I’veheardit
mondják
saidthatDaisy’smurmurwascsak
onlytomakepeopleleantowardher;egy
anirrelevantcriticismthatmadeitnem
nolesscharming.)Atanyrate,
Miss
MissBaker’slipsfluttered,shenoddedatmemajdnem
almostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherfejét
headbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredegy
alittleandgivenhersomethingofegy
afright.Againasortofapologyarosetomylips.
Szinte
Almostanyexhibitionofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsastunnedtributefromme.Ilookedbackatmycousin,
aki
whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.Itwasthekindofvoice
amit
thattheearfollowsupandle
down,asifeachspeechisanarrangementofnotesamit
thatwillneverbeplayedagain.Her
arca
facewassadandlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesés
andabrightpassionatemouth,de
buttherewasanexcitementinhervoiceamit
thatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget:egy
asingingcompulsion,awhispered“Listen,”egy
apromisethatshehadcsinált
donegay,excitingthingsjustegy
awhilesinceandthatthereweregay,excitingthingshoveringinthekövetkező
nexthour.ItoldherhowIhad
megálltam
stoppedoffinChicagoforegy
adayonmywayEast,és
andhowadozenpeoplehadsenttheirlovekeresztül
throughme.“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“The
egész
wholetownisdesolate.All
az
thecarshavetheleftrearwheelpaintedblackasegy
amourningwreath,andthere’segy
apersistentwailallnightalongaz
thenorthshore.”“Howgorgeous!
Let’sgoback,Tom.
Tomorrow!”
Thensheaddedirrelevantly:
“Yououghtto
látnod
seethebaby.”“I’dliketo.”
“She’sasleep.
She’s
három
threeyearsold.Haven’tyouever
láttad
seenher?”“Never.”
“Well,yououghtto
látnod
seeher.She’s—”.
TomBuchanan,
aki
whohadbeenhoveringrestlesslyabouttheroom,megállt
stoppedandrestedhishandonmyshoulder.“Whatyou
csinálsz
doing,Nick?”“I’mabondman.”
“Whowith?”
Itold
neki
him.“Neverheardofthem,”heremarkeddecisively.
Ez
Thisannoyedme.“Youwill,”Iansweredshortly.
“Youwill
ha
ifyoustayintheEast.”“Oh,I’ll
maradok
stayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hemondta
said,glancingatDaisyandthenbackatrám
me,asifhewerealertforvalami
somethingmore.“I’dbea
Isten
Goddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”At
ezen
thispointMissBakersaid:“Absolutely!”
with
olyan
suchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwastheelső
firstwordshehadutteredsinceIcameintotheroom.Evidentlyitsurprisedherasmuchasitdid
engem
me,forsheyawnedandwithegy
aseriesofrapid,deftmovementsstoodfel
upintotheroom.“I’mstiff,”shecomplained,“I’vebeenlyingonthatsofaforaslongasIcanremember.”
“Don’t
nézz
lookatme,”Daisyretorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”“No,thanks,”
mondta
saidMissBakertothenégy
fourcocktailsjustinfromthepantry.“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Herhostlookedatherincredulously.
“Youare!”
Hetookdownhisdrinkasifitwere
egy
adropinthebottomofegy
aglass.“Howyouevergetanything
csinálsz
doneisbeyondme.”Ilookedat
Miss
MissBaker,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”Ienjoyed
nézni
lookingather.Shewasaslender,small-breasted
lány
girl,withanerectcarriage,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshouldersmint
likeayoungcadet.Hergreysun-strainedeyeslooked
vissza
backatmewithpolitereciprocalcuriosityoutofegy
awan,charming,discontentedface.Itoccurredtome
most
nowthatIhadseenőt
her,orapictureofőt
her,somewherebefore.“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“Iknowsomebodythere.”
“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“You
kell
mustknowGatsby.”“Gatsby?”
demandedDaisy.
“WhatGatsby?”
Mielőtt
BeforeIcouldreplythathewasmyneighbourdinnerwasannounced;wedginghistensearmimperativelyunder
enyém
mine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweremovingegy
acheckertoanothersquare.Slenderly,languidly,theirhandssetlightlyontheirhips,the
két
twoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoegy
arosy-colouredporch,opentowardthesunset,ahol
wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.“Whycandles?”
objectedDaisy,frowning.
Shesnappedthem
ki
outwithherfingers.“In
két
twoweeksit’llbethelongestnapja
dayintheyear.”Shelookedatusallradiantly.
“Doyou
mindig
alwayswatchforthelongestdayofaz
theyearandthenmissit?I
mindig
alwayswatchforthelongestdayinaz
theyearandthenmissit.”“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawned
Miss
MissBaker,sittingdownataz
thetableasifsheweregettingintobed.“Allright,”
mondta
saidDaisy.“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdo
emberek
peopleplan?”BeforeIcouldanswerhereyesfastenedwith
egy
anawedexpressiononherlittlefinger.“Look!”
shecomplained;
“Ihurtit.”
Wealllooked—theknucklewas
fekete
blackandblue.“Youdidit,Tom,”she
mondta
saidaccusingly.“Iknowyoudidn’tmean
hogy
to,butyoudiddoit.That’swhatI
kapom
getformarryingabruteofegy
aman,agreat,big,hulkingphysicalspecimenofa—”.“I
utálom
hatethatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”“Hulking,”insistedDaisy.
Néha
SometimessheandMissBakertalkedatonce,unobtrusivelyés
andwithabanteringinconsequencethatwasneverquitechatter,thatwasashűvös
coolastheirwhitedressesés
andtheirimpersonaleyesintheabsenceofminden
alldesire.Theywerehere,
és
andtheyacceptedTomandengem
me,makingonlyapolitepleasantefforttoentertainvagy
ortobeentertained.They
tudták
knewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverés
andalittlelatertheeveningis
toowouldbeoverandcasuallyputaway.ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,
ahol
whereaneveningwashurriedfromphasetophasetowardsitsclose,inacontinuallydisappointedanticipationvagy
orelseinsheernervousdreadofthemomentitself.“Youmakeme
érzem
feeluncivilized,Daisy,”Iconfessedonmymásodik
secondglassofcorkybutratherimpressiveclaret.“Can’tyoutalkaboutcrops
vagy
orsomething?”Imeantnothinginparticularbythisremark,
de
butitwastakenupinanunexpectedway.“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”broke
ki
outTomviolently.“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresbythismanGoddard?”
“Why,no,”Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
“Well,it’s
egy
afinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadez
it.Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthe
fehér
whiteracewillbe—willbeutterlysubmerged.It’sallscientificstuff;
it’sbeenproved.”