I
Inmyyoungerandmore
rentan
vulnerableyearsmyfathergavemesomeadvicethatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.“Wheneveryoufeellike
mengkritik
criticizinganyone,”hetoldme,“justrememberthatallthepeopleinthisworldhaven’thadtheadvantagesthatyou’vehad.”Hedidn’tsayanymore,butwe’vealwaysbeenunusuallycommunicativeinareservedway,andIunderstoodthathemeantagreatdealmorethanthat.
Inconsequence,I’minclinedtoreservealljudgements,a
kebiasaan
habitthathasopenedupmanycuriousnaturestomeandalsomademethevictimofnotafewveteran
veteranbores.Theabnormalmindisquickto
mendeteksi
detectandattachitselftothisqualitywhenitappearsinanormalperson,andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustlyaccusedofbeingapolitician,becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,ora
bermusuhan
hostilelevitywhenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignthatanintim
intimaterevelationwasquiveringonthecakrawala
horizon;fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressthem,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.
Reservingjudgementsisamatterof
tak terbatas
infinitehope.IamstillalittleafraidofmissingsomethingifIforgetthat,asmyfathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthe
dasar
fundamentaldecenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.And,after
membanggakan
boastingthiswayofmytoleransi
tolerance,Icometotheadmissionthatithasabatas
limit.Conductmaybefoundedonthehardrockorthewetmarshes,butafteracertainpointIdon’tcarewhatit’sfoundedon.
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastlastautumnIfeltthatIwantedtheworldtobeinuniformandatasortof
moral
moralattentionforever;Iwantednomoreriotousexcursionswith
istimewa
privilegedglimpsesintothehumanheart.OnlyGatsby,themanwhogiveshisnametothisbook,was
dibebaskan
exemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,whomewakili
representedeverythingforwhichIhaveanunaffectedscorn.If
kepribadian
personalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewassomethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightenedsensitivitas
sensitivitytothepromisesoflife,asifhewererelatedtooneofthoserumit
intricatemachinesthatregisterearthquakestenthousandmilesaway.Thisresponsivenesshadnothingtodowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichisdignifiedunderthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforhope,aromantic
kesiapan
readinesssuchasIhaveneverfoundinanyotherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverfindagain.No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightattheend;
itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,whatfouldustfloatedinthewakeofhisdreamsthat
sementara
temporarilyclosedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrowsandshort-windedelationsofmen.Myfamilyhavebeen
menonjol
prominent,well-to-dopeopleinthisMiddleBarat
Westerncityforthreegenerations.TheCarrawaysaresomethingofa
klan
clan,andwehaveatradisi
traditionthatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,butthesebenarnya
actualfounderofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrother,whocamehereinfifty-one,sentapengganti
substitutetotheCivilWar,andstartedthegrosir
wholesalehardwarebusinessthatmyfathercarriesontoday.Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,butI’msupposedtolooklikehim—withspecial
referensi
referencetotheratherhard-boiledpaintingthathangsinfather’soffice.IgraduatedfromNewHavenin1915,justaquarterofacenturyaftermyfather,andalittlelaterIparticipatedinthatdelayedTeutonic
migrasi
migrationknownastheGreatWar.Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughlythatIcameback
gelisah
restless.Insteadofbeingthewarm
pusat
centreoftheworld,theMiddleWestnowseemedliketheraggededgeoftheuniverse—soIdecidedtogoEastandlearnthebondbusiness.EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportonemoresingleman.
Allmyauntsandunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolforme,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”withverygrave,hesitantfaces.
Fatheragreedto
membiayai
financemeforayear,andafterberbagai
variousdelaysIcameEast,secara permanen
permanently,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.The
praktis
practicalthingwastofindroomsinthecity,butitwasawarmseason,andIhadjustleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees,sowhenayoungmanattheofficesuggestedthatwetakeahousetogetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedlikeagreatidea.Hefoundthehouse,aweather-beaten
kardus
cardboardbungalowateightyamonth,butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,andIwentouttothecountryalone.Ihadadog—atleastIhadhimforafewdaysuntilheranaway—andanold
Dodge
DodgeandaFinnishwoman,whomademybedandcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnishkebijaksanaan
wisdomtoherselfoverthelistrik
electricstove.Itwaslonelyforadayorsountilonemorningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedthanI,stoppedmeontheroad.
“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
heaskedhelplessly.
Itoldhim.
AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.
Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehadcasuallyconferredonmethefreedomofthe
lingkungan
neighbourhood.Andsowiththe
sinar matahari
sunshineandthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliarkeyakinan
convictionthatlifewasbeginningoveragainwiththesummer.Therewassomuchtoread,foronething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutoftheyoungbreath-givingair.
Iboughta
selusin
dozenvolumesonbankingandcreditandinvestasi
investmentsecurities,andtheystoodonmyrak
shelfinredandgoldlikenewmoneyfromthemint
mint,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatonlyMidasandMorganandMaecenasknew.AndIhadthehigh
niat
intentionofreadingmanyotherbooksbesides.Iwasrather
sastra
literaryincollege—oneyearIwroteaseriesofverysolemnandobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andnowIwasgoingtobringbackallsuchthingsintomylifeandbecomeagainthatmostlimitedofallspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeismuchmore
sukses
successfullylookedatfromasinglewindow,afterall.ItwasamatterofchancethatIshouldhaverentedahouseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.
Itwasonthat
ramping
slenderriotousislandwhichextendsitselfdueeastofNewYork—andwherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,twounusualformationsofland.Twentymilesfromthecityapairofenormouseggs,
identik
identicalincontourandseparatedonlybyasopan
courtesybay,jutoutintothemostdomesticatedbodyofsaltwaterintheBarat
Westernhemisphere,thegreatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyarebothcrushedflatatthecontactend—buttheirphysical
kemiripan
resemblancemustbeasourceofabadi
perpetualwondertothegullsthatflyoverhead.Tothewinglessamoreinteresting
fenomena
phenomenonistheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshapeandsize.IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,theless
modis
fashionableofthetwo,thoughthisisamostdangkal
superficialtagtoexpresstheaneh
bizarreandnotalittlemenyeramkan
sinistercontrastbetweenthem.Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,onlyfiftyyardsfromtheSound,andsqueezedbetweentwohugeplacesthatrentedfortwelveorfifteenthousandaseason.
Theoneonmyrightwasa
kolosal
colossalaffairbyanystandard—itwasafactualtiruan
imitationofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,withatowerononeside,spankingnewunderathinjenggot
beardofrawivy,andamarmer
marbleswimmingpool,andmorethanfortyacresofrumput
lawnandgarden.ItwasGatsby’s
mansion
mansion.Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasamansioninhabitedbyagentlemanofthatname.
Myownhousewasaneyesore,butitwasasmalleyesore,andithadbeenoverlooked,soIhadaviewofthewater,a
parsial
partialviewofmyneighbour’slawn,andtheconsolingkedekatan
proximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.Acrossthe
kesopanan
courtesybaythewhitepalacesofmodis
fashionableEastEggglitteredalongthewater,andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertheretohavedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.Daisy
Daisywasmysecondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.AndjustafterthewarIspenttwodayswiththeminChicago.
Herhusband,among
berbagai
variousphysicalaccomplishments,hadbeenoneofthemostpowerfulendsthateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinaway,oneofthosemenwhoreachsuchanakut
acutelimitedexcellenceattwenty-onethateverythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedomwithmoneywasamatterforreproach—butnowhe’dleftChicagoandcomeEastinafashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway:
for
misalnya
instance,he’dbroughtdownastringofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.Itwashardtorealizethatamaninmyowngenerationwas
kaya
wealthyenoughtodothat.WhytheycameEastIdon’tknow.
TheyhadspentayearinFrancefornoparticularreason,andthendriftedhereandthereunrestfullywhereverpeopleplayedpoloandwererichtogether.
Thiswasa
permanen
permanentmove,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,butIdidn’tbelieveit—IhadnosightintoDaisy’sheart,butIfeltthatTomwouldhanyut
driftonforeverseeking,alittlewistfully,forthedramatis
dramaticturbulenceofsomeirrecoverablefootballgame.Andsoithappenedthatonawarm
berangin
windyeveningIdroveovertoEastEggtoseetwooldfriendswhomIhampir
scarcelyknewatall.Theirhousewasevenmore
rumit
elaboratethanIexpected,aceria
cheerfulred-and-whiteGeorgianColonialmansion,overlookingtheteluk
bay.Thelawnstartedatthebeachandrantowardsthefrontdoorforaquarterofamile,jumpingoversundialsandbrickwalksandburninggardens—finallywhenitreachedthehousedriftingupthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthemomentumofitsrun.
ThefrontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,glowingnowwithreflectedgoldandwideopentothewarm
berangin
windyafternoon,andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandingwithhislegsapartonthefrontporch.HehadchangedsincehisNewHavenyears.
Nowhewasasturdystraw-hairedmanofthirty,witharatherhardmouthandasupercilious
sikap
manner.Twoshiningarroganteyeshadestablisheddominanceoverhisfaceandgavehimthe
penampilan
appearanceofalwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.Noteventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidetheenormouspowerofthatbody—heseemedtofillthoseglisteningbootsuntilhestrainedthetoplacing,andyoucouldseeagreatpackof
otot
muscleshiftingwhenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.Itwasabodycapableof
besar
enormousleverage—acruelbody.Hisspeakingvoice,agruff
husky
huskytenor,addedtothekesan
impressionoffractiousnessheconveyed.Therewasatouchofpaternal
penghinaan
contemptinit,eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenwhohadhatedhisguts.“Now,don’tthinkmyopiniononthesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtosay,“justbecauseI’mstrongerandmoreofamanthanyouare.”
Wewereinthesameseniorsociety,andwhilewewerenever
intim
intimateIalwayshadthekesan
impressionthatheapprovedofmeandwantedmetolikehimwithsomekeras
harsh,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.Wetalkedforafewminutesonthe
cerah
sunnyporch.“I’vegotaniceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.
Turningmearoundbyonearm,hemoveda
lebar
broadflathandalongthefrontvista,includinginitsmenyapu
sweepasunkenItaliangarden,ahalfhektar
acreofdeep,pungentroses,andasnub-nosedmotorboatthatbumpedthepasang
tideoffshore.“ItbelongedtoDemaine,theoilman.”
Heturnedmearoundagain,
sopan
politelyandabruptly.“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalkedthroughahigh
lorong
hallwayintoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehousebyFrenchwindowsateitherend.Thewindowswereajarandgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrassoutsidethatseemedtogrowalittlewayintothehouse.
Abreezeblewthroughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatoneendandouttheotherlike
pucat
paleflags,twistingthemuptowardthefrostedwedding-cakeofthelangit
ceiling,andthenrippledoverthewine-colouredkarpet
rug,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.Theonlycompletelystationaryobjectintheroomwasan
besar
enormouscouchonwhichtwoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponananchoredbalon
balloon.Theywerebothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingandflutteringasiftheyhadjustbeenblownbackinafterashortflightaroundthehouse.
Imusthavestoodforafewmomentslisteningtothe
cambuk
whipandsnapofthecurtainsandthegroanofapictureonthewall.ThentherewasaboomasTomBuchananshutthe
belakang
rearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutabouttheroom,andthecurtainsandtherugsandthetwoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.Theyoungerofthetwowasastrangertome.
Shewasextendedfull
panjang
lengthatherendofthedivan,completelymotionless,andwithherchinraisedalittle,asifshewerebalancingsomethingonitwhichwasquitelikelytofall.Ifshesawmeoutofthecornerofhereyesshegaveno
petunjuk
hintofit—indeed,Iwasalmostsurprisedintomurmuringanapologyforhavingmengganggu
disturbedherbycomingin.Theothergirl,
Daisy
Daisy,madeanattempttorise—sheleanedslightlyforwardwithanurani
conscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,anabsurd,charminglittlelaugh,andIlaughedtooandcameforwardintotheroom.“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughedagain,asifshesaidsomethingverywitty,andheldmyhandforamoment,lookingupintomyface,promisingthattherewasnooneintheworldshesomuchwantedtosee.
Thatwasawayshehad.
Shehintedinamurmurthatthe
nama
surnameofthebalancinggirlwasBaker
Baker.(I’vehearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwasonlytomakepeopleleantowardher;
anirrelevant
kritik
criticismthatmadeitnolesscharming.)Atanyrate,MissBaker’slipsfluttered,shenoddedatmealmostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherheadbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredalittleandgivenhersomethingofa
ketakutan
fright.Againasortofapology
muncul
arosetomylips.Almostany
pameran
exhibitionofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsastunnedtributefromme.Ilookedbackatmycousin,whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.
Itwasthekindofvoicethattheearfollowsupanddown,asifeachspeechisan
susunan
arrangementofnotesthatwillneverbeplayedagain.Herfacewassadandlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesandabrightpassionatemouth,buttherewasan
kegembiraan
excitementinhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget:asingingcompulsion,awhispered“Listen,”apromisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustawhilesinceandthatthereweregay,excitingthingshoveringinthenexthour.
ItoldherhowIhadstoppedoffinChicagoforadayonmywayEast,andhowa
selusin
dozenpeoplehadsenttheirlovethroughme.“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“Thewholetownisdesolate.
Allthecarshavetheleft
belakang
rearwheelpaintedblackasamourningkarangan bunga
wreath,andthere’sapersistentwailallnightalongthenorthshore.”“Howgorgeous!
Let’sgoback,Tom.
Tomorrow!”
Thensheaddedirrelevantly:
“Yououghttoseethebaby.”
“I’dliketo.”
“She’sasleep.
She’sthreeyearsold.
Haven’tyoueverseenher?”
“Never.”
“Well,yououghttoseeher.
She’s—”.
TomBuchanan,whohadbeenhoveringrestlesslyabouttheroom,stoppedandrestedhishandonmyshoulder.
“Whatyoudoing,Nick?”
“I’mabondman.”
“Whowith?”
Itoldhim.
“Neverheardofthem,”heremarkeddecisively.
Thisannoyedme.
“Youwill,”Iansweredshortly.
“YouwillifyoustayintheEast.”
“Oh,I’llstayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesaid,glancingat
Daisy
Daisyandthenbackatme,asifhewerewaspada
alertforsomethingmore.“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
AtthispointMiss
Baker
Bakersaid:“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwasthefirstwordshehadutteredsinceIcameintotheroom.
Jelas
Evidentlyitsurprisedherasmuchasitdidme,forsheyawnedandwithaseriesofcepat
rapid,deftmovementsstoodupintotheroom.“I’mstiff,”she
mengeluh
complained,“I’vebeenlyingonthatsofa
sofaforaslongasIcanremember.”“Don’tlookatme,”
Daisy
Daisyretorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”“No,thanks,”saidMiss
Baker
Bakertothefourcocktailsjustinfromthepantry.“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Herhostlookedatherincredulously.
“Youare!”
Hetookdownhisdrinkasifitwereadropinthebottomofaglass.
“Howyouevergetanythingdoneisbeyondme.”
IlookedatMiss
Baker
Baker,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”Ienjoyedlookingather.
Shewasa
ramping
slender,small-breastedgirl,withantegak
erectcarriage,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshoulderslikeayoungkadet
cadet.Hergreysun-strainedeyeslookedbackatmewith
sopan
politereciprocalcuriosityoutofawan,charming,discontentedface.It
terjadi
occurredtomenowthatIhadseenher,orapictureofher,somewherebefore.“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“Iknowsomebodythere.”
“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“YoumustknowGatsby.”
“Gatsby?”
demanded
Daisy
Daisy.“WhatGatsby?”
BeforeIcould
menjawab
replythathewasmytetangga
neighbourdinnerwasannounced;wedginghistensearmimperativelyundermine,TomBuchanan
memaksa
compelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweremovingacheckertoanothersquare.Slenderly,languidly,theirhandsset
ringan
lightlyontheirhips,thetwoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-colouredporch,opentowardthematahari terbenam
sunset,wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.“Whycandles?”
objected
Daisy
Daisy,frowning.Shesnappedthemoutwithherfingers.
“Intwoweeksit’llbethe
terpanjang
longestdayintheyear.”Shelookedatusallradiantly.
“Doyoualwayswatchforthe
terpanjang
longestdayoftheyearandthenmissit?Ialwayswatchforthe
terpanjang
longestdayintheyearandthenmissit.”“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawnedMiss
Baker
Baker,sittingdownatthetableasifsheweregettingintobed.“Allright,”said
Daisy
Daisy.“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdopeopleplan?”
BeforeIcouldanswerhereyesfastenedwithanawed
ekspresi
expressiononherlittlefinger.“Look!”
she
mengeluh
complained;“Ihurtit.”
Wealllooked—theknucklewasblackandblue.
“Youdidit,Tom,”shesaidaccusingly.
“Iknowyoudidn’tmeanto,butyoudiddoit.
That’swhatIgetformarryingabruteofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysical
spesimen
specimenofa—”.“Ihatethatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”
“Hulking,”
bersikeras
insistedDaisy.SometimessheandMiss
Baker
Bakertalkedatonce,unobtrusivelyandwithabanteringinconsequencethatwasneverquitechatter,thatwasascoolastheirwhitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesintheabsenceofalldesire.Theywerehere,andtheyacceptedTomandme,makingonlya
sopan
politepleasantefforttoentertainortobemenghibur
entertained.Theyknewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverandalittlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverand
santai
casuallyputaway.ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,whereaneveningwashurriedfrom
fase
phasetophasetowardsitsclose,inacontinuallydisappointedantisipasi
anticipationorelseinsheernervousketakutan
dreadofthemomentitself.“Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,”Iconfessedonmysecondglassofcorkybutratherimpressiveclaret.
“Can’tyoutalkaboutcropsorsomething?”
Imeantnothinginparticularbythisremark,butitwastakenupinan
terduga
unexpectedway.“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”brokeoutTom
keras
violently.“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresbythismanGoddard?”
“Why,no,”Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
“Well,it’safinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadit.
Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthewhiteracewillbe—willbe
benar
utterlysubmerged.It’sallscientificstuff;
it’sbeenproved.”