The Great Gatsby | Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

The Great Gatsby | Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

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I
InmyyoungerandmorevulnerableyearsmyfathergavemesomeadvicethatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.
“Wheneveryoufeellike
criticare
criticizing
anyone,”hetoldme,“justrememberthatallthepeopleinthisworldhaven’thadtheadvantagesthatyou’vehad.”
Hedidn’tsayanymore,butwe’vealwaysbeen
insolitamente
unusually
communicativeinareservedway,andIunderstoodthathemeantagreatdealmorethanthat.
Inconsequence,I’minclinedto
riservare
reserve
alljudgements,ahabitthathasopenedupmanycuriousnaturestomeandalsomademethevictimofnotafewveteranbores.
The
anormale
abnormal
mindisquickto
rilevare
detect
andattachitselftothisqualitywhenitappearsinanormalperson,andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustly
accusato
accused
ofbeingapolitician,becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.
Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,ora
ostile
hostile
levitywhenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignthatanintimate
rivelazione
revelation
wasquiveringonthehorizon;
fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressthem,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.
Reservingjudgementsisamatterofinfinitehope.
IamstillalittleafraidofmissingsomethingifIforgetthat,asmyfathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthe
fondamentale
fundamental
decenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.
And,after
vantato
boasting
thiswayofmy
tolleranza
tolerance
,Icometotheadmissionthatithasa
limite
limit
.
Conductmaybefoundedonthehardrockorthewetmarshes,butafteracertainpointIdon’tcarewhatit’sfoundedon.
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastlastautumnIfeltthatIwantedtheworldtobeinuniformandatasortof
morale
moral
attentionforever;
Iwantednomoreriotousexcursionswithprivilegedglimpsesintothehumanheart.
OnlyGatsby,themanwhogiveshisnametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,who
rappresentava
represented
everythingforwhichIhaveanunaffected
disprezzo
scorn
.
Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewassomethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightened
sensibilità
sensitivity
tothepromisesoflife,asifhewererelatedtooneofthoseintricatemachinesthat
registrano
register
earthquakestenthousandmilesaway.
Thisresponsivenesshadnothingtodowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichisdignifiedunderthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforhope,aromanticreadinesssuchasIhaveneverfoundinanyotherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverfindagain.
No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightattheend;
itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,whatfouldust
galleggiato
floated
inthewakeofhisdreamsthat
temporaneamente
temporarily
closedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrowsandshort-windedelationsofmen.
Myfamilyhavebeenprominent,well-to-dopeopleinthisMiddleWesterncityforthreegenerations.
TheCarrawaysaresomethingofa
clan
clan
,andwehavea
tradizione
tradition
thatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,buttheactual
fondatore
founder
ofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrother,whocamehereinfifty-one,senta
sostituto
substitute
totheCivilWar,andstartedthewholesale
ferramenta
hardware
businessthatmyfathercarriesontoday.
Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,butI’msupposedtolooklikehim—withspecial
riferimento
reference
totheratherhard-boiledpaintingthathangsinfather’soffice.
I
laureato
graduated
fromNewHavenin1915,justaquarterofacenturyaftermyfather,andalittlelaterI
partecipato
participated
inthatdelayedTeutonic
migrazione
migration
knownastheGreatWar.
Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughlythatIcameback
irrequieto
restless
.
Insteadofbeingthewarmcentreoftheworld,theMiddleWestnowseemedliketheraggededgeoftheuniverse—soIdecidedtogoEastandlearnthebondbusiness.
EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportonemoresingleman.
Allmyauntsandunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolforme,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”withverygrave,hesitantfaces.
Fatheragreedtofinancemeforayear,andafter
vari
various
delaysIcameEast,
definitivamente
permanently
,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.
Thepracticalthingwastofindroomsinthecity,butitwasawarmseason,andIhadjustleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees,sowhenayoungmanattheofficesuggestedthatwetakeahousetogetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedlikeagreatidea.
Hefoundthehouse,aweather-beaten
cartone
cardboard
bungalowateightyamonth,butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,andIwentouttothecountryalone.
Ihadadog—atleastIhadhimforafewdaysuntilheranaway—andanoldDodgeandaFinnishwoman,whomademybedandcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnish
saggezza
wisdom
toherselfovertheelectric
stufa
stove
.
Itwaslonelyforadayorsountilonemorningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedthanI,stoppedmeontheroad.
“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
heaskedhelplessly.
Itoldhim.
AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.
Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehad
casualmente
casually
conferredonmethefreedomofthe
quartiere
neighbourhood
.
Andsowiththe
sole
sunshine
andthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliar
convinzione
conviction
thatlifewasbeginningoveragainwiththesummer.
Therewassomuchtoread,foronething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutoftheyoungbreath-givingair.
Iboughta
dozzina
dozen
volumesonbankingandcreditand
investimento
investment
securities,andtheystoodonmy
scaffale
shelf
inredandgoldlikenewmoneyfromthe
zecca
mint
,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatonlyMidasandMorganandMaecenasknew.
AndIhadthehighintentionofreadingmanyotherbooksbesides.
Iwasrather
letterario
literary
incollege—oneyearIwroteaseriesofverysolemnandobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andnowIwasgoingtobringbackallsuchthingsintomylifeandbecomeagainthatmost
limitato
limited
ofallspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”
Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeismuchmoresuccessfullylookedatfromasinglewindow,afterall.
ItwasamatterofchancethatIshouldhaverentedahouseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.
Itwasonthatslenderriotousislandwhich
estende
extends
itselfdueeastofNewYork—andwherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,twounusualformationsofland.
Twentymilesfromthecityapairofenormouseggs,identicalincontourandseparatedonlybya
cortesia
courtesy
bay,jutoutintothemostdomesticatedbodyofsaltwaterinthe
Occidentale
Western
hemisphere,thegreatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.
Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyarebothcrushedflatatthecontactend—buttheirphysical
somiglianza
resemblance
mustbeasourceofperpetualwondertothegullsthatflyoverhead.
Tothewinglessamoreinteresting
fenomeno
phenomenon
istheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshapeandsize.
IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,theless
alla moda
fashionable
ofthetwo,thoughthisisamost
superficiale
superficial
tagtoexpressthe
bizzarro
bizarre
andnotalittlesinister
contrasto
contrast
betweenthem.
Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,onlyfiftyyardsfromtheSound,andsqueezedbetweentwohugeplacesthatrentedfortwelveorfifteenthousandaseason.
Theoneonmyrightwasa
colossale
colossal
affairbyanystandard—itwasafactualimitationofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,withatowerononeside,spankingnewunderathin
barba
beard
ofrawivy,anda
marmo
marble
swimmingpool,andmorethanfortyacresof
prato
lawn
andgarden.
ItwasGatsby’s
palazzo
mansion
.
Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasa
palazzo
mansion
inhabitedbyagentlemanofthatname.
Myownhousewasaneyesore,butitwasasmalleyesore,andithadbeenoverlooked,soIhadaviewofthewater,a
parziale
partial
viewofmyneighbour’s
prato
lawn
,andtheconsolingproximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.
Acrossthe
cortesia
courtesy
baythewhitepalacesof
alla moda
fashionable
EastEggglitteredalongthewater,andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertheretohavedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.
Daisywasmysecondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.
AndjustafterthewarIspenttwodayswiththeminChicago.
Herhusband,among
vari
various
physicalaccomplishments,hadbeenoneofthemostpowerfulendsthateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinaway,oneofthosemenwhoreachsuchan
acuta
acute
limitedexcellenceattwenty-onethateverythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.
Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedomwithmoneywasamatterforreproach—butnowhe’dleftChicagoandcomeEastinafashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway:
for
esempio
instance
,he’dbroughtdownastringofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.
Itwashardtorealizethatamaninmyowngenerationwas
ricco
wealthy
enoughtodothat.
WhytheycameEastIdon’tknow.
TheyhadspentayearinFrancefornoparticularreason,andthendriftedhereandthereunrestfullywhereverpeopleplayedpoloandwererichtogether.
Thiswasa
permanente
permanent
move,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,butIdidn’tbelieveit—IhadnosightintoDaisy’sheart,butIfeltthatTomwould
deriva
drift
onforeverseeking,alittlewistfully,forthedramatic
turbolenza
turbulence
ofsomeirrecoverablefootballgame.
AndsoithappenedthatonawarmwindyeveningIdroveovertoEastEggtoseetwooldfriendswhomIscarcelyknewatall.
TheirhousewasevenmoreelaboratethanIexpected,a
allegro
cheerful
red-and-whiteGeorgianColonialmansion,overlookingthe
baia
bay
.
Thelawnstartedatthebeachandrantowardsthefrontdoorforaquarterofamile,jumpingoversundialsand
di mattoni
brick
walksandburninggardens—finallywhenitreachedthehousedriftingupthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthemomentumofitsrun.
ThefrontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,glowingnowwith
riflesso
reflected
goldandwideopentothewarm
ventoso
windy
afternoon,andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandingwithhislegsapartonthefront
portico
porch
.
HehadchangedsincehisNewHavenyears.
Nowhewasa
robusto
sturdy
straw-hairedmanofthirty,witharatherhardmouthandasupercilious
modo
manner
.
Twoshiningarroganteyeshad
stabilito
established
dominanceoverhisfaceandgavehimtheappearanceofalways
inclinato
leaning
aggressivelyforward.
Noteventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidetheenormouspowerofthatbody—heseemedtofillthoseglisteningbootsuntilhestrainedthetoplacing,andyoucouldseeagreatpackofmuscleshiftingwhenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.
Itwasabodycapableofenormousleverage—acruelbody.
Hisspeakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtotheimpressionoffractiousnesshe
trasmetteva
conveyed
.
Therewasatouchofpaternal
disprezzo
contempt
init,eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenwhohadhatedhisguts.
“Now,don’tthinkmyopiniononthesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtosay,“justbecauseI’mstrongerandmoreofamanthanyouare.”
Wewereinthesameseniorsociety,andwhilewewereneverintimateIalwayshadtheimpressionthathe
approvasse
approved
ofmeandwantedmetolikehimwithsomeharsh,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.
Wetalkedforafewminutesonthe
soleggiato
sunny
porch.
“I’vegotaniceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.
Turningmearoundbyonearm,hemoveda
largo
broad
flathandalongthefront
vista
vista
,includinginitssweepasunkenItaliangarden,ahalf
acro
acre
ofdeep,pungentroses,andasnub-nosedmotorboatthatbumpedthe
marea
tide
offshore.
“ItbelongedtoDemaine,theoilman.”
Heturnedmearoundagain,
educatamente
politely
andabruptly.
“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalkedthroughahigh
corridoio
hallway
intoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehousebyFrenchwindowsateitherend.
Thewindowswereajarandgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrassoutsidethatseemedtogrowalittlewayintothehouse.
A
brezza
breeze
blewthroughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatoneendandouttheotherlikepaleflags,twistingthemup
verso
toward
thefrostedwedding-cakeofthe
soffitto
ceiling
,andthenrippledoverthewine-coloured
tappeto
rug
,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.
Theonlycompletelystationaryobjectintheroomwasan
enorme
enormous
couchonwhichtwoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponan
ancorato
anchored
balloon.
Theywerebothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingandflutteringasiftheyhadjustbeenblownbackinafterashortflightaroundthehouse.
Imusthavestoodforafewmomentslisteningtothewhipandsnapofthecurtainsandthe
gemito
groan
ofapictureonthewall.
ThentherewasaboomasTomBuchananshuttherearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutabouttheroom,andthecurtainsandtherugsandthetwoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.
Theyoungerofthetwowasastrangertome.
Shewasextendedfull
lunghezza
length
atherendofthedivan,completelymotionless,andwithher
mento
chin
raisedalittle,asifshewerebalancingsomethingonitwhichwasquitelikelytofall.
Ifshesawmeoutofthecornerofhereyesshegaveno
accenno
hint
ofit—indeed,Iwasalmostsurprisedintomurmuringan
scusa
apology
forhavingdisturbedherbycomingin.
Theothergirl,Daisy,madeanattempttorise—sheleaned
leggermente
slightly
forwardwithaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,anabsurd,charminglittlelaugh,andIlaughedtooandcameforwardintotheroom.
“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughedagain,asifshesaidsomethingvery
spiritoso
witty
,andheldmyhandforamoment,lookingupintomyface,promisingthattherewasnooneintheworldshesomuchwantedtosee.
Thatwasawayshehad.
She
accennato
hinted
inamurmurthatthe
cognome
surname
ofthebalancinggirlwasBaker.
(I’vehearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwasonlytomakepeoplelean
verso
toward
her;
anirrelevantcriticismthatmadeitnolesscharming.)
Atanyrate,MissBaker’slipsfluttered,she
annuì
nodded
atmealmostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherheadbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredalittleandgivenhersomethingofafright.
Againasortof
scusa
apology
arosetomylips.
Almostanyexhibitionofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsastunned
omaggio
tribute
fromme.
Ilookedbackatmycousin,whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,
emozionante
thrilling
voice.
Itwasthekindofvoicethattheearfollowsupanddown,asifeachspeechisanarrangementofnotesthatwillneverbeplayedagain.
Herfacewassadandlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesandabrightpassionatemouth,buttherewasanexcitementinhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget:
asingingcompulsion,a
sussurrato
whispered
“Listen,”apromisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustawhilesinceandthatthereweregay,excitingthingshoveringinthenexthour.
ItoldherhowIhadstoppedoffinChicagoforadayonmywayEast,andhowa
dozzina
dozen
peoplehadsenttheirlovethroughme.
“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“Thewholetownisdesolate.
Allthecarshavetheleft
posteriore
rear
wheelpaintedblackasa
lutto
mourning
wreath,andthere’sa
persistente
persistent
wailallnightalongthenorthshore.”
“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.
This
infastidito
annoyed
me.
“Youwill,”Iansweredshortly.
“YouwillifyoustayintheEast.”
“Oh,I’llstayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesaid,glancingatDaisyandthenbackatme,asifhewerealertforsomethingmore.
“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
AtthispointMissBakersaid:
“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwasthefirstwordshehadutteredsinceIcameintotheroom.
Evidentemente
Evidently
itsurprisedherasmuchasitdidme,forsheyawnedandwithaseriesofrapid,deftmovementsstoodupintotheroom.
“I’mstiff,”shecomplained,“I’vebeenlyingonthat
divano
sofa
foraslongasIcanremember.”
“Don’tlookatme,”Daisyretorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”
“No,thanks,”saidMissBakertothefourcocktailsjustinfromthe
dispensa
pantry
.
“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Her
ospite
host
lookedatherincredulously.
“Youare!”
Hetookdownhisdrinkasifitwereadropinthebottomofaglass.
“Howyouevergetanythingdoneisbeyondme.”
IlookedatMissBaker,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”
Ienjoyedlookingather.
Shewasaslender,small-breastedgirl,withanerect
carrozza
carriage
,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshoulderslikeayoung
cadetto
cadet
.
Hergreysun-strainedeyeslookedbackatmewithpolitereciprocal
curiosità
curiosity
outofawan,charming,discontentedface.
ItoccurredtomenowthatIhadseenher,orapictureofher,somewherebefore.
“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“Iknowsomebodythere.”
“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“YoumustknowGatsby.”
“Gatsby?”
chiesto
demanded
Daisy.
“WhatGatsby?”
BeforeIcouldreplythathewasmy
vicino
neighbour
dinnerwasannounced;
wedginghis
teso
tense
armimperativelyundermine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweremovingacheckertoanothersquare.
Slenderly,languidly,theirhandsset
leggermente
lightly
ontheirhips,thetwoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-coloured
portico
porch
,opentowardthesunset,wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.
“Whycandles?”
objectedDaisy,frowning.
Shesnappedthemoutwithherfingers.
“Intwoweeksit’llbethe
lungo
longest
dayintheyear.”
Shelookedatusallradiantly.
“Doyoualwayswatchforthe
lungo
longest
dayoftheyearandthenmissit?
Ialwayswatchforthe
lungo
longest
dayintheyearandthenmissit.”
“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawnedMissBaker,sittingdownatthetableasifsheweregettingintobed.
“Allright,”saidDaisy.
“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdopeopleplan?”
BeforeIcouldanswerhereyesfastenedwithanawedexpressiononherlittlefinger.
“Look!”
shecomplained;
“Ihurtit.”
Wealllooked—the
nocca
knuckle
wasblackandblue.
“Youdidit,Tom,”shesaidaccusingly.
“Iknowyoudidn’tmeanto,butyoudiddoit.
That’swhatIgetformarryingabruteofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysical
esemplare
specimen
ofa—”.
“Ihatethatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”
“Hulking,”
insistito
insisted
Daisy.
SometimessheandMissBakertalkedatonce,unobtrusivelyandwithabanteringinconsequencethatwasneverquitechatter,thatwasascoolastheirwhitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesinthe
assenza
absence
ofalldesire.
Theywerehere,andtheyacceptedTomandme,makingonlyapolite
piacevole
pleasant
efforttoentertainortobe
intrattenere
entertained
.
Theyknewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverandalittlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverand
casualmente
casually
putaway.
ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,whereaneveningwashurriedfrom
fase
phase
tophasetowardsitsclose,inacontinuallydisappointed
anticipazione
anticipation
orelseinsheernervous
terrore
dread
ofthemomentitself.
“Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,”I
confessai
confessed
onmysecondglassofcorkybutratherimpressiveclaret.
“Can’tyoutalkaboutcropsorsomething?”
Imeantnothinginparticularbythis
osservazione
remark
,butitwastakenupinan
inaspettato
unexpected
way.
“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”brokeoutTom
violentemente
violently
.
“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresbythismanGoddard?”
“Why,no,”Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
“Well,it’safinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadit.
Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthewhiteracewillbe—willbeutterlysubmerged.
It’sallscientificstuff;
it’sbeenproved.”