I
Inmyyounger
in
andmorevulnerableyearsmyoče
fathergavemesomeadviceki
thatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.“Wheneveryoufeel
kot
likecriticizinganyone,”hetoldmi
me,“justrememberthatallthepeopleintem
thisworldhaven’thadtheadvantagesthatyou’vehad.”Hedidn’t
rekel
sayanymore,butwe’vevedno
alwaysbeenunusuallycommunicativeinareservednačin
way,andIunderstoodthathemeantaveliko
greatdealmorethanthat.Inconsequence,I’minclinedtoreserve
vse
alljudgements,ahabitthathasopenedupmanycuriousnaturestomein
andalsomademethevictimofnotamalo
fewveteranbores.Theabnormal
um
mindisquicktodetectin
andattachitselftothisqualityko
whenitappearsinanormalosebi
person,andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustlyaccusedofbeingapolitician,ker
becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.Večina
Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,ali
orahostilelevitywhenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignda
thatanintimaterevelationwasquiveringonthehorizon;fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,
ali
oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressthem,areusuallyplagiaristicin
andmarredbyobvioussuppressions.Reservingjudgementsisamatterofinfinite
upanja
hope.Iamstilla
malo
littleafraidofmissingsomethingče
ifIforgetthat,asmyoče
fathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthefundamentaldecenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.In
And,afterboastingthiswayofmytolerance,Iprišel
cometotheadmissionthatithasalimit.Conduct
lahko
maybefoundedonthetrdi
hardrockorthewetmarshes,ampak
butafteracertainpointIdon’tcarewhatit’sfoundedna
on.WhenIcamebackfromtheEastlastautumnIfeltthatIwantedthe
svet
worldtobeinuniformin
andatasortofmoralattentionforever;Iwantedno
več
moreriotousexcursionswithprivilegedglimpsesintothehumansrce
heart.OnlyGatsby,themanwhogiveshis
ime
nametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,whorepresentedvse
everythingforwhichIhaveanunaffectedscorn.Če
Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewassomethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightenedsensitivitytothepromisesoflife,asče
ifhewererelatedtooneofteh
thoseintricatemachinesthatregisterearthquakesdeset
tenthousandmilesaway.Thisresponsivenesshad
nič
nothingtodowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichisdignifiedpod
underthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforupanje
hope,aromanticreadinesssuchasIhavenikoli
neverfoundinanyotherosebi
personandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverfindagain.No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightat
je
theend;itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,whatfouldustfloatedinthewakeofhisdreamsthattemporarilyclosedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrows
in
andshort-windedelationsofmen.Myfamilyhavebeenprominent,well-to-dopeoplein
tem
thisMiddleWesterncityfortri
threegenerations.TheCarrawaysaresomethingofaclan,
in
andwehaveatraditionthatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,vendar
buttheactualfounderofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrat
brother,whocamehereinfifty-one,sentasubstitutetotheCivilVojno
War,andstartedthewholesalehardwarebusinessthatmyoče
fathercarriesontoday.I
nikoli
neversawthisgreat-uncle,butI’msupposedtolooklikehim—withspecialreferencetotheratherhard-boiledpaintingki
thathangsinfather’soffice.IgraduatedfromNewHavenin1915,justaquarterofacentury
po
aftermyfather,andamalo
littlelaterIparticipatedinthatdelayedTeutonicmigrationknownastheGreatVojna
War.Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughly
da
thatIcamebackrestless.Insteadofbeing
je
thewarmcentreofthesveta
world,theMiddleWestnowseemedkot
liketheraggededgeofje
theuniverse—soIdecidedtogoEastin
andlearnthebondbusiness.Vsi
EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportenega
onemoresingleman.Allmyaunts
in
andunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepšolo
schoolforme,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”z
withverygrave,hesitantfaces.Oče
Fatheragreedtofinancemeforaleto
year,andaftervariousdelaysIcameEast,permanently,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.Thepracticalthingwasto
najti
findroomsinthecity,vendar
butitwasawarmseason,in
andIhadjustleftacountryofwidelawnsin
andfriendlytrees,sowhenayoungmanatthepisarni
officesuggestedthatwetakeahišo
housetogetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedkot
likeagreatidea.Hefoundthe
hišo
house,aweather-beatencardboardbungalowateightyamonth,toda
butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,andIwentouttothecountrysam
alone.Ihadadog—at
vsaj
leastIhadhimforanekaj
fewdaysuntilheranaway—andanoldDodgein
andaFinnishwoman,whomademyposteljo
bedandcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnishwisdomtoherselfnad
overtheelectricstove.Itwaslonelyfora
dan
dayorsountilonemorningsomemoški
man,morerecentlyarrivedthanSem
I,stoppedmeontheroad.“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
heaskedhelplessly.
Itold
mu
him.AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.
Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehadcasuallyconferredonmethefreedomoftheneighbourhood.
In
Andsowiththesunshinein
andthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliarconvictionthatživljenje
lifewasbeginningoveragainz
withthesummer.Therewassomuchtoread,for
eno
onething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepullednavzdol
downoutoftheyoungbreath-givingzraka
air.Iboughtadozenvolumesonbanking
in
andcreditandinvestmentsecurities,in
andtheystoodonmyshelfinrdeči
redandgoldlikenewdenar
moneyfromthemint,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretski
thatonlyMidasandMorganin
andMaecenasknew.AndIhadthe
visoko
highintentionofreadingmanydrugih
otherbooksbesides.Iwasratherliteraryincollege—one
leto
yearIwroteaseriesofzelo
verysolemnandobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andzdaj
nowIwasgoingtobringbackallsuchthingsintomyživljenje
lifeandbecomeagainthatnajbolj
mostlimitedofallspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”To
Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeisveliko
muchmoresuccessfullylookedatfromasinglewindow,afterall.Itwasamatterofchance
da
thatIshouldhaverentedahišo
houseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.ItwasonthatslenderriotousislandwhichextendsitselfdueeastofNewYork—and
kjer
wherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,dve
twounusualformationsofland.Twentymilesfromthe
mesta
cityapairofenormouseggs,identicalincontourin
andseparatedonlybyacourtesybay,jutoutintothenajbolj
mostdomesticatedbodyofsaltvode
waterintheWesternhemisphere,theveliko
greatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyare
oba
bothcrushedflatatthecontactend—buttheirphysicalresemblancemora
mustbeasourceofperpetualwondertothegullski
thatflyoverhead.Tothewinglessa
bolj
moreinterestingphenomenonistheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshapein
andsize.IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,thelessfashionableofthetwo,
čeprav
thoughthisisamostsuperficialtagtoexpressthebizarrein
andnotalittlesinistercontrastmed
betweenthem.Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,onlyfiftyyardsfromthe
Zvoka
Sound,andsqueezedbetweentwohugeplaceski
thatrentedfortwelveorfifteenthousandaseason.Theoneonmy
desni
rightwasacolossalaffairbyanystandard—itwasafactualimitationofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,withatowerononeside,spankingnewpod
underathinbeardofrawivy,in
andamarbleswimmingpool,in
andmorethanfortyacresoflawnin
andgarden.ItwasGatsby’smansion.
Ali
Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasje
amansioninhabitedbyagentlemanofthatimenom
name.Myownhousewasaneyesore,
vendar
butitwasasmalleyesore,in
andithadbeenoverlooked,soIhadaviewofthevodo
water,apartialviewofmyneighbour’slawn,in
andtheconsolingproximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.Acrossthecourtesybaythe
bele
whitepalacesoffashionableEastEggglitteredalongthewater,in
andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertheretoso
havedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.Daisywasmy
druga
secondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.Andjust
po
afterthewarIspentdva
twodayswiththeminChicago.Herhusband,amongvariousphysicalaccomplishments,hadbeen
eden
oneofthemostpowerfulendsthateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinanačin
way,oneofthosemenwhoreachsuchanacutelimitedexcellenceattwenty-onethatvse
everythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedom
z
withmoneywasamatterforreproach—butzdaj
nowhe’dleftChicagoandprišel
comeEastinafashionki
thatrathertookyourbreathaway:forinstance,he’dbroughtdown
je
astringofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.Itwas
težko
hardtorealizethatačlovek
maninmyowngenerationwaswealthydovolj
enoughtodothat.WhytheycameEastIdon’t
vem
know.Theyhadspenta
leto
yearinFrancefornoparticularreason,in
andthendriftedhereandthereunrestfullywhereverpeopleplayedpoloin
andwererichtogether.Thiswasapermanent
poteza
move,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,butIdidn’tbelieveit—IhadnosightintoDaisy’ssrce
heart,butIfeltthatTomwoulddriftonforeverseeking,amalo
littlewistfully,forthedramaticturbulenceofsomeirrecoverablefootballgame.In
Andsoithappenedthatonje
awarmwindyeveningIdroveovertoEastEggtoseedva
twooldfriendswhomIscarcelyknewatall.Their
hiša
housewasevenmoreelaboratekot
thanIexpected,acheerfulred-and-whiteGeorgianColonialmansion,overlookingthebay.Thelawnstartedatthebeach
in
andrantowardsthefrontdoorforaquarterofamile,jumpingčez
oversundialsandbrickwalksin
andburninggardens—finallywhenitreachedthehišo
housedriftingupthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthemomentumofitsrun.The
prednji
frontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,glowingzdaj
nowwithreflectedgoldandwideopentothewarmwindyafternoon,in
andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandingwithhislegsapartontheprednji
frontporch.HehadchangedsincehisNewHavenyears.
Zdaj
Nowhewasasturdystraw-hairedmoški
manofthirty,witharathertrdo
hardmouthandasuperciliousmanner.Dve
Twoshiningarroganteyeshadestablisheddominancenad
overhisfaceandgavehimje
theappearanceofalwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.Not
niti
eventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidetheenormouspowerofthatbody—heseemedtofillthoseglisteningbootsdokler
untilhestrainedthetoplacing,in
andyoucouldseeagreatpackofmuscleshiftingko
whenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.Itwas
je
abodycapableofenormousleverage—acrueltelo
body.Hisspeakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtotheimpressionoffractiousnessheconveyed.
Therewasa
dotik
touchofpaternalcontemptinit,celo
eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenki
whohadhatedhisguts.“Now,don’tthinkmyopinionon
teh
thesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtorekel
say,“justbecauseI’mstrongerin
andmoreofamanthanyouare.”Wewereinthe
isti
sameseniorsociety,andwhilewewerenikoli
neverintimateIalwayshadtheimpressionthatheapprovedofmein
andwantedmetolikehimz
withsomeharsh,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.Wetalkedfora
nekaj
fewminutesonthesunnyporch.“I’vegota
lep
niceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.Turningmearoundby
eno
onearm,hemovedabroadflathandvzdolž
alongthefrontvista,includinginitssweepasunkenItaliangarden,apol
halfacreofdeep,pungentroses,in
andasnub-nosedmotorboatthatbumpedthetideoffshore.“ItbelongedtoDemaine,
je
theoilman.”Heturnedmearound
spet
again,politelyandabruptly.“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalked
skozi
throughahighhallwayintoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehišo
housebyFrenchwindowsateitherend.Thewindowswereajar
in
andgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrasszunaj
outsidethatseemedtogrowamalo
littlewayintothehouse.Abreezeblew
skozi
throughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatonekoncu
endandouttheotherlikepaleflags,twistingthemuptowardthefrostedwedding-cakeoftheceiling,in
andthenrippledoverthewine-colouredrug,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.The
edini
onlycompletelystationaryobjectinthesobi
roomwasanenormouscouchonwhichdve
twoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponananchoredballoon.Theywere
oba
bothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingin
andflutteringasiftheyhadpravkar
justbeenblownbackinpo
afterashortflightaroundthehiše
house.Imusthavestoodfora
nekaj
fewmomentslisteningtothewhipandsnapofthecurtainsandthegroanofapictureonthewall.ThentherewasaboomasTomBuchanan
zaprl
shuttherearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutaboutthesobi
room,andthecurtainsandtherugsin
andthetwoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.Theyoungerofthetwowasastrangerto
mi
me.Shewasextendedfulllengthather
koncu
endofthedivan,completelymotionless,in
andwithherchinraisedamalo
little,asifshewerebalancingnekaj
somethingonitwhichwaszelo
quitelikelytofall.Ifshesawmeoutofthecornerofhereyesshegave
ni
nohintofit—indeed,Iwasskoraj
almostsurprisedintomurmuringanapologyforhavingdisturbedherbycomingin.The
drugo
othergirl,Daisy,madeanattempttorise—sheleanedslightlyforwardz
withaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,anabsurd,charminglittlelaugh,in
andIlaughedtooandcameforwardintothesobo
room.“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughed
spet
again,asifshesaidnekaj
somethingverywitty,andheldmyroko
handforamoment,lookingupintomyobraz
face,promisingthattherewasnooneinthesvetu
worldshesomuchwantedtosee.Thatwas
je
awayshehad.ShehintedinamurmurthatthesurnameofthebalancinggirlwasBaker.
(I’vehearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwas
samo
onlytomakepeopleleantowardher;anirrelevantcriticism
ki
thatmadeitnolesscharming.)Atanyrate,MissBaker’slipsfluttered,shenoddedatme
skoraj
almostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherglavo
headbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredje
alittleandgivenhernekaj
somethingofafright.Again
je
asortofapologyarosetomylips.Skoraj
Almostanyexhibitionofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsastunnedtributefrommene
me.Ilookedbackatmycousin,
ki
whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.Itwasthekindofvoicethattheearfollows
navzgor
upanddown,asifvsak
eachspeechisanarrangementofnotesthatwillnikoli
neverbeplayedagain.Her
obraz
facewassadandlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesin
andabrightpassionatemouth,vendar
buttherewasanexcitementinhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttopozabili
forget:asingingcompulsion,awhispered“Listen,”apromisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustawhilesince
in
andthatthereweregay,excitingthingshoveringinthenaslednji
nexthour.Itoldher
kako
howIhadstoppedoffinChicagoforje
adayonmywayEast,in
andhowadozenpeoplehadsenttheirljubezen
lovethroughme.“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“The
celotno
wholetownisdesolate.Allthecars
imajo
havetheleftrearwheelpaintedčrno
blackasamourningwreath,in
andthere’sapersistentwailvsi
allnightalongthenorthshore.”“Howgorgeous!
Let’sgo
nazaj
back,Tom.Tomorrow!”
Thensheaddedirrelevantly:
“Yououghttoseethebaby.”
“I’dliketo.”
“She’sasleep.
She’s
tri
threeyearsold.Haven’tyoueverseenher?”
“Never.”
“Well,yououghttoseeher.
She’s—”.
TomBuchanan,
ki
whohadbeenhoveringrestlesslyaboutje
theroom,stoppedandrestedhisroko
handonmyshoulder.“Whatyoudoing,Nick?”
“I’mabondman.”
“Whowith?”
Itold
mu
him.“Neverheardofthem,”heremarkeddecisively.
To
Thisannoyedme.“Youwill,”Iansweredshortly.
“Youwill
če
ifyoustayintheEast.”“Oh,I’llstayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesaid,glancingatDaisy
in
andthenbackatme,asifhewerealertfornekaj
somethingmore.“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
At
tej
thispointMissBakersaid:“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwas
je
thefirstwordshehadutteredodkar
sinceIcameintothesobo
room.Evidentlyitsurprisedherasmuchasitdid
mene
me,forsheyawnedands
withaseriesofrapid,deftmovementsstoodupintothesobo
room.“I’mstiff,”shecomplained,“I’vebeenlyingonthatsofaforaslongasIcanremember.”
“Don’tlookatme,”Daisyretorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”
“No,thanks,”saidMissBakerto
je
thefourcocktailsjustinfromje
thepantry.“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Herhostlookedatherincredulously.
“Youare!”
Hetookdownhis
pijačo
drinkasifitwereadropinthebottomofaglass.“Howyoueverget
karkoli
anythingdoneisbeyondme.”IlookedatMissBaker,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”
Ienjoyedlookingather.
Shewasaslender,small-breastedgirl,withanerectcarriage,
ki
whichsheaccentuatedbythrowinghertelo
bodybackwardattheshoulderskot
likeayoungcadet.Hergreysun-strainedeyeslookedbackatme
z
withpolitereciprocalcuriosityoutofawan,charming,discontentedface.Itoccurredtome
zdaj
nowthatIhadseennjeno
her,orapictureofnjeno
her,somewherebefore.“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“Iknow
nekdo
somebodythere.”“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“YoumustknowGatsby.”
“Gatsby?”
demandedDaisy.
“WhatGatsby?”
Preden
BeforeIcouldreplythathewasmyneighbourdinnerwasannounced;wedginghistensearmimperativelyundermine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweremovingacheckerto
drugo
anothersquare.Slenderly,languidly,theirhandssetlightlyontheirhips,the
dve
twoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-colouredporch,opentowardthesunset,kjer
wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.“Whycandles?”
objectedDaisy,frowning.
Shesnappedthemout
s
withherfingers.“Intwoweeksit’llbethelongest
dan
dayintheyear.”Shelookedatus
vse
allradiantly.“Doyoualwayswatchforthelongest
dan
dayoftheyearandthenmissit?I
vedno
alwayswatchforthelongestdan
dayintheyearandthenmissit.”“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawnedMissBaker,sittingdownat
je
thetableasifsheweregettingintoposteljo
bed.“Allright,”saidDaisy.
“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdopeopleplan?”
Preden
BeforeIcouldanswerhereyesfastenedz
withanawedexpressiononherlittlefinger.“Look!”
shecomplained;
“I
poškodoval
hurtit.”Wealllooked—theknucklewas
črni
blackandblue.“Youdid
to
it,Tom,”shesaidaccusingly.“I
vem
knowyoudidn’tmeanto,ampak
butyoudiddoit.That’swhatIgetformarryingabruteofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysicalspecimenofa—”.
“Ihate
to
thatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”“Hulking,”insistedDaisy.
Včasih
SometimessheandMissBakertalkedatonce,unobtrusivelyin
andwithabanteringinconsequenceki
thatwasneverquitechatter,ki
thatwasascoolastheirbele
whitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesintheabsenceofvseh
alldesire.Theywerehere,
in
andtheyacceptedTomandmene
me,makingonlyapolitepleasantefforttoentertainali
ortobeentertained.Theyknew
da
thatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverin
andalittlelatertheeveningtudi
toowouldbeoverandcasuallyputaway.ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,
kjer
whereaneveningwashurriedfromphasetophasetowardsitsclose,inacontinuallydisappointedanticipationali
orelseinsheernervousdreadofthemomentitself.“Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,”Iconfessedonmysecondglassofcorky
vendar
butratherimpressiveclaret.“Can’tyoutalk
o
aboutcropsorsomething?”Imeant
nič
nothinginparticularbythisremark,vendar
butitwastakenupinje
anunexpectedway.“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”brokeoutTomviolently.
“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresby
tega
thismanGoddard?”“Why,no,”Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
“Well,it’s
je
afinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadto
it.Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthe
bela
whiteracewillbe—willbeutterlysubmerged.It’s
vse
allscientificstuff;it’sbeenproved.”