I
Inmyyoungerandmore
sårbara
vulnerableyearsmyfathergavemesomeadvicethatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.“Wheneveryoufeellike
kritisera
criticizinganyone,”hetoldme,“justrememberthatallthepeopleinthisworldhaven’thadtheadvantagesthatyou’vehad.”Hedidn’tsayanymore,butwe’vealwaysbeen
ovanligt
unusuallycommunicativeinareservedway,andIunderstoodthathemeantagreatdealmorethanthat.Inconsequence,I’minclinedto
förbehålla
reservealljudgements,ahabitthathasopenedupmanycuriousnaturestomeandalsomademethevictimofnotafewveteranbores.Theabnormalmindisquickto
upptäcka
detectandattachitselftothisqualitywhenitappearsinanormalperson,andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustlyaccusedofbeingapolitiker
politician,becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,ora
fientlig
hostilelevitywhenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignthatanintim
intimaterevelationwasquiveringonthehorisonten
horizon;fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressthem,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.
Förbehålla
Reservingjudgementsisamatterofinfinitehope.IamstillalittleafraidofmissingsomethingifIforgetthat,asmyfathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthe
grundläggande
fundamentaldecenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.And,afterboastingthiswayofmy
tolerans
tolerance,Icometotheadmissionthatithasagräns
limit.Conductmaybefoundedonthehardrockorthewetmarshes,butafteracertainpointIdon’tcarewhatit’sfoundedon.
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastlast
hösten
autumnIfeltthatIwantedtheworldtobeinuniformandatasortofmoralisk
moralattentionforever;Iwantednomoreriotousexcursionswithprivilegedglimpsesintothehumanheart.
OnlyGatsby,themanwhogiveshisnametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,who
representerade
representedeverythingforwhichIhaveanunaffectedförakt
scorn.Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewassomethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightened
känslighet
sensitivitytothepromisesoflife,asifhewererelatedtooneofthoseintricatemachinesthatregistrerar
registerearthquakestenthousandmilesaway.Thisresponsivenesshadnothingtodowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichis
värdigt
dignifiedunderthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforhope,aromanticreadinesssuchasIhaveneverfoundinanyotherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverfindagain.No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightattheend;
itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,whatfouldust
svävade
floatedinthewakeofhisdreamsthattillfälligt
temporarilyclosedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrowsandshort-windedelationsofmen.Myfamilyhavebeen
framstående
prominent,well-to-dopeopleinthisMiddleWesterncityforthreegenerations.TheCarrawaysaresomethingofa
klan
clan,andwehaveatradition
traditionthatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,butthefaktiska
actualfounderofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrother,whocamehereinfifty-one,sentasubstitutetotheCivilWar,andstartedthegrossist
wholesalehardwarebusinessthatmyfathercarriesontoday.Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,butI’msupposedtolooklikehim—withspecial
hänvisning
referencetotheratherhard-boiledpaintingthathangsinfather’soffice.IgraduatedfromNewHavenin1915,justaquarterofacenturyaftermyfather,andalittlelaterI
deltog
participatedinthatdelayedTeutonicmigrationknownastheGreatWar.Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughlythatIcameback
rastlös
restless.Insteadofbeingthewarm
centrum
centreoftheworld,theMiddleWestnowseemedlikethetrasiga
raggededgeoftheuniverse—soIdecidedtogoEastandlearnthebondbusiness.EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportonemoresingleman.
Allmyauntsandunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolforme,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”withverygrave,hesitantfaces.
Fatheragreedto
finansiera
financemeforayear,andafterolika
variousdelaysIcameEast,permanent
permanently,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.The
praktiska
practicalthingwastofindroomsinthecity,butitwasawarmseason,andIhadjustleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees,sowhenayoungmanattheofficesuggestedthatwetakeahousetogetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedlikeagreatidea.Hefoundthehouse,aweather-beaten
kartong
cardboardbungalowateightyamonth,butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,andIwentouttothecountryalone.Ihadadog—atleastIhadhimforafewdaysuntilheranaway—andanold
Dodge
DodgeandaFinnishwoman,whomademybedandcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnishvisdom
wisdomtoherselfovertheelektriska
electricstove.Itwaslonelyforadayorsountilonemorningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedthanI,stoppedmeontheroad.
“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
heaskedhelplessly.
Itoldhim.
AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.
Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehadcasuallyconferredonmethefreedomofthe
grannskapet
neighbourhood.Andsowiththesunshineandthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliarconvictionthatlifewasbeginningoveragainwiththesummer.
Therewassomuchtoread,foronething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutoftheyoungbreath-givingair.
Iboughta
dussin
dozenvolumesonbankingandcreditandinvestmentsecurities,andtheystoodonmyhylla
shelfinredandgoldlikenewmoneyfromthemyntverket
mint,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatonlyMidasandMorganandMaecenasknew.AndIhadthehighintentionofreadingmanyotherbooksbesides.
Iwasrather
litterär
literaryincollege—oneyearIwroteaseriesofveryhögtidliga
solemnandobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andnowIwasgoingtobringbackallsuchthingsintomylifeandbecomeagainthatmostbegränsade
limitedofallspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeismuchmore
framgångsrikt
successfullylookedatfromasinglewindow,afterall.ItwasamatterofchancethatIshouldhaverentedahouseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.
ItwasonthatslenderriotousislandwhichextendsitselfdueeastofNewYork—andwherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,twounusualformationsofland.
Twentymilesfromthecityapairof
enorma
enormouseggs,identicalincontourandseparatedonlybyacourtesybay,jutoutintothemostdomesticatedbodyofsaltwaterintheVästra
Westernhemisphere,thegreatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyareboth
krossade
crushedflatatthecontactend—buttheirphysicallikhet
resemblancemustbeasourceofevig
perpetualwondertothegullsthatflyoverhead.Tothewinglessamoreinteresting
fenomen
phenomenonistheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshapeandsize.IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,theless
fashionabla
fashionableofthetwo,thoughthisisamostytlig
superficialtagtoexpressthebisarra
bizarreandnotalittlesinisterkontrast
contrastbetweenthem.Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,onlyfiftyyardsfromtheSound,andsqueezedbetweentwohugeplacesthatrentedfortwelveorfifteenthousandaseason.
Theoneonmyrightwasa
kolossal
colossalaffairbyanystandard—itwasafactualimitation
imitationofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,withatowerononeside,spankingnewunderathinskägg
beardofrawivy,andamarmor
marbleswimmingpool,andmorethanfortyacresofgräsmatta
lawnandgarden.ItwasGatsby’s
herrgård
mansion.Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasa
herrgård
mansioninhabitedbyagentlemanofthatname.Myownhousewasaneyesore,butitwasasmalleyesore,andithadbeen
förbisett
overlooked,soIhadaviewofthewater,apartiell
partialviewofmyneighbour’sgräsmatta
lawn,andtheconsolingproximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.Acrossthecourtesy
bay
baythewhitepalacesoffashionableEastEggglitteredalongthewater,andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertheretohavedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.Daisy
Daisywasmysecondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.AndjustafterthewarIspenttwodayswiththeminChicago.
Herhusband,among
olika
variousphysicalaccomplishments,hadbeenoneofthemostpowerfulendsthateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinaway,oneofthosemenwhoreachsuchanakut
acutelimitedexcellenceattwenty-onethateverythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedomwithmoneywasamatterforreproach—butnowhe’dleftChicagoandcomeEastinafashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway:
for
exempel
instance,he’dbroughtdownastringofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.Itwashardtorealizethatamaninmyowngenerationwas
rik
wealthyenoughtodothat.WhytheycameEastIdon’tknow.
TheyhadspentayearinFrancefornoparticularreason,andthendriftedhereandthereunrestfullywhereverpeopleplayedpoloandwererichtogether.
Thiswasa
permanent
permanentmove,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,butIdidn’tbelieveit—IhadnosightintoDaisy’sheart,butIfeltthatTomwoulddriftonforeverseeking,alittlewistfully,forthedramatiska
dramaticturbulenceofsomeirrecoverablefootballgame.Andsoithappenedthatonawarm
blåsig
windyeveningIdroveovertoEastEggtoseetwooldfriendswhomIknappt
scarcelyknewatall.TheirhousewasevenmoreelaboratethanIexpected,a
glad
cheerfulred-and-whiteGeorgianColonialmansion,overlookingthebukten
bay.Thelawnstartedatthebeachandrantowardsthefrontdoorforaquarterofamile,jumpingoversundialsand
tegel
brickwalksandburninggardens—finallywhenitreachedthehousedriftingupthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthemomentumofitsrun.ThefrontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,glowingnowwith
reflekterat
reflectedgoldandwideopentothewarmblåsiga
windyafternoon,andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandingwithhislegsapartonthefrontporch.HehadchangedsincehisNewHavenyears.
Nowhewasa
robust
sturdystraw-hairedmanofthirty,witharatherhardmouthandasupercilioussätt
manner.Twoshiningarroganteyeshad
etablerat
establisheddominanceoverhisfaceandgavehimtheappearanceofalwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.Noteventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidethe
enorma
enormouspowerofthatbody—heseemedtofillthoseglisteningbootsuntilhestrainedthetoplacing,andyoucouldseeagreatpackofmuscleshiftingwhenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.Itwasabodycapableof
enorma
enormousleverage—acruelbody.Hisspeakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtotheimpressionoffractiousnesshe
förmedlade
conveyed.Therewasatouchofpaternal
förakt
contemptinit,eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenwhohadhatedhisguts.“Now,don’tthinkmyopiniononthesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtosay,“justbecauseI’mstrongerandmoreofamanthanyouare.”
Wewereinthesameseniorsociety,andwhilewewerenever
intima
intimateIalwayshadtheimpressionthathegodkände
approvedofmeandwantedmetolikehimwithsomehård
harsh,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.Wetalkedforafewminutesonthe
soliga
sunnyporch.“I’vegotaniceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.
Turningmearoundbyonearm,hemoveda
bred
broadflathandalongthefrontvista,includinginitssweepasunkenItaliangarden,ahalfhektar
acreofdeep,pungentroses,andasnub-nosedmotorboatthatstötte
bumpedthetideoffshore.“ItbelongedtoDemaine,theoilman.”
Heturnedmearoundagain,
artigt
politelyandabruptly.“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalkedthroughahighhallwayintoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehousebyFrenchwindowsateitherend.
Thewindowswereajarandgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrassoutsidethatseemedtogrowalittlewayintothehouse.
A
bris
breezeblewthroughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatoneendandouttheotherlikepaleflags,twistingthemupmot
towardthefrostedwedding-cakeofthetaket
ceiling,andthenrippledoverthewine-colouredrug,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.Theonlycompletelystationaryobjectintheroomwasan
enorm
enormouscouchonwhichtwoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponananchoredballong
balloon.Theywerebothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingandflutteringasiftheyhadjustbeenblownbackinafterashortflightaroundthehouse.
Imusthavestoodforafewmomentslisteningtothewhipand
knäppte
snapofthecurtainsandthestönade
groanofapictureonthewall.ThentherewasaboomasTomBuchananshutthe
bakre
rearwindowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutabouttheroom,andthecurtainsandtherugsandthetwoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.Theyoungerofthetwowasastrangertome.
Shewas
utsträckt
extendedfulllengthatherendofthedivan,completelymotionless,andwithherhakan
chinraisedalittle,asifshewerebalancingsomethingonitwhichwasquitelikelytofall.Ifshesawmeoutofthecornerofhereyesshegavenohintofit—indeed,Iwasalmostsurprisedintomurmuringan
ursäkt
apologyforhavingdisturbedherbycomingin.Theothergirl,
Daisy
Daisy,madeanattempttorise—sheleanednågot
slightlyforwardwithaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,anabsurt
absurd,charminglittlelaugh,andIlaughedtooandcameforwardintotheroom.“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughedagain,asifshesaidsomethingverywitty,andheldmyhandforamoment,lookingupintomyface,promisingthattherewasnooneintheworldshesomuchwantedtosee.
Thatwasawayshehad.
She
antydde
hintedinamurmurthatthesurnameofthebalancinggirlwasBaker
Baker.(I’vehearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwasonlytomakepeoplelean
mot
towardher;anirrelevantcriticismthatmadeitnolesscharming.)
Atanyrate,MissBaker’slipsfluttered,she
nickade
noddedatmealmostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherheadbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredalittleandgivenhersomethingofaskräck
fright.Againasortof
ursäkt
apologyarosetomylips.Almostanyexhibitionofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsastunned
hyllning
tributefromme.Ilookedbackatmycousin,whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.
Itwasthekindofvoicethattheearfollowsupanddown,asifeachspeechisan
arrangemang
arrangementofnotesthatwillneverbeplayedagain.Herfacewassadandlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesandabright
passionerad
passionatemouth,buttherewasanspänning
excitementinhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget:asingingcompulsion,awhispered“Listen,”apromisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustawhilesinceandthatthereweregay,excitingthings
svävade
hoveringinthenexthour.ItoldherhowIhadstoppedoffinChicagoforadayonmywayEast,andhowa
dussin
dozenpeoplehadsenttheirlovethroughme.“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“Thewholetownis
öde
desolate.Allthecarshavetheleftrearwheelpaintedblackasamourningwreath,andthere’sa
ihållande
persistentwailallnightalongthenorthshore.”“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
irriterade
annoyedme.“Youwill,”Ianswered
kort
shortly.“YouwillifyoustayintheEast.”
“Oh,I’llstayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesaid,glancingat
Daisy
Daisyandthenbackatme,asifhewerealertforsomethingmore.“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
AtthispointMiss
Baker
Bakersaid:“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwasthefirstwordshehadutteredsinceIcameintotheroom.
Uppenbarligen
Evidentlyitsurprisedherasmuchasitdidme,forsheyawnedandwithaseriesofrapid,deftmovementsstoodupintotheroom.“I’mstiff,”she
klagade
complained,“I’vebeenlyingonthatsofaforaslongasIcanremember.”“Don’tlookatme,”
Daisy
Daisyretorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”“No,thanks,”saidMiss
Baker
Bakertothefourcocktailsjustinfromthepantry.“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Her
värd
hostlookedatherincredulously.“Youare!”
Hetookdownhisdrinkasifitwereadropinthebottomofaglass.
“Howyouevergetanythingdoneisbeyondme.”
IlookedatMiss
Baker
Baker,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”Ienjoyedlookingather.
Shewasa
smal
slender,small-breastedgirl,withanupprätt
erectcarriage,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshoulderslikeayoungkadett
cadet.Hergreysun-strainedeyeslookedbackatmewith
artig
politereciprocalcuriosityoutofawan,charming,discontentedface.ItoccurredtomenowthatIhadseenher,orapictureofher,somewherebefore.
“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“Iknowsomebodythere.”
“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“YoumustknowGatsby.”
“Gatsby?”
krävde
demandedDaisy.“WhatGatsby?”
BeforeIcould
svara
replythathewasmygranne
neighbourdinnerwasannounced;wedginghistensearmimperativelyundermine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweremovingacheckertoanothersquare.
Slenderly,languidly,theirhandssetlightlyontheirhips,thetwoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-coloured
veranda
porch,opentowardthesunset,wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.“Whycandles?”
objected
Daisy
Daisy,frowning.Shesnappedthemoutwithherfingers.
“Intwoweeksit’llbethe
längsta
longestdayintheyear.”Shelookedatusallradiantly.
“Doyoualwayswatchforthe
längsta
longestdayoftheyearandthenmissit?Ialwayswatchforthe
längsta
longestdayintheyearandthenmissit.”“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawnedMiss
Baker
Baker,sittingdownatthetableasifsheweregettingintobed.“Allright,”said
Daisy
Daisy.“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdopeopleplan?”
BeforeIcouldanswerhereyesfastenedwithanawed
uttryck
expressiononherlittlefinger.“Look!”
she
klagade
complained;“Ihurtit.”
Wealllooked—theknucklewasblackandblue.
“Youdidit,Tom,”shesaidaccusingly.
“Iknowyoudidn’tmeanto,butyoudiddoit.
That’swhatIgetformarryingabruteofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysical
exemplar
specimenofa—”.“Ihatethatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”
“Hulking,”
insisterade
insistedDaisy.SometimessheandMiss
Baker
Bakertalkedatonce,unobtrusivelyandwithabanteringinconsequencethatwasneverquitechatter,thatwasascoolastheirwhitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesintheavsaknad
absenceofalldesire.Theywerehere,andtheyacceptedTomandme,makingonlya
artig
politepleasantefforttoentertainortobeentertained.Theyknewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverandalittlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverandcasuallyputaway.
ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,whereaneveningwashurriedfrom
fas
phasetophasetowardsitsclose,inaständigt
continuallydisappointedanticipationorelseinren
sheernervousdreadofthemomentitself.“Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,”I
erkände
confessedonmysecondglassofcorkybutratherimpressiveclaret.“Can’tyoutalkaboutcropsorsomething?”
Imeantnothinginparticularbythis
anmärkning
remark,butitwastakenupinanunexpectedway.“Civilization’sgoingtopieces,”brokeoutTom
våldsamt
violently.“I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.
HaveyoureadTheRiseoftheColouredEmpiresbythismanGoddard?”
“Why,no,”Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
“Well,it’safinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadit.
Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthewhiteracewillbe—willbe
helt
utterlysubmerged.It’sallscientificstuff;
it’sbeenproved.”