The Great Gatsby | Gradually Hardening Swedish B2 Books

The Great Gatsby | Gradually Hardening Swedish B2 Books

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I
Inmyyoungerandmore
sårbara
vulnerable
yearsmyfathergavemesomeadvicethatI’vebeenturningoverinmymindeversince.
“Wheneveryoufeellike
kritisera
criticizing
anyone,”hetoldme,“justrememberthatallthepeopleinthisworldhaven’thadtheadvantagesthatyou’vehad.”
Hedidn’tsayanymore,butwe’vealwaysbeen
ovanligt
unusually
communicativeinareservedway,andIunderstoodthathemeantagreatdealmorethanthat.
Inconsequence,I’minclinedto
förbehålla
reserve
alljudgements,ahabitthathasopenedupmanycuriousnaturestomeandalsomademethevictimofnotafewveteranbores.
Theabnormalmindisquickto
upptäcka
detect
andattachitselftothisqualitywhenitappearsinanormalperson,andsoitcameaboutthatincollegeIwasunjustlyaccusedofbeinga
politiker
politician
,becauseIwasprivytothesecretgriefsofwild,unknownmen.
Mostoftheconfidenceswereunsought—frequentlyIhavefeignedsleep,preoccupation,ora
fientlig
hostile
levitywhenIrealizedbysomeunmistakablesignthatan
intim
intimate
revelationwasquiveringonthe
horisonten
horizon
;
fortheintimaterevelationsofyoungmen,oratleastthetermsinwhichtheyexpressthem,areusuallyplagiaristicandmarredbyobvioussuppressions.
Förbehålla
Reserving
judgementsisamatterofinfinitehope.
IamstillalittleafraidofmissingsomethingifIforgetthat,asmyfathersnobbishlysuggested,andIsnobbishlyrepeat,asenseofthe
grundläggande
fundamental
decenciesisparcelledoutunequallyatbirth.
And,afterboastingthiswayofmy
tolerans
tolerance
,Icometotheadmissionthatithasa
gräns
limit
.
Conductmaybefoundedonthehardrockorthewetmarshes,butafteracertainpointIdon’tcarewhatit’sfoundedon.
WhenIcamebackfromtheEastlast
hösten
autumn
IfeltthatIwantedtheworldtobeinuniformandatasortof
moralisk
moral
attentionforever;
Iwantednomoreriotousexcursionswithprivilegedglimpsesintothehumanheart.
OnlyGatsby,themanwhogiveshisnametothisbook,wasexemptfrommyreaction—Gatsby,who
representerade
represented
everythingforwhichIhaveanunaffected
förakt
scorn
.
Ifpersonalityisanunbrokenseriesofsuccessfulgestures,thentherewassomethinggorgeousabouthim,someheightened
känslighet
sensitivity
tothepromisesoflife,asifhewererelatedtooneofthoseintricatemachinesthat
registrerar
register
earthquakestenthousandmilesaway.
Thisresponsivenesshadnothingtodowiththatflabbyimpressionabilitywhichis
värdigt
dignified
underthenameofthe“creativetemperament”—itwasanextraordinarygiftforhope,aromanticreadinesssuchasIhaveneverfoundinanyotherpersonandwhichitisnotlikelyIshalleverfindagain.
No—Gatsbyturnedoutallrightattheend;
itiswhatpreyedonGatsby,whatfouldust
svävade
floated
inthewakeofhisdreamsthat
tillfälligt
temporarily
closedoutmyinterestintheabortivesorrowsandshort-windedelationsofmen.
Myfamilyhavebeen
framstående
prominent
,well-to-dopeopleinthisMiddleWesterncityforthreegenerations.
TheCarrawaysaresomethingofa
klan
clan
,andwehavea
tradition
tradition
thatwe’redescendedfromtheDukesofBuccleuch,butthe
faktiska
actual
founderofmylinewasmygrandfather’sbrother,whocamehereinfifty-one,sentasubstitutetotheCivilWar,andstartedthe
grossist
wholesale
hardwarebusinessthatmyfathercarriesontoday.
Ineversawthisgreat-uncle,butI’msupposedtolooklikehim—withspecial
hänvisning
reference
totheratherhard-boiledpaintingthathangsinfather’soffice.
IgraduatedfromNewHavenin1915,justaquarterofacenturyaftermyfather,andalittlelaterI
deltog
participated
inthatdelayedTeutonicmigrationknownastheGreatWar.
Ienjoyedthecounter-raidsothoroughlythatIcameback
rastlös
restless
.
Insteadofbeingthewarm
centrum
centre
oftheworld,theMiddleWestnowseemedlikethe
trasiga
ragged
edgeoftheuniverse—soIdecidedtogoEastandlearnthebondbusiness.
EverybodyIknewwasinthebondbusiness,soIsupposeditcouldsupportonemoresingleman.
Allmyauntsandunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolforme,andfinallysaid,“Why—ye-es,”withverygrave,hesitantfaces.
Fatheragreedto
finansiera
finance
meforayear,andafter
olika
various
delaysIcameEast,
permanent
permanently
,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two.
The
praktiska
practical
thingwastofindroomsinthecity,butitwasawarmseason,andIhadjustleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees,sowhenayoungmanattheofficesuggestedthatwetakeahousetogetherinacommutingtown,itsoundedlikeagreatidea.
Hefoundthehouse,aweather-beaten
kartong
cardboard
bungalowateightyamonth,butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington,andIwentouttothecountryalone.
Ihadadog—atleastIhadhimforafewdaysuntilheranaway—andanold
Dodge
Dodge
andaFinnishwoman,whomademybedandcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnish
visdom
wisdom
toherselfoverthe
elektriska
electric
stove.
Itwaslonelyforadayorsountilonemorningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedthanI,stoppedmeontheroad.
“HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?”
heaskedhelplessly.
Itoldhim.
AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger.
Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler.
Hehadcasuallyconferredonmethefreedomofthe
grannskapet
neighbourhood
.
Andsowiththesunshineandthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees,justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliarconvictionthatlifewasbeginningoveragainwiththesummer.
Therewassomuchtoread,foronething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutoftheyoungbreath-givingair.
Iboughta
dussin
dozen
volumesonbankingandcreditandinvestmentsecurities,andtheystoodonmy
hylla
shelf
inredandgoldlikenewmoneyfromthe
myntverket
mint
,promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatonlyMidasandMorganandMaecenasknew.
AndIhadthehighintentionofreadingmanyotherbooksbesides.
Iwasrather
litterär
literary
incollege—oneyearIwroteaseriesofvery
högtidliga
solemn
andobviouseditorialsfortheYaleNews—andnowIwasgoingtobringbackallsuchthingsintomylifeandbecomeagainthatmost
begränsade
limited
ofallspecialists,the“well-roundedman.”
Thisisn’tjustanepigram—lifeismuchmore
framgångsrikt
successfully
lookedatfromasinglewindow,afterall.
ItwasamatterofchancethatIshouldhaverentedahouseinoneofthestrangestcommunitiesinNorthAmerica.
ItwasonthatslenderriotousislandwhichextendsitselfdueeastofNewYork—andwherethereare,amongothernaturalcuriosities,twounusualformationsofland.
Twentymilesfromthecityapairof
enorma
enormous
eggs,identicalincontourandseparatedonlybyacourtesybay,jutoutintothemostdomesticatedbodyofsaltwaterinthe
Västra
Western
hemisphere,thegreatwetbarnyardofLongIslandSound.
Theyarenotperfectovals—liketheeggintheColumbusstory,theyareboth
krossade
crushed
flatatthecontactend—buttheirphysical
likhet
resemblance
mustbeasourceof
evig
perpetual
wondertothegullsthatflyoverhead.
Tothewinglessamoreinteresting
fenomen
phenomenon
istheirdissimilarityineveryparticularexceptshapeandsize.
IlivedatWestEgg,the—well,theless
fashionabla
fashionable
ofthetwo,thoughthisisamost
ytlig
superficial
tagtoexpressthe
bisarra
bizarre
andnotalittlesinister
kontrast
contrast
betweenthem.
Myhousewasattheverytipoftheegg,onlyfiftyyardsfromtheSound,andsqueezedbetweentwohugeplacesthatrentedfortwelveorfifteenthousandaseason.
Theoneonmyrightwasa
kolossal
colossal
affairbyanystandard—itwasafactual
imitation
imitation
ofsomeHôteldeVilleinNormandy,withatowerononeside,spankingnewunderathin
skägg
beard
ofrawivy,anda
marmor
marble
swimmingpool,andmorethanfortyacresof
gräsmatta
lawn
andgarden.
ItwasGatsby’s
herrgård
mansion
.
Or,rather,asIdidn’tknowMr.Gatsby,itwasa
herrgård
mansion
inhabitedbyagentlemanofthatname.
Myownhousewasaneyesore,butitwasasmalleyesore,andithadbeen
förbisett
overlooked
,soIhadaviewofthewater,a
partiell
partial
viewofmyneighbour’s
gräsmatta
lawn
,andtheconsolingproximityofmillionaires—allforeightydollarsamonth.
Acrossthecourtesy
bay
bay
thewhitepalacesoffashionableEastEggglitteredalongthewater,andthehistoryofthesummerreallybeginsontheeveningIdroveovertheretohavedinnerwiththeTomBuchanans.
Daisy
Daisy
wasmysecondcousinonceremoved,andI’dknownTomincollege.
AndjustafterthewarIspenttwodayswiththeminChicago.
Herhusband,among
olika
various
physicalaccomplishments,hadbeenoneofthemostpowerfulendsthateverplayedfootballatNewHaven—anationalfigureinaway,oneofthosemenwhoreachsuchan
akut
acute
limitedexcellenceattwenty-onethateverythingafterwardsavoursofanticlimax.
Hisfamilywereenormouslywealthy—evenincollegehisfreedomwithmoneywasamatterforreproach—butnowhe’dleftChicagoandcomeEastinafashionthatrathertookyourbreathaway:
for
exempel
instance
,he’dbroughtdownastringofpoloponiesfromLakeForest.
Itwashardtorealizethatamaninmyowngenerationwas
rik
wealthy
enoughtodothat.
WhytheycameEastIdon’tknow.
TheyhadspentayearinFrancefornoparticularreason,andthendriftedhereandthereunrestfullywhereverpeopleplayedpoloandwererichtogether.
Thiswasa
permanent
permanent
move,saidDaisyoverthetelephone,butIdidn’tbelieveit—IhadnosightintoDaisy’sheart,butIfeltthatTomwoulddriftonforeverseeking,alittlewistfully,forthe
dramatiska
dramatic
turbulenceofsomeirrecoverablefootballgame.
Andsoithappenedthatonawarm
blåsig
windy
eveningIdroveovertoEastEggtoseetwooldfriendswhomI
knappt
scarcely
knewatall.
TheirhousewasevenmoreelaboratethanIexpected,a
glad
cheerful
red-and-whiteGeorgianColonialmansion,overlookingthe
bukten
bay
.
Thelawnstartedatthebeachandrantowardsthefrontdoorforaquarterofamile,jumpingoversundialsand
tegel
brick
walksandburninggardens—finallywhenitreachedthehousedriftingupthesideinbrightvinesasthoughfromthemomentumofitsrun.
ThefrontwasbrokenbyalineofFrenchwindows,glowingnowwith
reflekterat
reflected
goldandwideopentothewarm
blåsiga
windy
afternoon,andTomBuchananinridingclotheswasstandingwithhislegsapartonthefrontporch.
HehadchangedsincehisNewHavenyears.
Nowhewasa
robust
sturdy
straw-hairedmanofthirty,witharatherhardmouthandasupercilious
sätt
manner
.
Twoshiningarroganteyeshad
etablerat
established
dominanceoverhisfaceandgavehimtheappearanceofalwaysleaningaggressivelyforward.
Noteventheeffeminateswankofhisridingclothescouldhidethe
enorma
enormous
powerofthatbody—heseemedtofillthoseglisteningbootsuntilhestrainedthetoplacing,andyoucouldseeagreatpackofmuscleshiftingwhenhisshouldermovedunderhisthincoat.
Itwasabodycapableof
enorma
enormous
leverage—acruelbody.
Hisspeakingvoice,agruffhuskytenor,addedtotheimpressionoffractiousnesshe
förmedlade
conveyed
.
Therewasatouchofpaternal
förakt
contempt
init,eventowardpeopleheliked—andthereweremenatNewHavenwhohadhatedhisguts.
“Now,don’tthinkmyopiniononthesemattersisfinal,”heseemedtosay,“justbecauseI’mstrongerandmoreofamanthanyouare.”
Wewereinthesameseniorsociety,andwhilewewerenever
intima
intimate
Ialwayshadtheimpressionthathe
godkände
approved
ofmeandwantedmetolikehimwithsome
hård
harsh
,defiantwistfulnessofhisown.
Wetalkedforafewminutesonthe
soliga
sunny
porch.
“I’vegotaniceplacehere,”hesaid,hiseyesflashingaboutrestlessly.
Turningmearoundbyonearm,hemoveda
bred
broad
flathandalongthefrontvista,includinginitssweepasunkenItaliangarden,ahalf
hektar
acre
ofdeep,pungentroses,andasnub-nosedmotorboatthat
stötte
bumped
thetideoffshore.
“ItbelongedtoDemaine,theoilman.”
Heturnedmearoundagain,
artigt
politely
andabruptly.
“We’llgoinside.”
Wewalkedthroughahighhallwayintoabrightrosy-colouredspace,fragilelyboundintothehousebyFrenchwindowsateitherend.
Thewindowswereajarandgleamingwhiteagainstthefreshgrassoutsidethatseemedtogrowalittlewayintothehouse.
A
bris
breeze
blewthroughtheroom,blewcurtainsinatoneendandouttheotherlikepaleflags,twistingthemup
mot
toward
thefrostedwedding-cakeofthe
taket
ceiling
,andthenrippledoverthewine-colouredrug,makingashadowonitaswinddoesonthesea.
Theonlycompletelystationaryobjectintheroomwasan
enorm
enormous
couchonwhichtwoyoungwomenwerebuoyedupasthoughuponananchored
ballong
balloon
.
Theywerebothinwhite,andtheirdresseswereripplingandflutteringasiftheyhadjustbeenblownbackinafterashortflightaroundthehouse.
Imusthavestoodforafewmomentslisteningtothewhipand
knäppte
snap
ofthecurtainsandthe
stönade
groan
ofapictureonthewall.
ThentherewasaboomasTomBuchananshutthe
bakre
rear
windowsandthecaughtwinddiedoutabouttheroom,andthecurtainsandtherugsandthetwoyoungwomenballoonedslowlytothefloor.
Theyoungerofthetwowasastrangertome.
Shewas
utsträckt
extended
fulllengthatherendofthedivan,completelymotionless,andwithher
hakan
chin
raisedalittle,asifshewerebalancingsomethingonitwhichwasquitelikelytofall.
Ifshesawmeoutofthecornerofhereyesshegavenohintofit—indeed,Iwasalmostsurprisedintomurmuringan
ursäkt
apology
forhavingdisturbedherbycomingin.
Theothergirl,
Daisy
Daisy
,madeanattempttorise—sheleaned
något
slightly
forwardwithaconscientiousexpression—thenshelaughed,an
absurt
absurd
,charminglittlelaugh,andIlaughedtooandcameforwardintotheroom.
“I’mp-paralysedwithhappiness.”
Shelaughedagain,asifshesaidsomethingverywitty,andheldmyhandforamoment,lookingupintomyface,promisingthattherewasnooneintheworldshesomuchwantedtosee.
Thatwasawayshehad.
She
antydde
hinted
inamurmurthatthesurnameofthebalancinggirlwas
Baker
Baker
.
(I’vehearditsaidthatDaisy’smurmurwasonlytomakepeoplelean
mot
toward
her;
anirrelevantcriticismthatmadeitnolesscharming.)
Atanyrate,MissBaker’slipsfluttered,she
nickade
nodded
atmealmostimperceptibly,andthenquicklytippedherheadbackagain—theobjectshewasbalancinghadobviouslytotteredalittleandgivenhersomethingofa
skräck
fright
.
Againasortof
ursäkt
apology
arosetomylips.
Almostanyexhibitionofcompleteself-sufficiencydrawsastunned
hyllning
tribute
fromme.
Ilookedbackatmycousin,whobegantoaskmequestionsinherlow,thrillingvoice.
Itwasthekindofvoicethattheearfollowsupanddown,asifeachspeechisan
arrangemang
arrangement
ofnotesthatwillneverbeplayedagain.
Herfacewassadandlovelywithbrightthingsinit,brighteyesandabright
passionerad
passionate
mouth,buttherewasan
spänning
excitement
inhervoicethatmenwhohadcaredforherfounddifficulttoforget:
asingingcompulsion,awhispered“Listen,”apromisethatshehaddonegay,excitingthingsjustawhilesinceandthatthereweregay,excitingthings
svävade
hovering
inthenexthour.
ItoldherhowIhadstoppedoffinChicagoforadayonmywayEast,andhowa
dussin
dozen
peoplehadsenttheirlovethroughme.
“Dotheymissme?”
shecriedecstatically.
“Thewholetownis
öde
desolate
.
Allthecarshavetheleftrearwheelpaintedblackasamourningwreath,andthere’sa
ihållande
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
irriterade
annoyed
me.
“Youwill,”Ianswered
kort
shortly
.
“YouwillifyoustayintheEast.”
“Oh,I’llstayintheEast,don’tyouworry,”hesaid,glancingat
Daisy
Daisy
andthenbackatme,asifhewerealertforsomethingmore.
“I’dbeaGoddamnedfooltoliveanywhereelse.”
AtthispointMiss
Baker
Baker
said:
“Absolutely!”
withsuchsuddennessthatIstarted—itwasthefirstwordshehadutteredsinceIcameintotheroom.
Uppenbarligen
Evidently
itsurprisedherasmuchasitdidme,forsheyawnedandwithaseriesofrapid,deftmovementsstoodupintotheroom.
“I’mstiff,”she
klagade
complained
,“I’vebeenlyingonthatsofaforaslongasIcanremember.”
“Don’tlookatme,”
Daisy
Daisy
retorted,“I’vebeentryingtogetyoutoNewYorkallafternoon.”
“No,thanks,”saidMiss
Baker
Baker
tothefourcocktailsjustinfromthepantry.
“I’mabsolutelyintraining.”
Her
värd
host
lookedatherincredulously.
“Youare!”
Hetookdownhisdrinkasifitwereadropinthebottomofaglass.
“Howyouevergetanythingdoneisbeyondme.”
IlookedatMiss
Baker
Baker
,wonderingwhatitwasshe“gotdone.”
Ienjoyedlookingather.
Shewasa
smal
slender
,small-breastedgirl,withan
upprätt
erect
carriage,whichsheaccentuatedbythrowingherbodybackwardattheshoulderslikeayoung
kadett
cadet
.
Hergreysun-strainedeyeslookedbackatmewith
artig
polite
reciprocalcuriosityoutofawan,charming,discontentedface.
ItoccurredtomenowthatIhadseenher,orapictureofher,somewherebefore.
“YouliveinWestEgg,”sheremarkedcontemptuously.
“Iknowsomebodythere.”
“Idon’tknowasingle—”.
“YoumustknowGatsby.”
“Gatsby?”
krävde
demanded
Daisy.
“WhatGatsby?”
BeforeIcould
svara
reply
thathewasmy
granne
neighbour
dinnerwasannounced;
wedginghistensearmimperativelyundermine,TomBuchanancompelledmefromtheroomasthoughheweremovingacheckertoanothersquare.
Slenderly,languidly,theirhandssetlightlyontheirhips,thetwoyoungwomenprecededusoutontoarosy-coloured
veranda
porch
,opentowardthesunset,wherefourcandlesflickeredonthetableinthediminishedwind.
“Whycandles?”
objected
Daisy
Daisy
,frowning.
Shesnappedthemoutwithherfingers.
“Intwoweeksit’llbethe
längsta
longest
dayintheyear.”
Shelookedatusallradiantly.
“Doyoualwayswatchforthe
längsta
longest
dayoftheyearandthenmissit?
Ialwayswatchforthe
längsta
longest
dayintheyearandthenmissit.”
“Weoughttoplansomething,”yawnedMiss
Baker
Baker
,sittingdownatthetableasifsheweregettingintobed.
“Allright,”said
Daisy
Daisy
.
“What’llweplan?”
Sheturnedtomehelplessly:
“Whatdopeopleplan?”
BeforeIcouldanswerhereyesfastenedwithanawed
uttryck
expression
onherlittlefinger.
“Look!”
she
klagade
complained
;
“Ihurtit.”
Wealllooked—theknucklewasblackandblue.
“Youdidit,Tom,”shesaidaccusingly.
“Iknowyoudidn’tmeanto,butyoudiddoit.
That’swhatIgetformarryingabruteofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysical
exemplar
specimen
ofa—”.
“Ihatethatword‘hulking,’ ”objectedTomcrossly,“eveninkidding.”
“Hulking,”
insisterade
insisted
Daisy.
SometimessheandMiss
Baker
Baker
talkedatonce,unobtrusivelyandwithabanteringinconsequencethatwasneverquitechatter,thatwasascoolastheirwhitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesinthe
avsaknad
absence
ofalldesire.
Theywerehere,andtheyacceptedTomandme,makingonlya
artig
polite
pleasantefforttoentertainortobeentertained.
Theyknewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverandalittlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverandcasuallyputaway.
ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,whereaneveningwashurriedfrom
fas
phase
tophasetowardsitsclose,ina
ständigt
continually
disappointedanticipationorelsein
ren
sheer
nervousdreadofthemomentitself.
“Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,”I
erkände
confessed
onmysecondglassofcorkybutratherimpressiveclaret.
“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
utterly
submerged.
It’sallscientificstuff;
it’sbeenproved.”