Chapter 2: Ii

This chapter
Characters 21
Places 9
Tom Buchanan takes Nick to the valley of ashes to meet his mistress, Myrtle Wilson, at the garage owned by her husband, George. They travel to New York City, buy a puppy, and head to a secret apartment where they host a raucous, drunken party with Myrtle's sister and neighbors. The afternoon ends in violence when Tom breaks Myrtle's nose for repeatedly shouting his wife's name.

On stage

Nick Carraway Nick reluctantly accompanies Tom to the valley of ashes to meet Tom's mistress, then joins them for a drunken afternoon party at an apartment in New York.
Tom Buchanan Tom forces Nick to meet his mistress, Myrtle, and takes them to their secret apartment where he hosts a small party and eventually strikes Myrtle during an argument.
Myrtle Wilson Myrtle meets Tom at the garage, travels to New York to buy a dog, hosts a party at their apartment, and gets her nose broken by Tom for shouting Daisy's name.
George B. Wilson He greets Tom at his garage and inquires about a car Tom promised to sell him, unaware that his wife is leaving with Tom.
Catherine She attends the party at the New York apartment and gossips with Nick about Gatsby and the Buchanans' marriages.
Mr. McKee He attends the party, discusses his photography, and later leaves the apartment with Nick.
Mrs. McKee She attends the party and engages in superficial conversation with Myrtle and Catherine.
The dog seller He sells a puppy to Tom and Myrtle for ten dollars.
The elevator boy He brings milk and biscuits for the dog and operates the elevator.
The Italian child He is seen setting torpedoes along the railroad track.

Mentioned

Doctor T. J. Eckleburg Mentioned as a giant billboard overlooking the valley of ashes.
Mrs. Eberhardt Mentioned by Myrtle in a complaint about service costs.
Jay Gatsby Mentioned in gossip by Catherine during the party.
Daisy Buchanan Mentioned during the argument between Tom and Myrtle.

Settings

The valley of ashes A desolate, industrial wasteland between West Egg and New York where ashes grow like wheat and the air is powdery with dust. It is overlooked by the billboard of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg.
Wilson's Garage An unprosperous and bare building on the edge of the valley of ashes, containing a garage and an office.
The New York Apartment A small, crowded apartment on the top floor of a building at 158th Street, filled with oversized tapestried furniture.
Pennsylvania Station A major railway station in New York City.
Main 8

Nick Carraway

Also known as: Nick

The narrator of the story, a young man from a prominent Middle Western family. He graduated from New Haven in 1915, fought in the Great War, and moved East in the spring of 1922 to enter the bond business. He describes himself as someone who reserves judgment, a trait that makes him a confidant for many. He lives in a small bungalow in West Egg next to Gatsby's mansion. In this chapter, he experiences being drunk for only the second time in his life.

Daisy Buchanan second cousin once removedTom Buchanan college acquaintance and senior society memberJordan Baker romantic interest/acquaintanceMr. Gatsby neighborMyrtle Wilson acquaintance +4 more
Chapters 1, 2

Jay Gatsby

Also known as: Mr. Gatsby, Jay, James Gatz, Jim Gatz, Trimalchio, Jimmy

Nick's wealthy neighbor. In this chapter, rumors are mentioned that he is a nephew or cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm.

Nick Carraway neighborJordan Baker guest and private confidanteDaisy Buchanan former lover and current obsessionTom Buchanan rival and social antagonist
Chapters 1, 2

Daisy Buchanan

Nick's second cousin once removed and Tom's wife. Her name is used as a provocation by Myrtle.

Tom Buchanan wifeNick Carraway second cousin once removedJordan Baker childhood friend from LouisvilleThe Baby motherJay Gatsby former lover +1 more
Chapters 1, 2

Tom Buchanan

A former football star at New Haven and Daisy's husband. He is enormously wealthy, sturdy, straw-haired, and has a supercilious, aggressive manner. He is unfaithful to his wife and maintains an apartment in New York for his mistress. He is prone to violence, as shown when he breaks Myrtle's nose.

Daisy Buchanan husbandNick Carraway college acquaintanceJordan Baker friendThe woman in New York lover/mistressMyrtle Wilson lover/mistress +2 more
Chapters 1, 2

Jordan Baker

Also known as: Jordan

A professional golfer and friend of the Buchanans. She is slender with an erect carriage and grey eyes. She is described as having a pleasing, contemptuous expression and is known from sports pictures in magazines.

Daisy Buchanan childhood friendTom Buchanan friendNick Carraway acquaintance/potential romantic interestJay Gatsby guest and private confidante
Chapter 1

The Finnish woman

A servant in Nick's house who makes his bed and cooks breakfast.

Nick Carraway servant
Chapter 1

Myrtle Wilson

Also known as: Mrs. Wilson, Myrtle

Tom Buchanan's mistress and George Wilson's wife. She is in her middle thirties, faintly stout but carries herself sensuously with a perceptible vitality. She is unhappy in her eleven-year marriage and acts with an air of affected hauteur when away from the garage.

Tom Buchanan mistress/loverGeorge B. Wilson wifeCatherine sisterNick Carraway acquaintance
Chapter 2

George B. Wilson

Also known as: Wilson

The proprietor of a garage in the valley of ashes. He is a blond, spiritless, anaemic man who appears covered in ashen dust. He is described by Tom as being too 'dumb' to know his wife is having an affair.

Myrtle Wilson husbandTom Buchanan business acquaintance/potential car buyerJay Gatsby murderer
Chapter 2
Secondary 8

The Butler

A servant at the Buchanan household. Daisy tells a story about how his nose was affected by polishing silver.

Tom Buchanan servantDaisy Buchanan servant
Chapter 1

The Baby

Also known as: Pammy

The three-year-old daughter of Tom and Daisy Buchanan.

Daisy Buchanan daughterTom Buchanan daughter
Chapter 1

Catherine

Myrtle Wilson's sister. She is a slender, worldly girl of about thirty with red hair and a milky white complexion. She claims to have traveled to Monte Carlo.

Myrtle Wilson sisterNick Carraway acquaintance/party guest
Chapter 2

Mr. McKee

Also known as: Chester

A pale, feminine man who lives in the flat below the New York apartment. He is a photographer in the 'artistic game.'

Mrs. McKee husbandMyrtle Wilson neighbor/acquaintanceNick Carraway acquaintance
Chapter 2

Mrs. McKee

Also known as: Lucille

The wife of Chester McKee. She is described as shrill, languid, handsome, and horrible.

Mr. McKee wifeJay Gatsby guest and recipient of his generosityJordan Baker acquaintance
Chapter 2

The dog seller

A grey old man selling puppies on the street in New York.

Chapter 2

The elevator boy

A servant at the apartment building in New York.

Chapter 2

The Italian child

A young boy seen near the railroad tracks in the valley of ashes.

Chapter 2
Mentioned 5
Nick's Father He is mentioned in the opening paragraphs for the advice he gave Nick and for financing Nick's first year in the East.
Nick's Great-Uncle Mentioned as the true founder of the family business and the subject of a painting in Nick's father's office.
The woman in New York She interrupts dinner by calling Tom on the telephone.
Doctor T. J. Eckleburg The billboard is used by Wilson as a symbol for God watching over the world's sins.
Mrs. Eberhardt Mentioned by Myrtle in a complaint about service costs.
Main 9

West Egg

A less fashionable but still wealthy community on Long Island where Nick and Gatsby live.

  • Nick rents a small bungalow here.
  • Nick sees Gatsby standing on his lawn at night.
Chapter 1

East Egg

A very fashionable and wealthy community on Long Island where the Buchanans live in a Georgian Colonial mansion.

  • Nick visits the Buchanans for dinner.
  • Tom discusses his racial theories.
  • Daisy confesses her unhappiness to Nick.
Chapter 1

The Buchanans' House

A large, elaborate red-and-white Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay, featuring French windows and a sunken Italian garden.

  • The dinner party takes place here.
  • Tom receives a phone call from his mistress.
  • The group has lunch during a heatwave.
  • Daisy kisses Gatsby when Tom leaves the room.
  • Gatsby meets Daisy's daughter, Pammy.
  • Tom realizes Daisy and Gatsby are having an affair.
  • Nick and Gatsby return here after the accident; Nick sees Tom and Daisy conspiring in the kitchen.
Chapter 1

Gatsby's Mansion

A colossal mansion in West Egg, an imitation of a Hôtel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower and a marble swimming pool.

  • Nick observes the mansion from his neighboring yard.
  • Nick attends a massive party here.
  • Nick meets Gatsby for the first time.
  • Gatsby and Jordan have a private meeting in the library.
  • A car accident occurs just outside the gates.
  • Gatsby shows Daisy and Nick through his many rooms.
  • Daisy cries over Gatsby's collection of imported shirts.
  • Klipspringer plays the piano for the group.
  • A reporter visits to ask for a statement.
  • Tom Buchanan, Mr. Sloane, and a woman arrive on horseback for a drink.
  • Gatsby hosts a large party attended by Tom and Daisy Buchanan.
  • Gatsby and Daisy dance and later talk privately on Nick's porch.
  • Gatsby and Nick talk late into the night about repeating the past.
  • Gatsby tells Nick the story of his past with Daisy.
  • Gatsby waits for a phone call from Daisy.
  • Gatsby is shot and killed in his swimming pool.
Chapter 1

The Middle West

The region where Nick grew up and where his family business is located; he finds it too quiet after the war.

  • Nick decides to leave this area to move East.
  • Nick decides to return here.
  • Nick reminisces about returning home for Christmas during his youth.
Chapter 1

The valley of ashes

A desolate, industrial wasteland between West Egg and New York where ashes grow like wheat and the air is powdery with dust. It is overlooked by the billboard of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg.

  • Tom and Nick get off the train here to visit Wilson's garage.
  • Tom arranges to meet Myrtle in the city.
Chapter 2

Wilson's Garage

An unprosperous and bare building on the edge of the valley of ashes, containing a garage and an office.

  • Tom and Nick meet George Wilson here.
  • Tom and Myrtle arrange their secret meeting.
  • Tom stops for gas in Gatsby's car.
  • Wilson reveals he is sick and wants to move West.
  • Myrtle watches from a window, misidentifying Jordan as Tom's wife.
  • Myrtle is killed in the road outside the garage.
  • Tom, Nick, and Jordan stop and discover Myrtle's body.
  • Michaelis stays with a grieving George Wilson.
  • Wilson finds the silver dog-leash and decides to seek revenge.
Chapter 2

The New York Apartment

A small, crowded apartment on the top floor of a building at 158th Street, filled with oversized tapestried furniture.

  • Tom, Myrtle, and Nick host a small, drunken party with the McKees and Catherine.
  • Tom breaks Myrtle's nose during an argument about Daisy.
Chapter 2

Pennsylvania Station

A major railway station in New York City.

  • The group arrives here from the valley of ashes.
  • Nick ends up here in the early morning waiting for his train home.
Chapter 2
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