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Great Gatsby Timeline


Timeline Description: The Great Gatsby, by author F. Scott Fitzgerald, was published in 1925. It tells the story of Jay Gatsby. The following timeline provides a context of events in the novel, rather than events surrounding the creation of the novel.

DateEvent TitleEvent Description
1892James Gatz Was BornJames Gatz, later Jay Gatsby, was born in North Dakota.
1910Gatz Became GatsbyIn 1910, James Gatz became Jay Gatsby. He briefly attended college, then travelled, working on Dan Cody's yacht. After Cody's death, Gatsby expected, but did not get an inheritance.
1915Nick Carraway Graduated from Yale, Went to WarIn 1915, the character Nick Carraway graduated from Yale University and went to fight in World War I. After the war, Nick returned to the Midwest.
1917Gatsby Met Daisy and Went to War(1917 to 1918)In 1917 and 1918, Jay Gatsby met Daisy Fay and fell in love. He went to serve in World War I, receiving medals for his service in the war.
1919Daisy Fay Married Tom BuchananIn 1919, Daisy married Tom Buchanan. The couple moved to Chicago, and later to Long Island, New York. During this time, Tom had an affair with the chambermaid.
1922Nick Moved to Long IslandNick moved to West Egg, Long Island. The Buchanans, Daisy and Tom, as well as Jay Gatsby were already in residence in West Egg. Nick already knew the Buchanans, as Daisy was his cousin. By the time, Tom was having an affair with Myrtle.
1922Gatsby Met DaisyAfter Nick and Gatsby met, Gatsby and Daisy were reunited at Nick's home. Nick had already heard about Gatsby and Daisy's past. Gatsby and Daisy go on to begin an affair.
1922Daisy Returned to TomAfter some time with Gatsby, Daisy returned to Tom. Gatsby was heartbroken, but the reunion was brief.
1922Daisy Hit Myrtle with Gatsby's CarDaisy returned to Gatsby, and was driving back to Gatsby's home in his yellow Rolls Royce. While driving, she hit Tom's mistress, Myrtle. Myrtle's husband, George Wilson, believed that Gatsby was responsible.
1922Daisy Reunited with TomDaisy and Tom reconcile for the last time. Gatsby is left alone.
1922Gatsby Was Shot by George Wilson(Fall 1922)George Wilson, believing Gatsby to have struck and killed his wife, shot Gatsby. After shooting and killing Gatsby, George killed himself.
1922Gatsby's Funeral(Late Fall 1922)Nick Carraway organized Gatsby's funeral, but was unable to find Gatsby's friends to attend the funeral. Gatsby's father and Nick attended the funeral, with only a few other people. Nick returned to the Midwest.