Великий Гэтсби

           ItwasJamesGatzwhohadbeenloafingalongthebeachthatafternooninatorngreenjerseyandapairofcanvaspants,butitwasalreadyJayGatsbywhoborrowedarowboat,pulledouttotheTuolomee,andinformedCodythatawindmightcatchhimandbreakhimupinhalfanhour.

           Isupposehe’dhadthenamereadyforalongtime,eventhen.Hisparentswereshiftlessandunsuccessfulfarmpeople—hisimaginationhadneverreallyacceptedthemashisparentsatall.ThetruthwasthatJayGatsbyofWestEgg,LongIsland,sprangfromhisPlatonicconceptionofhimself.HewasasonofGod—aphrasewhich,ifitmeansanything,meansjustthat—andhemustbeaboutHisFather’sbusiness,theserviceofavast,vulgar,andmeretriciousbeauty.SoheinventedjustthesortofJayGatsbythataseventeen-year-oldboywouldbelikelytoinvent,andtothisconceptionhewasfaithfultotheend.

           ForoverayearhehadbeenbeatinghiswayalongthesouthshoreofLakeSuperiorasaclam-diggerandasalmon-fisherorinanyothercapacitythatbroughthimfoodandbed.Hisbrown,hardeningbodylivednaturallythroughthehalf-fierce,half-lazyworkofthebracingdays.Heknewwomenearly,andsincetheyspoiledhimhebecamecontemptuousofthem,ofyoungvirginsbecausetheywereignorant,oftheothersbecausetheywerehystericalaboutthingswhichinhisoverwhelmingself-absorbtionhetookforgranted.

           Buthisheartwasinaconstant,turbulentriot.Themostgrotesqueandfantasticconceitshauntedhiminhisbedatnight.Auniverseofineffablegaudinessspunitselfoutinhisbrainwhiletheclocktickedonthewash-standandthemoonsoakedwithwetlighthistangledclothesuponthefloor.