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Nick Carraway |
Nick is the narrator of the story. Part of a wealthy family and origionally living in the Midwest, he moves to West Egg, which is outside of New York, to become a stock broker. His house is next to the home of Jay Gatsby. After becoming friends, Nick is used by Gatsby to reunite him with Daisy (Nick's second cousin) who dated Gatsby before the war.
Nick is thought of as a very honest and harmless person by the other characters. For this reason he is confided in and trusted by everyone. He thinks of himself higher than everyone else. He says on the first page how he doesn't judge people, yet he judges everyone throughout the story. He becomes corrupt because of the corrupt people around him. |
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Jay Gatsby |
Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of the novel, is a very rich man who fought in World War I. Before he went off to war, he had a very romantic relationship with Daisy. However, when he was off at war Daisy married Tom. When he returns, he becomes very rich through illegal gambling and crime. He buys a large house where he throws parties every week hoping for Daisy to show up. Thanks to Nick, one night he meets with Daisy. Their love is immediately rekindled.
Gatsby is a very determined character. He has such a strong love for Daisy. When he finds out she is married to someone else, his efforts to win her back become very strong. This is what gives him the motivation to get all this money. He finds the quickest and easiest way even if it is illegal. Gatsby's whole effort in the book id to get his relationship with Daisy back to the way it was before the war. |
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Daisy Buchanan | Daisy is Tom's wife and Nick's second cousin. Before World War I, she dated Jay Gatsby, but they broke up when he went off to war. She married Tom because he bought her love with a $300,000 necklace. He had the money that Gatsby couldn't provide. When she meets with Gatsby after the war, and finds that he is very wealthy, she falls for him.
Daisy is a very material person. She needs to have money. She was very much in love with Gatsby, but because he wasn't wealthy, she married someone who was. Daisy focuses on the outward rather than the inward. |
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Tom Buchanan |
Tom is definitely the antagonist in the story. While Gatsby is at war, he uses his money to win Daisy over and marry, knowing very well of her relationship with Gatsby. He then precdes to have an affair with Myrtle, George's wife and makes no effort to hide it from Daisy. He treat Myrtle even worse then he treats Daisy. Even though he is having an affair, he stands in the way between Gatsby and Daisy.
Tom is a very immoral character. He doesn't worry about anyone but himself. In his spitefullness he is ruining 4 people's (Daisy, Gatsby, Myrtle, Tom) lives. He cares only about getting what he wants, not caring who he takes down in the process. |
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Jordon Baker |
Jordon is a smaller character in the story, but she makes a big impact. She introduces Nick to Gatsby. This in turn brings Daisy and Gatsby together. Jordon is proffesional golf player. Jordon and Nick have an unclear relationship throughout the story.
Jordon goes through life very carelessly. For example, she is a very careless driver. When Nick tells her about it, she doesn't seemed very worried. She becomes a hypocrite whenever she says, "I hate careless people."
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Myrtle Wilson |
Myrtle is married to George, but she has an affair with Tom. She having this affair because she knows that Tom is very wealthy. She, like Daisy, enjoy having money. She lets Tom push her around and treat her horribly. She has always regretted marrying George but doesn't want to get a divorce, so with this affair, she is finding her way this problem.
Myrtle has no self-respect. She lets Tom treat her badly because he has money. She doesn't mind being used, or if she does, she is too caught up in the situation to realize it. She would rather be treated like a dog by someone with money, than be treated with respect by someone who is poor. |
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George Wilson |
George is a poor man who runs a gas station and lives in the poorest part of New York. He is married to a woman who doesn't love him anymore and is having an affair right under his nose. He is oblivious to the whole situation. When his wife is killed in a car accident, he becomes very depressed at first. When his anger takes over, he takes it out on Gatsby killing him and himself.
George is a character with a very unfortunate situation. He was a very hard working and devoted husband. He would have had a very peaceful life if Tom hadn't been involved. George bottled up all his emotions thoughout the story causing him to explode at the end. |