Understanding characters in literature is essential for grasping a story’s themes, symbolism, and social commentary. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, each character plays a crucial role in portraying the decadence and disillusionment of the Jazz Age. Through detailed character analysis, readers uncover the novel’s deeper meanings about identity, ambition, and the American Dream.
Main Characters
1. Jay Gatsby
- Traits: Mysterious, ambitious, romantic, idealistic, wealthy
- Role: The protagonist; a self-made millionaire who throws lavish parties to win back Daisy Buchanan
- Symbolism: Represents the corrupted American Dream and idealized love
- Character Development: Gatsby is initially shrouded in mystery but gradually revealed as a man driven by nostalgia and romantic idealism. Despite his wealth, he remains emotionally vulnerable and unable to let go of the past. His tragic end underscores the novel’s critique of illusion versus reality.
2. Nick Carraway
- Traits: Honest, observant, reserved, moral
- Role: The narrator; Gatsby’s neighbor and confidant
- Symbolism: Acts as a moral compass and lens for readers
- Character Development: Nick starts off as an impartial observer but gradually becomes disillusioned with the East Coast elite. His reflections shape the novel’s tone and highlight the moral decay behind the glittering surface of wealth and status.
3. Daisy Buchanan
- Traits: Beautiful, shallow, charming, indecisive, materialistic
- Role: Gatsby’s love interest and Tom Buchanan’s wife
- Symbolism: Embodies the unattainable dream and the shallowness of high society
- Character Development: Daisy is torn between love and comfort. Though Gatsby views her as a symbol of perfection, she ultimately chooses security over passion. Her choices reveal the emotional emptiness masked by beauty and luxury.
4. Tom Buchanan
- Traits: Arrogant, aggressive, racist, wealthy, domineering
- Role: Daisy’s husband and Gatsby’s rival
- Symbolism: Represents old money, entitlement, and moral hypocrisy
- Character Development: Tom remains largely unchanged throughout the novel. He manipulates others to protect his status and feels no guilt for the destruction he causes. His character embodies the brutality beneath upper-class privilege.
5. Jordan Baker
- Traits: Cynical, dishonest, independent, modern
- Role: Daisy’s friend and Nick’s romantic interest
- Symbolism: Reflects the changing role of women in the 1920s
- Character Development: Jordan’s laid-back attitude and flexible morals contrast with Nick’s values. Her independence is progressive, but her lack of sincerity exposes the growing detachment of the era’s youth.
6. George Wilson
- Traits: Passive, defeated, hard-working, desperate
- Role: Myrtle Wilson’s husband; garage owner
- Symbolism: Represents the working class and the forgotten America
- Character Development: George’s life unravels upon discovering Myrtle’s affair. His grief and hopelessness lead to Gatsby’s murder and his own suicide, showing how the elite’s carelessness destroys the lives of those beneath them.
7. Myrtle Wilson
- Traits: Ambitious, sensual, dissatisfied, naive
- Role: Tom’s mistress and George’s wife
- Symbolism: Embodies the illusion of social mobility
- Character Development: Myrtle seeks escape from poverty through her affair with Tom, believing it will elevate her status. Her tragic death highlights the limits of the American Dream for women and the working class.
Character Comparison
- Gatsby vs. Tom: New money vs. old money; dreamer vs. enforcer of status quo.
- Daisy vs. Myrtle: Both are victims of a patriarchal society, but Daisy maintains her social standing while Myrtle perishes trying to climb the social ladder.
- Nick vs. Jordan: Morality and honesty contrast with cynicism and manipulation.
These comparisons emphasize the novel’s central themes: illusion vs. reality, class divides, and the moral decay of the 1920s elite.
FAQs
Who is the most important character in The Great Gatsby?
Jay Gatsby is the central figure, representing the American Dream’s allure and downfall.
Why is Nick a reliable narrator?
Nick’s reflective and honest nature allows him to critically evaluate others, though he is not without bias.
What does Daisy symbolize?
Daisy symbolizes beauty, wealth, and the empty promise of dreams that cannot be fulfilled.
Is Gatsby a hero or a fool?
He is both—a tragic hero blinded by idealism and doomed by his refusal to face reality.
What is the role of minor characters like Myrtle and George?
They highlight class struggles and the destructive impact of the elite’s carelessness.
