Great Gatsby Characters

Jay Gatsby is charismatic, charming, and driven by an intense, almost delusional sense of hope that fuels his complete reinvention of himself. His ambition is matched by deep insecurity and an inner emptiness that his glamorous persona can’t conceal. Idealistic and romantic, he fixates on the past, especially his idealised vision of Daisy, believing he can rebuild it through sheer will. Though he is obsessed with self-creation and outward success, he remains profoundly lonely beneath the surface he so carefully constructs.

Symbolism

• Gatsby embodies the promise of the American Dream. However, the way he achieves this brings into question the morality of the dream. He builds his status on crime, and ultimately succumbs to a tragic conclusion.

• His mansion, parties, and persona are all carefully curated façades.

• Most famously symbolised by the green light, representing his endless striving for something unattainable.

Relationships

Daisy Buchanan: The central obsession of Gatsby’s life; he idealises her as perfection.

Nick Carraway: Gatsby sees Nick as a trustworthy confidant; Nick develops admiration mixed with pity.

Tom Buchanan: Gatsby's rival; Tom resents Gatsby’s attempt to transcend class boundaries.

Meyer Wolfsheim: Criminal business associate, helping Gatsby gain wealth.

Daisy Buchanan is charming, beautiful, and outwardly delicate, projecting a warmth that contrasts sharply with her emotional detachment. She embodies a tension between personal desire and the strict expectations of her privileged social world, leaving her constantly torn yet unwilling to choose discomfort or change. Though her voice and presence suggest affection and vulnerability, her actions reveal a deeper selfishness and a commitment to preserving the ease and security of her life, no matter the cost to others.

Symbolism

• Daisy symbolises a kind of idealised perfection. She represents everything that Gatsby dreamt of, but could not necessarily attain. 

• Daisy embodies the carelessness and insulation of the upper class.

• The “Golden Girl”: Wealth wraps her in an aura of desirability.

Relationships

Gatsby: Daisy enjoys his devotion but cannot commit to a life with him.

Tom Buchanan: Their marriage is marked by dominance, hypocrisy, and carelessness.

Nick: Cousin and confidant; she gravitates toward him for emotional support at times.

Jordan Baker: Close but superficial friendship.

Tom Buchanan is arrogant, domineering, aggressive, and openly racist, projecting a loud bravado that masks deep-seated insecurity. He clings fiercely to his power, status, and sense of superiority, using them to control those around him. Hypocritical in his morals, he demands loyalty and fidelity from Daisy while unapologetically maintaining a mistress, revealing his entitlement and double standards.

Symbolism

• Old Money Power: Represents the entrenched upper class and its moral decay.

• Violence & Brutality: A force that crushes those beneath him (Gatsby, Wilson).

• Corruption of Wealth: Uses privilege to dodge consequences.

Relationships

Daisy: Controlling husband; expects obedience but fears losing her.

Myrtle Wilson: His mistress; treats her as an object and status symbol.

Gatsby: Disdainful and jealous; exposes Gatsby’s criminal dealings.

Nick: Treats him as an inferior but assumes his compliance.

Nick Carraway is observant, reflective, and often morally conflicted, watching the events around him with a thoughtful but sometimes uncertain eye. He prides himself on being honest, yet frequently stands by as others lie and deceive, indirectly enabling the very dishonesty he criticises. As both participant in and narrator of the story, he occupies a dual role that creates a sense of moral distance, allowing him to judge others while remaining partially complicit in their actions.

Symbolism

• Moral Lens: Represents the reader’s perspective, judging but rarely acting.

• Middle America: His Midwest background symbolises stability versus East Coast corruption.

• Ambiguity: Nick highlights the gap between appearance and truth.

Relationships

Gatsby: A mix of admiration, pity, and protectiveness.

Daisy: Cousin; emotionally sympathetic to her but aware of her flaws.

Tom: Uncomfortable friendship; Nick resents Tom but remains connected.

Jordan Baker: Romantic involvement; ultimately finds her dishonesty intolerable.

Jordan Baker is cool, cynical, and self-sufficient, maintaining a detached demeanor that reflects her independence. Though charming, she is also dishonest and pragmatic, willing to bend rules whenever it benefits her. As a modern woman of the 1920s, she embodies the era’s shifting gender roles, symbolising a new kind of freedom and moral ambiguity that contrasts with traditional expectations.

Symbolism

• Modern Woman: Athletic, independent, aloof which contrasts with Daisy’s traditional femininity.

• Moral Ambiguity: Reflects the era’s shift toward carelessness and self-interest.

Relationships

Nick: Casual romance; she finds him judgmental, he finds her dishonest.

Daisy: Longtime friend though not deeply emotional.

Tom & Gatsby: Peripheral interactions; she is a social observer like Nick.

Myrtle Wilson is sensual, ambitious, and deeply dissatisfied with her lower-class life, craving the luxury and excitement she feels she deserves. Bold and determined, she eagerly seeks opportunities to climb the social ladder, believing an affair with Tom Buchanan will offer her a way out. Her desperation for escape blinds her to the dangers around her, ultimately leading to the tragic consequences that end her life.

Symbolism

• Desire for Social Mobility: Myrtle reflects the futility of trying to escape poverty.

• Victim of the American Dream: Her pursuit of wealth ends in destruction.

• Materialism: Obsessed with luxury, even in small ways.

Relationships

Tom Buchanan: Her lover; she misreads his intentions, believing he’ll rescue her.

George Wilson: Husband; she sees him as weak and unable to give her the life she wants.

Daisy: Rivals indirectly; defensive and mocking of Daisy.