Behavior Analysis
1. Nick Carraway- The narrator of the story, also the connection between Gatsby
and Daisy. He has sympathy on Gatsby and befriends him, unlike everyone that
goes to Gatsby’s party for entertainment purposes only. Nick is an honest and
loyal friend that is inclined to reserve judgment due to his childhood. At the
beginning of the book he states “I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform
and at a sort of moral attention forever.” (pg 2) I believe that is his outlook on
the world.
2. Jay Gatsby- Gatsby’s love for Daisy never left, even after 5 years of not being
with her, and her leaving him for another man. The entire book Jay deceived
people to believe he was a better man than he truly was. He just wanted Daisy
to believe he was good enough for her. When Gatsby finally gets his dream, it
isn’t how he thought it’d be, and in the end he doesn’t get what he deserved.
3. Daisy Buchanan- The love interest of Gatsby and Tom in the book. Daisy, along
with Tom, is characterized as a “careless person.” “They were careless people,
Tom and Daisy -- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated
back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept
them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” (179)
Daisy always results in going the easy way out. She stayed with Tom because it
was easier. She let Gatsby take the blame for killing Myrtle because it was just
easier.
4. Tom Buchanan- Married to Daisy, but having a secret affair with Myrtle Wilson.
Tom has an uncontrollable pursuit of women and their ego gratification. Which
he finds in all these women including Daisy. He also hides behind his wealth
throughout the whole book. His wealth and size make him appear arrogant and
intimidating, forcing him to act the part. Later in the book we learn that Tom
is willing to do anything to protect his image, wealth, and his family.
5. Jordan Baker- A dishonest golfer that gets involved with Nick throughout the
novel. Nick sees through her carelessness and is attracted to her anyways. At
the end of the book Jordan feels she is being thrown out by Nick and gets
engaged to another man she met, much to the dismay of Nick. In the end I
think that Jordan’s haughtiness and the way she carries herself got in the way
of her being with Nick. Similar to the way Daisy left Gatsby.
6. Myrtle Wilson- The secret lover of Tom, and the wife of George Wilson. To
spite her husband Myrtle has an affair with Tom. Tom mistreats, and abuses her
while breaking her nose in the process. Myrtle still stays with him to void the
hatred she has of George. Myrtle gets ran over by Gatsby’s car in an attempt to
escape her crazy husband.
7. George Wilson- George is completely oblivious to everything going on around
him. When he finds out that his wife is having an affair he goes crazy and
becomes mentally ill. Deciding that they’ll move west to get away from Tom,
George locks Myrtle in her room to “protect her.” George comes to the
conclusion that whoever killed his wife must’ve been her lover. When Tom tells
him it was Gatsby’s car that killed her, George hunts down Gatsby and shoots
him then ultimately himself completing the “Holocaust.” (pg
8. Meyer Wolfsheim- A rather shady character throughout the book. He tries to
appear that way because he is involved in an illegal business with Gatsby.
When Nick visits Meyer to ask him to attend the funeral, Nick finds out that he
raised Gatsby out of nothing and made him who he was. Then Meyer strangely
declines Nick’s invitation to attend the funeral, for the second time, saying he
can’t get “mixed up” in all of it.
Family Background and Relationships
Nick Carraway
Family Background: From a lower class family in Minnesota; moved to West Egg
to start in the Bond Business.
Relationships: Second cousin of Daisy; befriends Gatsby his next door neighbor
and becomes close to him; establishes a relationship with Jordan, eventually
falling in love with her, but abandons her and she gets engaged to another man.
Jay Gatsby
Family Background: Born as James Gatz, the son of poor farmers from
Minnesota. Hired by Dan Cody at age 17 and participated in illegal bootlegging,
where he got all of his money.
Relationships: Courted Daisy 5 years ago before she left him for tom; still loves
Daisy and proves he is worthy by showing her his house and valuable items.
Becomes friends with next door neighbor Nick. Is in business relations with
Meyer Wolfsheim. Also enemies with Tom Buchanan.
Daisy Buchanan
Family Background: Grew up in Louisville as the popular rich girl; moved to
Chicago after marrying Tom and resumed the same position. Settled in East Egg
with Tom and their daughter.
Relationships: Married to Tom; still in love with Gatsby but chooses Tom in the
end; cousin to Nick and friend of Jordan.
Tom Buchanan
Family Background: Tom is and always has been “Old Money” rich and able to
live off it luxuriously. The superstar football player of Yale when he and Nick
went there he still is all about number one.
Relationships: Married to Daisy; he is an acquaintance of George in supply cars
to him. The enemy and competitor against Gatsby for the ultimate trophy prize,
Daisy Buchanan.