The Great Gatsby

Main Characters and Their Development

• Jay Gatsby - a mysterious millionaire whose mansion is the site of constant lavish parties. His obsessive love for Daisy Buchanan drives him to amass wealth to win her heart. Over time, Gatsby is revealed as a man caught in the illusion and impossibility of reclaiming the past.
• Daisy Buchanan - a beautiful, charming, yet superficial and selfish woman, Gatsby's former love. Married to Tom, she embodies the object of Gatsby's desire and the world he aspires to but can never fully attain.
• Tom Buchanan - a wealthy aristocrat, Daisy's husband. His aggressive, domineering nature and infidelities portray him as a man confident in his superiority and entitlement to privileges.
• Nick Carraway - the novel's narrator. Daisy's cousin and Gatsby's neighbor, he befriends Gatsby and witnesses his tragedy. Through his eyes, we see the events of the novel, evolving from an interested observer to a critical thinker about the morals and values of the upper society.
• Myrtle Wilson - Tom's mistress, George Wilson's wife. Her desire to improve her life and escape her miserable existence with George leads to tragic consequences.
• George Wilson - an unhappy garage owner, Myrtle's husband. His shattered hopes and illusions intensify when he learns of his wife's infidelity, driving him to a desperate act.