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The Great Gatsby – main characters
The Great Gatsby Summary: Set in the decadent Jazz Age, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel follows enigmatic millionaire Jay Gatsby and his obsessive quest to win back his former love Daisy Buchanan.
Through the perspective of narrator Nick Carraway, the story serves as a tragic critique of moral decay and offers a fascinating look at the elusive (and often illusory) nature of the American Dream.
| Character | Brief description |
|---|---|
| Jay Gatsby | A mysterious self-made millionaire driven entirely by his obsessive desire to win back his ex-love Daisy. |
| Nick Carraway | The observant Midwestern narrator who becomes embroiled in the dramatic lives of his wealthy East Coast neighbors. |
| Daisy Buchanan | A charming but superficial socialite who prioritizes wealth and security over true love. |
| Tom Buchanan | Daisy’s arrogant and hypocritical “old money” husband who uses his wealth and power to control others. |
| Jordan Baker | A cynical, independent professional golfer who represents the modern, single women of the 1920s. |
| George Wilson | A battered mechanic living in the Valley of Ashes who is fiercely devoted to his unfaithful wife. |
| Myrtle Wilson | George’s lively wife who tries to escape her lower-class life by having an affair with Tom Buchanan. |
| Prompt to wait | Suggested tone and vibration |
|---|---|
| People are usually honest with themselves. | Introspection and challengeIt insists on cynical realizations of self-deception. |
| It’s easier to form an opinion about things we don’t understand. | Cynical and directA crude observation about human ignorance and snap judgment. |
| How people think of you is largely determined by how you think of yourself. | Psychological and nuancedExplores the line between confidence and delusion. |
| Wealth without morality is preferable to morality without wealth. | Very provocativeIt forces an uncomfortable choice between ethics and comfort. |
| How you got your money is as important as how much you have. | Analytical and judgmentalIt addresses the old versus new money social divide. |
| The desire to belong can be stronger than the desire to be yourself. | Empathic and melancholicIt focuses on the tragedy of the loss of identity due to social class. |
| We tend to overestimate what we want more than what we have. | Philosophical and contemplativeIt speaks to the elusive nature of the “green light”. |
| We become the things we want. (Advanced) | Creepy and deterministicIt suggests that obsessions end up consuming themselves. |
| Status is just a story that people agree to believe. | Deconstructive and modernIt challenges the invisible walls of social constructs. |
| The American Dream is more about the pursuit than the destination. | Sad and pragmaticA realistic look at the exhaustion of constant striving. |
| Some dreams are better as dreams. | Tragic and resignedForeshadows the collision of fantasy and reality. |
| The richer or more attractive someone is, the more people forgive them for being a bad person. | Stupid and disappointedCriticizes social privilege and the “halo effect”. |
| What people believe about someone or something is more important than what is true. | Pragmatic and MachiavellianEmphasizes the power of rumors and public facades. |
| Success is subjective / People create their own standards. | Open and exploratoryA non-judgmental starting point for personal values. |
| Some types of ‘success’ are ‘good’ and some are ‘bad’. | Moralistic and polarizingIt forces judgment on the gray areas of ambition. |
| Money is the most important currency. (Advanced) | Colorful and absoluteChallenges the value of love or honor against capital. |
Looking for more resources for classroom discussions?
If you are planning prediction guides and critical thinking activities for other educational settings, consider adding these resources to your lesson plans:
Great Gatsby Anticipation Guide Agree/Disagree Statements (Plain Text)
1. Desire can cloud judgment.
2. People are usually honest with themselves.
3. It’s easier to form an opinion about things we don’t understand.
4. How people think of you is largely determined by how you think of yourself.
5. Wealth without morality is preferable to morality without wealth.
6. How you got your money is as important as how much you have.
7. The desire to belong can be stronger than the desire to be yourself.
8. We tend to overestimate what we want more than what we have.
9. We become the things we want.
10. Status is just a story people agree to believe.
11. The American dream is more about the pursuit than the destination.
12. Some dreams are better as dreams.
13. We tend to value what we want more than what we have.
14. The richer or more attractive someone is, the more people forgive them for being a bad person.
15. What people believe about someone or something is more important than what is true.
16. Success is subjective.
17. People are usually honest with themselves.
18. It’s easier to form an opinion about things we don’t understand.
19. How people think of you is largely determined by how you think of yourself.
20. People create their own standards for success.
21. Some kinds of “success” are “good” and some are “bad.”
22. (Advanced) We become the things we want.
