Final answer:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald features a cast of characters such as Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, George Wilson, and Jordan Baker, each playing pivotal roles that explore themes of wealth, class, and the American Dream in the context of the Roaring Twenties.
Step-by-step explanation:
List of Characters in The Great Gatsby and Their Roles
F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a novel that portrays a unique and isolated story through the eyes of a single, flawed narrator. The main characters are integral to the narrative's exploration of themes such as the American Dream and the social dynamics of the 1920s.
- Jay Gatsby: The protagonist, a wealthy and enigmatic man who is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan. His lavish lifestyle and grand parties are a front for his pursuit to win back Daisy's love.
- Nick Carraway: The narrator, a Yale graduate from the Midwest, and a World War I veteran. He is Gatsby's neighbor and becomes intertwined with the East Egg socialite circle.
- Daisy Buchanan: Nick's cousin, and the woman Gatsby loves. Married to Tom Buchanan, she is representative of lost love and the American dream's corruption.
- Tom Buchanan: Daisy's husband and a wealthy socialite. He has a forceful personality and is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson.
- Myrtle Wilson: Tom's mistress, who seeks a better life than the one she has with her husband George Wilson.
- George Wilson: Myrtle's husband and the owner of a run-down auto shop. He is caught in the tragic outcomes of the main characters' actions.
- Jordan Baker: A competitive golfer and Daisy's friend. She becomes romantically involved with Nick and is known for her dishonesty.
Through these characters, Fitzgerald examines themes of wealth, class, love, and illusion, set against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties. Often considered a satire of the American upper class, The Great Gatsby is both a personal story and a universal cautionary tale about the American Dream.