THE GREAT GATSBY CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Jay Gatsby:
● One of the main character in GG
● His love interest is Daisy
● Well known for throwing extravagant parties
● His tragic adversary is Tom buchanan
● He is a self made man from new money
● He is situated in west egg
Analysis of character:
★ Gatsby pursuit of american dream is driven by love - daisy
★ Through gatsby we learn of the post exhilarating post war materialism
and dark morals
★ Gatsby mysterious acquisition of wealth of derives from illegally
selling alcohol
★ Gatsby is initially characterised as enigmatic and mysterious - we
learn about Gatsby from rumours and gossip
★ Gatsby seems to separate himself from his lavish parties - the
mystery contributes to his charisma and charm
★ Gastby is often alone which aligns with his longing and devotion for
daisy - his sole focus on her is myopic as he becomes unaware of the
societal constraints around him
★ His solitude is representative of his ostracization from society -
many people from gatsby parties come and go without meeting gatsby
similarly to his funeral when no one turns up
★ Can compare gatsby personal history with history of american republic
- declared independence from british rule
★ Ironic that signs of status in democratic america in the 1920’s
involved period bedrooms and other limitations of the style of
european monarchies overthrown by violent revolution
★ Gatsby has a merton college library in his mansion - historically
merton has one of the oldest libraries of oxford university = gatsby
ironically recreates an ancient building in his ultra new house
further emphasising how he doesn't truly understand old money
★ In his study gatsby has furniture created by the adam brothers who
were historical figures - surname of adam might trigger association
with adam in the bible = gatsby is beginning his life afresh and
remind us of adam who was created in a brand new world == daisy might
, be viewed in archetypal terms as eve who tempts gatsby to lose his
innocence with tragic consequence
★ Owl eyes compares gatsby to Belasco - who was a theatrical producer
renowned for his close attention to realistic details on stage
★ Gatsby creates this image and myth to be worthy of daisy love and
attention
Daisy and Gatsby relationship analysis:
● Their relationship is the central and most tragic
● Daisy is quite surprised when gatsby turns up - indicating that he is
just a figment of her past whilst Gatsby has spent his whole life
being unwaveringly devoted to her
● To daisy - gatsby was a passing phase in her young, maturing life
whilst Daisy is his singular drive
● Daisy is overwhelmed by the physical display of Gatsby wealth rather
than his love and devotion for her - her name suggest fickleness and
makes her undeserving of the deep enduring love that emanates from
Gatsby
● Gatsby glittering life of luxury was not to present his own
inclinations but to impress daisy
● Gatsby entire life is built around his vision to be with daisy - she
is completely idealised in his view and she realises she can't live
up to the inflated view he has of her
● Gatsby efforts to attract daisy can be seen as self - advertisement
(advertisement and brand names were prominent feature of american life in
1920)= has created image in order to persuade daisy and is
essentially promoting his own brand
● Daisy became gatsby grail who is the sacred object of his quest -
total devotion is reminiscent of unswerving loyalty shown by knights
in medieval tales of king arthur = major narrative elements in
legends == romantic and chivalrous imagery of knighthood is fairytale
esque which does not fit with fast paced, harsh paced america 1920
● Through feminist critical approach - gatsby fixation with daisy
reduces her to passive object of his gaze as his act of starin g
across the bay = recognised as form of patriarchal obsession
Tragic analysis of Gatsby character:
➢ Gatsby is occupied with his dream that he doesn't realise that
Daisy is married but demands the same devotion
➢ Gatsby dream doesn't die when daisy doesn't reciprocate his
love but at his funeral - shows Gatsby was committed to an
idealised and romanticised perception of love
➢ Shows how he is a tragic hero - he does not abandon his quest
for love and it kills him
➢ Gatsby embodies the American dream but his wealth highlights
the moral ambiguities of the dream
➢ The green light symbolises Gatsby hope and dreams - it is out
of reach which shows its both hope and despair
Jay Gatsby:
● One of the main character in GG
● His love interest is Daisy
● Well known for throwing extravagant parties
● His tragic adversary is Tom buchanan
● He is a self made man from new money
● He is situated in west egg
Analysis of character:
★ Gatsby pursuit of american dream is driven by love - daisy
★ Through gatsby we learn of the post exhilarating post war materialism
and dark morals
★ Gatsby mysterious acquisition of wealth of derives from illegally
selling alcohol
★ Gatsby is initially characterised as enigmatic and mysterious - we
learn about Gatsby from rumours and gossip
★ Gatsby seems to separate himself from his lavish parties - the
mystery contributes to his charisma and charm
★ Gastby is often alone which aligns with his longing and devotion for
daisy - his sole focus on her is myopic as he becomes unaware of the
societal constraints around him
★ His solitude is representative of his ostracization from society -
many people from gatsby parties come and go without meeting gatsby
similarly to his funeral when no one turns up
★ Can compare gatsby personal history with history of american republic
- declared independence from british rule
★ Ironic that signs of status in democratic america in the 1920’s
involved period bedrooms and other limitations of the style of
european monarchies overthrown by violent revolution
★ Gatsby has a merton college library in his mansion - historically
merton has one of the oldest libraries of oxford university = gatsby
ironically recreates an ancient building in his ultra new house
further emphasising how he doesn't truly understand old money
★ In his study gatsby has furniture created by the adam brothers who
were historical figures - surname of adam might trigger association
with adam in the bible = gatsby is beginning his life afresh and
remind us of adam who was created in a brand new world == daisy might
, be viewed in archetypal terms as eve who tempts gatsby to lose his
innocence with tragic consequence
★ Owl eyes compares gatsby to Belasco - who was a theatrical producer
renowned for his close attention to realistic details on stage
★ Gatsby creates this image and myth to be worthy of daisy love and
attention
Daisy and Gatsby relationship analysis:
● Their relationship is the central and most tragic
● Daisy is quite surprised when gatsby turns up - indicating that he is
just a figment of her past whilst Gatsby has spent his whole life
being unwaveringly devoted to her
● To daisy - gatsby was a passing phase in her young, maturing life
whilst Daisy is his singular drive
● Daisy is overwhelmed by the physical display of Gatsby wealth rather
than his love and devotion for her - her name suggest fickleness and
makes her undeserving of the deep enduring love that emanates from
Gatsby
● Gatsby glittering life of luxury was not to present his own
inclinations but to impress daisy
● Gatsby entire life is built around his vision to be with daisy - she
is completely idealised in his view and she realises she can't live
up to the inflated view he has of her
● Gatsby efforts to attract daisy can be seen as self - advertisement
(advertisement and brand names were prominent feature of american life in
1920)= has created image in order to persuade daisy and is
essentially promoting his own brand
● Daisy became gatsby grail who is the sacred object of his quest -
total devotion is reminiscent of unswerving loyalty shown by knights
in medieval tales of king arthur = major narrative elements in
legends == romantic and chivalrous imagery of knighthood is fairytale
esque which does not fit with fast paced, harsh paced america 1920
● Through feminist critical approach - gatsby fixation with daisy
reduces her to passive object of his gaze as his act of starin g
across the bay = recognised as form of patriarchal obsession
Tragic analysis of Gatsby character:
➢ Gatsby is occupied with his dream that he doesn't realise that
Daisy is married but demands the same devotion
➢ Gatsby dream doesn't die when daisy doesn't reciprocate his
love but at his funeral - shows Gatsby was committed to an
idealised and romanticised perception of love
➢ Shows how he is a tragic hero - he does not abandon his quest
for love and it kills him
➢ Gatsby embodies the American dream but his wealth highlights
the moral ambiguities of the dream
➢ The green light symbolises Gatsby hope and dreams - it is out
of reach which shows its both hope and despair
