| Define this character: Beautiful, enchanting, unworthy object of dream, illusion of love with voice like money. Hopes her daughter is a beautiful “fool” | Daisy Fay Buchanan |
| Define this character: hulk of a man, bigot, hypocrite, uses people, treats people like possessions, example of upper class values | Tom Buchanan |
| Define this character: First person narrator, observes at first, finally judges, develops full moral responsibility at age 30 (turning point, loss of youth), represents the Midwest, believes old money is “careless” | Nick Carraway |
| Define this character: Draws Nick into story, friend of Daisy’s, shows change in women during 1920’s, golf player | Jordan Baker |
| Define this character: gambler, part of organized crime, involved with Gatsby | Meyer Wolfsheim |
| Define this character: Trapped in hopeless situation, common man in material wasteland | George Wilson |
| Define this character: Mistress of Tom’s trying to rise above station in life | Myrtle Wilson |
| Define this character: Static character devoted to dream, symbol of American Experience | Jay Gatsby |
| Define this character: American archetype (original, model), romantic figure with money, in a relationship with Ella Kaye | Dan Cody |
| What does Green Light symbolize? | in the beginning of the book: desire, dream hope & Gatsby’s love for Daisy |
| What does car symbolize? | riches, nice, show it off, status- symbol of the American dream |
| What does Valley of Ashes symbolize? | represents corruption, moral wasteland, alley of sin-> people committing adultery, leaving a valley of ashes -> pile destruction1. Modern world waste from industry/post WWI2. Materialism ruins wealth people and others3. Moral Values- sins such as adultery, breaking the law, lying and murder, wasted marriages, and lives |
| What does Seasons symbolize? | phases or changes on one’s lifeSpring- Fresh start west to east- NickSummer- good times, parties, love, affairs, searching for dreamsFall- end of youth, dream gone, things fall apart, die or Jordan says that life starts over |
| What does Gatsby’s Schedule symbolize? | hard work and study leads to American Dream of adventure and money, Irony is that he completely deviates from this intent by illegally obtaining his money |
| What does Settings (move from west to east) symbolize? | all move west to east in hope of finding a better life, glamour, riches or escape (Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, Nick, Jordan). None succeed because all develop false values to adapt to lifestyle. Only Nick save himself by returning to mid- West |
| What does West and East Eggs symbolize? | West= New money, fast money, rages to riches immigrant stock, showy and vulgar, wannabes (Gatsby and Nick)East= old money, inherited wealth of established families, snooty, upper crust, white palaces (Tom and Daisy) |
| What does Gatsby’s Shirts symbolize? | enchanted objects |
| What does Parties symbolize? | carelessness, low morals, vulgar behavior, drunkenness, waste, trash, chaos, accidents |
| Catherine | Sister of Myrtle and approves of her affair |
| Klipspringer | lives at Gatsby’s house and takes advantage of his generosity without having any real feelings for him; plays the piano at Gatsby |
| Owl Eyes | simply cannot believe that Gatsby has real books in his library, and he seems to have a real fascination with the |
| Dr. T.J. Eckleburg | Optometrist who is on a billboard to promote the business of an optometry |
| Eyes of T. J. Eckleburg | Represents God |
The Great Gatsby characters and symbols
April 12, 2020