Nick Carraway:

Nick Carraway is the narrator of the novel, and therefore is very involved in all of the affairs going on throughout the novel. Nick is a very trustworthy person, and as stated he is “the only trustworthy person” he knows. He is enamored for a short while with Miss Jordan Baker, who later turns out to be both careless and selfish. Nick is also present in the affairs of Tom and Myrtle, as well as Gatsby and Daisy. Nick is Daisy’s cousin, and Gatsby’s neighbor, and is therefore the connection between Gatsby and Daisy. This connection allows him to become aware of the affairs taking place. When Tom discovered the affair between Gatsby and Daisy, he easily became interacted with the issue and even forgets his 30th birthday. He is present to see the death of Myrtle Wilson, and is one of the few people attending Gatsby’s funeral. His basic flaw might indeed be that he cares too much, and is easily caught up in things that may not be proper to be caught up in to begin with. This is what drives him from Miss Baker, ultimately ending their relationship then and there. Although caring is his major flaw, it may also be a key strength in his personality, causing him to be one of the more meaningful characters in the book.
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Jay Gatsby (James Gatz):

Jay Gatsby is not only the one whose name is given on the title of the book; he is also one of the more interesting characters all together. His name was originally James Gatz, whose parents were farmers that did not live to the high standards that Gatsby wanted for himself. James Gatz changed his name in order to begin a new life, and to gain new status for himself. However, he did not gain his new social status for himself, but for Daisy whom he loved. Gatsby had a dream for Daisy. This dream was one of perfection, of love, one that Daisy could never live up to. However, Gatsby strove to accomplish this dream of perfection, and eventually this dream brought him to his ruin. He had been involved with many shady dealings, which normally involved Meier Wolsheim, that lead to his great wealth. This great wealth is what he would use to attempt at winning over Daisy’s heart once again. He often wore gaudy pink suits and had many flashy objects. He purchased a grand house across the bay from Daisy’s, and even through great parties in hopes that Daisy would come. He eventually let his love go too far, hoping for the impossible, so that when he did die, he had nothing truly to live for.
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Daisy Buchanan:

Daisy, Daisy, Daisy, she is a beautiful woman. Everything any man would want from any girl is in Daisy. Tom keeps her close as his trophy wife. Behind her look, one first pictures an innocent woman. She seems to simply slide through life in her beauty. As the book continues Daisy shows her real self. Beneath the innocent woman clad in white gowns, is a selfish brat. Daisy knows what she wants and fights for it. Her weapon is charm. Luring men in, she manipulates them she gets what she wants. She only keeps people in her life as long as she needs them. Once they serve their purpose she could care less about what happens to them. This trait is shown with her and Gatsby. Once Daisy realized that Gatsby was not a old money type of man that she wanted, she left him. Not only did she leave him, she blamed her accident on her and indirectly killed him. Daisy is a self-centered brat beneath her innocent look. What Daisy desires in life she gets. She wants a comfortable life of leisure in old money. Her dreams involve her as the center of attention with sophisticated people surrounding her. She has no major goals; she just does what she wants. As for love, she does not care so much. As long as Tom claims to love her, and provides for her needs, she is happy. If Daisy were to read the Great Gatsby, she would be proud that the whole book centered on her. Daisy is the innocent devil in The Great Gatsby.
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Tom Buchanan:

Tom is a muscular man who used to play professional football, and is now married to Daisy. He is a racist man and cannot accept the African American race. He has a wife, but he also has a mistress, Myrtle Wilson. He has the major flaw of cheating on his wife, and is constantly causing grief. Tom is a selfish man who only cares about someone or something if it concerns him. He has his happiness when he has both his trophy wife and his mistress, Myrtle. He has a short temper, and seems to not be truly that intelligent. He has a tendency to be very mistrusting to certain people, especially Jay Gatsby. He only discovers Mr. Gatsby’s business to reveal the unrefined person that Jay is to Daisy. He is unkind and all over a brute that can’t even pretend to care about the feelings of others. Tom is selfish in his marriage and doesn’t like to deal with loss. He causes major problems, and then hides in his extreme wealth to make other people deal with his problems. He can’t get over his bias of people, keeping him from making good friends and better relationships. He is a cheating man and can’t look at his flaws without an argument.
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