The Great Gatsby (2013) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story is set in 1920s New York City, primarily in two fictional areas: West Egg, where Gatsby's lavish mansion stands, and the Valley of Ashes, a desolate stretch between the city and Long Island that represents the moral decay hidden beneath the glamour. The setting reflects the stark contrast between new wealth and the working class.

• west egg
• valley of ashes
• new york setting
• gatsby mansion

The movie takes place in 1922 during the Roaring Twenties, a period of economic prosperity and cultural excitement in America following World War I. This era was defined by jazz music, flapper culture, and an obsessive pursuit of wealth and pleasure, all of which are central to the story's themes.

• 1920s
• roaring twenties
• time period
• 1922

West Egg represents new money and the flashy wealth of the Jazz Age, symbolized by Gatsby's extravagant parties and mansion. The Valley of Ashes represents the moral and social decay lurking beneath the glittering surface of wealth, serving as a stark visual contrast to the opulence of the eggs.

• west egg
• valley of ashes
• symbolism
• wealth contrast

The film critiques the American Dream by showing how the pursuit of wealth and status leads to moral corruption and tragedy. Gatsby's relentless quest to recreate the past and win Daisy illustrates how the idealization of success and romance can result in devastating personal consequences.

• american dream
• wealth
• pursuit
• idealism
• gatsby

Gatsby's love for Daisy drives his entire transformation, from a poor farmer to a wealthy man hosting extravagant parties. His sacrifice represents the extreme lengths people go to for love, but the film shows how this pursuit ultimately leads to tragedy, revealing love's destructive power when combined with obsession.

• love
• sacrifice
• gatsby
• daisy
• obsession

The film portrays a rigid class divide between old money (represented by Tom Buchanan) and new money (represented by Gatsby). Tom's entitlement and moral corruption contrast with Gatsby's self-made wealth, while characters like Myrtle Wilson show the desperate attempts of the lower class to climb the social ladder, often with tragic results.

• class struggle
• old money
• new money
• tom buchanan
• social status

Gatsby constructs an elaborate illusion around himself, his mysterious background, fabricated stories, and extravagant persona all serve to create a specific image. The film reveals the disparity between Gatsby's public façade and his vulnerable, hopeful true self, questioning whether anyone in this world is truly authentic.

• identity
• illusion
• façade
• mystery
• gatsby persona

Nick Carraway serves as the story's narrator and moral center. A Yale graduate and war veteran from the Midwest, he provides a grounded perspective on the decadent world of the wealthy. His journey from fascination to disillusionment frames the entire narrative and ultimately shapes how we understand Gatsby's legacy.

• nick carraway
• narrator
• yale
• veteran
• moral center

Jay Gatsby is the enigmatic millionaire protagonist whose obsessive love for Daisy Buchanan defines his entire existence. Though he appears to have everything, wealth, parties, influence, he remains emotionally vulnerable, pursuing an idealized vision of love that ultimately leads to his tragic downfall.

• jay gatsby
• protagonist
• wealthy
• mystery
• love for daisy

Tom Buchanan represents the entitlement of old money, a wealthy, arrogant, and physically aggressive man who cheats on his wife Daisy with Myrtle Wilson. He serves as Gatsby's primary antagonist, embodying the moral corruption and privilege that Gatsby, despite his own flaws, fights against in his pursuit of love and respectability.

• tom buchanan
• antagonist
• old money
• wealthy
• abuse

Daisy Buchanan is the object of Gatsby's affection, embodying both beauty and the shallow charm of the elite class. Despite her lingering feelings for Gatsby, she ultimately chooses security and status with Tom, representing the complications of love when faced with social expectations and personal cowardice.

• daisy buchanan
• love interest
• gatsby
• choice
• society

Jordan Baker is a cynical, modern woman who represents the spirit of the Jazz Age. As a professional golfer and Daisy's friend, she introduces Nick to the world of the wealthy elite. Her complex relationship with Nick highlights the contrasting attitudes toward love and friendship among the upper class.

• jordan baker
• golfer
• cynical
• jazz age
• friendship

Myrtle Wilson is Tom's mistress who represents the aspirations of the lower class to rise through relationships with the wealthy. Her tragic fate underscores the dangers of pursuing love and status in a society driven by class division, highlighting how the elite's recklessness devastates those beneath them.

• myrtle wilson
• mistress
• lower class
• aspiration
• tragedy

Nick Carraway's role as narrator provides both distance and moral judgment on the events he describes. As someone from outside the wealthy world, he can criticize the decadence he witnesses while still being drawn into it. His perspective shapes how audiences interpret Gatsby, neither purely admiring nor completely condemning.

• nick narrator
• perspective
• judgment
• moral
• storytelling