The Great Gatsby

An enigmatic bootlegger turned magnate whose wealth fuels a relentless longing for Daisy. His charm and mystery mask a ruthless ambition, and his dream is built on recapturing a vanished past. Gatsby's pursuit of love and status drives the narrative toward tragedy.

A beautiful socialite torn between comfort, security, and a dangerous longing for Gatsby. She is aware of her husband's infidelity and Daisy's own discontent with her life. Her choices push the story toward a fateful collision of romance and social pressure.

A wealthy, domineering husband who maintains control through status and entitlement. He pursues parallel liaisons while insisting on his own moral superiority. Tom's actions expose the moral decay at the heart of the Jazz Age aristocracy.

A midlife narrator and observer who becomes the lens through which the world of Gatsby is examined. He is married to Jordan and struggles with judgment and loyalty as events unfold. Nick's reflections in 1948 bookend Gatsby's story and emphasize consequence over glamour.

A socialite and Daisy's friend who moves through the circle with cool pragmatism. She arranges connections and witnesses the shifting loyalties, embodying the modern, independent spirit of the era. Her presence helps reveal the surface-level charm of the Jazz Age.

George Wilson's wife who longs for the wealth and status she sees in Gatsby's circle. Her pursuit of luxury places her in the path of danger and contributing to the era's volatility. Myrtle's fate underscores the deadly consequences of desire and social ambition.

A gas station owner whose grief over Myrtle's death drives him toward vengeance and a collision with Gatsby's world. He becomes entangled in the violence and moral confusion surrounding the affair. Wilson's fate mirrors the broader tragedy of the Jazz Age moral decay.