Great Gatsby Characters & Terms

Jay Gatsby (James Gatz)

• Wealthy, mysterious man who throws lavish parties.

• Deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan and tries to recreate the past with her.

• Made his fortune through questionable means.

Nick Carraway

• The novel’s narrator; Yale graduate and WWI veteran.

• Moves to West Egg to learn the bond business.

• Honest and tolerant; Gatsby’s neighbor and friend.
  
  Was born in Minnesota

Daisy Buchanan

• Nick’s cousin and Gatsby’s former lover.

• Married to Tom Buchanan.

• Superficial and charming but ultimately shallow and careless.

Tom Buchanan

• Daisy’s wealthy, aggressive, racist, and arrogant husband.

• Has an affair with Myrtle Wilson.

• Represents old money and entitlement.

Jordan Baker

• Daisy’s friend and Nick’s love interest for a while.

• Professional golfer; dishonest and cynical.

• Symbolizes the modern woman of the 1920s.

Myrtle Wilson

• Tom’s mistress; lives in the “valley of ashes.”

• Desperate to improve her social class.

• Killed by Daisy (while driving Gatsby’s car).

George Wilson

• Myrtle’s husband; owns a garage in the valley of ashes.

• Spiritually and emotionally broken.

• Kills Gatsby, then himself.

Meyer Wolfsheim

• Gatsby’s shady business associate.

• Allegedly fixed the 1919 World Series.

• Symbol of corruption and Gatsby’s criminal ties.

Owl Eyes

• Mysterious party guest who is surprised Gatsby’s books are real.

• Represents someone who sees the truth about Gatsby.

• Attends Gatsby’s funeral.

Klipspringer

• Gatsby’s party guest who lives in his mansion.

• Selfish and superficial—refuses to attend the funeral.

• Symbol of those who use Gatsby.

Henry Gatz

• Gatsby’s father; appears after Gatsby’s death.

• Proud of his son and represents Gatsby’s humble origins.

Disillusionment

A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.

Modernism

a style or movement in the arts that aims to break with classical and traditional forms.

The lost generation

People born between 1883-1900, who came of age during WW1.

Cynical

believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.

The Jazz Age - Roaring 20s

was a period from 1920 to the early 1930s characterized by a surge in jazz music and dance styles, primarily in the United States. It represented a cultural shift, with jazz becoming the soundtrack to a generation embracing new freedoms and challenging old social norms

Jazz

music genre originated in Black-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; developed from blues and ragtime roots.

18th Amendment

Prohibition, cant sell alcohol

Speakeasies

Underground social clubs that sold alcohol.

frivolous

not having any serious purpose or value.

19th Amendment

grants women the right to vote

Progressive Era/Edwardian Style

Covered arms, leg, neck, hair up and styled, sun protection, corsets!

Flappers

Less restrictive clothing more revealing, short, cropped hair, noticeable makeup, women drank and danced.

F Scott Fitzgerald

• Money was always a concern in the middle class
  - Mother was wealthy, but father was unsuccessful
  - Was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
  - Attended Princeton
  - Second lieutenat in the army, but never got into battle.

Nouveau Riche

A term used, usually in a derogatory way, to describe those whose wealth has been acquired within their own generation, rather than by familial inheritance.

Epigraph

A brief quotation at the start of a literary work from an outside source; it usually provides a thematic hint.

Motif

Recurring image, idea, or symbol throughout a work; holds special meaning in the context of the work.

Theme

An universal truth, moral, or lesson of a work; must be phrased as a sentence.

West Egg

Where Nick and Gatsby live; represents “new money”

New Money

wealth acquired through personal effort and success, rather than inheritance

East Egg

Where Daisy & Tom live; the more fashionable area, represents “old money”.

Old Money

wealth inherited through generations, often associated with established social connections and a sense of tradition

The Valley of Ashes

Between West Egg and New York City; characters must drive through to get to the city; represents those who work to make the extravagant lifestyles of the elite possible.

Catherine

Myrtle’s sister