1. Jordan Baker:
- Shows immorality: Dishonesty, lack of empathy, and selfishness.
- Degree of immorality: 6/10 (she's not as overtly cruel as some other characters, but her actions and attitudes contribute to the moral breakdown of society).
- Examples: Jordan cheats in golf, lies to Nick about her relationship with Jay, and shows no concern for the consequences of her actions.
2. George Wilson:
- Shows immorality: Desperation, violence, and revenge.
- Degree of immorality: 8/10 (George's actions are driven by desperation and a desire for revenge, which leads him to commit violent acts).
- Examples: George's abuse of Myrtle, his violent outburst when he discovers Tom's affair, and his eventual murder of Gatsby.
3. Myrtle Wilson:
- Shows immorality: Infidelity, superficiality, and materialism.
- Degree of immorality: 7/10 (Myrtle's actions are driven by a desire for wealth and status, which leads her to engage in extramarital affairs and prioritize material possessions over relationships).
- Examples: Myrtle's affair with Tom, her obsession with wealth and status, and her shallow relationships with others.
4. Owl Eyes:
- Shows immorality: None explicitly stated, but his presence highlights the superficiality and excess of the wealthy elite.
- Degree of immorality: N/A (Owl Eyes is more of a symbolic character than a morally complex one).
- Examples: Owl Eyes' appearance at Gatsby's party, where he is fascinated by the books in Gatsby's library, highlights the contrast between the superficiality of the partygoers and the intellectual pursuits of Owl Eyes.
5. Dr. Eckleburg:
- Shows immorality: None explicitly stated, but his presence serves as a commentary on the moral decay of society.
- Degree of immorality: N/A (Dr. Eckleburg is a symbolic character, not a morally complex one).
- Examples: The giant billboard of Dr. Eckleburg's eyes serves as a symbol of God or a higher power judging the characters' actions, highlighting the moral decay of society.
1. Jay Gatsby:
- Contributes to the theme: The American Dream, class and social status, love and illusion.
- Examples: Gatsby's pursuit of wealth and status, his love for Daisy, and his creation of an illusionary world to win her back.
2. Nick Carraway:
- Contributes to the theme: Morality, class and social status, the corrupting influence of wealth.
- Examples: Nick's Midwestern values, his observations of the wealthy elite, and his eventual disillusionment with the excesses of the wealthy.
3. Daisy Buchanan:
- Contributes to the theme: The American Dream, class and social status, love and illusion.
- Examples: Daisy's marriage to Tom, her affair with Gatsby, and her ultimate decision to stay with Tom, highlighting the constraints of her social status and the illusion of her perfect life.
4. Tom Buchanan:
- Contributes to the theme: Class and social status, morality, the corrupting influence of wealth.
- Examples: Tom's old money and aristocratic background, his infidelity and abuse of Myrtle, and his ruthless treatment of Gatsby, highlighting the corrupting influence of wealth and power.
1. Rags-to-riches motif:
- Explored through Gatsby's pursuit of wealth and status, highlighting the tensions between old money and new riches.
2. Morality:
- Explored through the characters' actions and attitudes, highlighting the moral decay of society and the corrupting influence of wealth.
3. Romantic love:
- Explored through Gatsby's love for Daisy, highlighting the illusionary nature of romantic love and the constraints of social status.