Nick Carraway
Background
Nick Carraway is the man whose arrival catalyses the events of the novel; the reunion of
Daisy and Gatsby, the affair, the death of Myrtle, and the assassination of Gatsby. He’s
largely a narrator in this novel, an impartial bystander who witnesses the downfall of the
notorious Jay Gatsby. Having attended Yale, Carraway arrives in West Egg as a bachelor to
sell bonds in New York. He doesn’t meet Gatsby or attend a party until his cousin, Daisy
Buchanan, invites him to her house for dinner, and Jordan Baker discusses Carraway’s
famous neighbour, Jay Gatsby.
Role in the Novel
Carraway and Baker are intrinsic to the reconnection of Gatsby and Daisy, facilitating their
meetings and supporting their relationship. However, Carraway becomes uncomfortable with
it when it becomes clear that Daisy isn’t serious about leaving Tom for Gatsby, whereas
Gatsby thinks it’s a foregone conclusion that they will end up happily together. Carraway is
much more of a realist than Gatsby, and validly recognises the unlikeliness of a rich, old
money ex-debutante married to a rich Yale graduate with a child leaving her family for her
naive first love. On the night of the death of Myrtle, everyone is wildly uncomfortable,
Carraway included. He ultimately realises he has been complicit in the destruction of Daisy
and Tom’s marriage, and that Gatsby is not the perfect solution to Daisy, and he leaves.
Despite his growing relationship with Jordan Baker, he ultimately becomes disillusioned with
her cynicism and shallowness, after she wishes to continue socialising after the death of
Myrtle. The breakdown of their relationship is representative of Carraway’s disillusionment
with New York society, and his choice to return to the Midwest. He realises he doesn’t like
this shallow, social, cynical, messy world, and returns home.
, Jay Gatsby
Background
Jay Gatsby is the notorious, mysterious neighbour of Nick Carraway who hosts lavish parties
for the citizens of New York in his new money, West Egg manor. Nick first learns of Gatsby
through Jordan Baker, and later sees him reaching out for the green light above Daisy
Buchanan’s dock. Five years prior, Gatsby had met Daisy and fallen in love, but wasn’t rich
enough for the debutante to acceptably marry. He joined the war, and when it ended,
travelled to Oxford for a bit, before being taken under the wing of a bootlegger. He gained his
money from the death of this bootlegger. This story of his gain of money is not well known,
however - there is lots of debate regarding his fortune. No one attending his parties truly
knows him.
In the Novel
Upon learning of Nick’s relation to Daisy, Gatsby encourages Nick to have the two of them
meet up in a way that would appear ‘incidental’. This is organised, and results in the
rekindling of Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship, beginning the tumultuous events of the novel.
Gatsby desperately wants Daisy to leave Tom and marry him, and for a solid chunk of the
book, it seems that Daisy wants the same thing. However, Daisy finds it challenging to leave
her husband, who she does actually love in some way and has a child with, for a dalliance
with a man she used to know. Gatsby is totally devoted to Daisy, having bought the house in
West Egg to look out over her mansion. In the chaotic evening Tom, Nick, Jordan, Gatsby,
and Daisy venture into New York, we see Daisy unravel and realise that she does not want
to leave Tom for Gatsby. He is horrified by this, and does not believe her. She ultimately
drives the two of them home, fatally hitting Myrtle Wilson (Tom’s sneaky link), and continuing
to drive off. Gatsby returns to his house, and waits, watching her window, in case she
decides to sneak off and run away with him. She never does. The next morning, George
Wilson, who believes it was Gatsby driving the car that killed his wife, visits Gatsby’s house,
and kills him. Nick organises Gatby’s funeral, and meets his father, who was extremely
proud of his son. No one attends Gatsby’s funeral, despite the hundreds who used to
descend upon his house for parties.
Background
Nick Carraway is the man whose arrival catalyses the events of the novel; the reunion of
Daisy and Gatsby, the affair, the death of Myrtle, and the assassination of Gatsby. He’s
largely a narrator in this novel, an impartial bystander who witnesses the downfall of the
notorious Jay Gatsby. Having attended Yale, Carraway arrives in West Egg as a bachelor to
sell bonds in New York. He doesn’t meet Gatsby or attend a party until his cousin, Daisy
Buchanan, invites him to her house for dinner, and Jordan Baker discusses Carraway’s
famous neighbour, Jay Gatsby.
Role in the Novel
Carraway and Baker are intrinsic to the reconnection of Gatsby and Daisy, facilitating their
meetings and supporting their relationship. However, Carraway becomes uncomfortable with
it when it becomes clear that Daisy isn’t serious about leaving Tom for Gatsby, whereas
Gatsby thinks it’s a foregone conclusion that they will end up happily together. Carraway is
much more of a realist than Gatsby, and validly recognises the unlikeliness of a rich, old
money ex-debutante married to a rich Yale graduate with a child leaving her family for her
naive first love. On the night of the death of Myrtle, everyone is wildly uncomfortable,
Carraway included. He ultimately realises he has been complicit in the destruction of Daisy
and Tom’s marriage, and that Gatsby is not the perfect solution to Daisy, and he leaves.
Despite his growing relationship with Jordan Baker, he ultimately becomes disillusioned with
her cynicism and shallowness, after she wishes to continue socialising after the death of
Myrtle. The breakdown of their relationship is representative of Carraway’s disillusionment
with New York society, and his choice to return to the Midwest. He realises he doesn’t like
this shallow, social, cynical, messy world, and returns home.
, Jay Gatsby
Background
Jay Gatsby is the notorious, mysterious neighbour of Nick Carraway who hosts lavish parties
for the citizens of New York in his new money, West Egg manor. Nick first learns of Gatsby
through Jordan Baker, and later sees him reaching out for the green light above Daisy
Buchanan’s dock. Five years prior, Gatsby had met Daisy and fallen in love, but wasn’t rich
enough for the debutante to acceptably marry. He joined the war, and when it ended,
travelled to Oxford for a bit, before being taken under the wing of a bootlegger. He gained his
money from the death of this bootlegger. This story of his gain of money is not well known,
however - there is lots of debate regarding his fortune. No one attending his parties truly
knows him.
In the Novel
Upon learning of Nick’s relation to Daisy, Gatsby encourages Nick to have the two of them
meet up in a way that would appear ‘incidental’. This is organised, and results in the
rekindling of Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship, beginning the tumultuous events of the novel.
Gatsby desperately wants Daisy to leave Tom and marry him, and for a solid chunk of the
book, it seems that Daisy wants the same thing. However, Daisy finds it challenging to leave
her husband, who she does actually love in some way and has a child with, for a dalliance
with a man she used to know. Gatsby is totally devoted to Daisy, having bought the house in
West Egg to look out over her mansion. In the chaotic evening Tom, Nick, Jordan, Gatsby,
and Daisy venture into New York, we see Daisy unravel and realise that she does not want
to leave Tom for Gatsby. He is horrified by this, and does not believe her. She ultimately
drives the two of them home, fatally hitting Myrtle Wilson (Tom’s sneaky link), and continuing
to drive off. Gatsby returns to his house, and waits, watching her window, in case she
decides to sneak off and run away with him. She never does. The next morning, George
Wilson, who believes it was Gatsby driving the car that killed his wife, visits Gatsby’s house,
and kills him. Nick organises Gatby’s funeral, and meets his father, who was extremely
proud of his son. No one attends Gatsby’s funeral, despite the hundreds who used to
descend upon his house for parties.
