Jay Gatsby
Rich and mysterious, Gatsby is the titular character at the center of the story. The narrative arc circles around his life and his complex relationship with Daisy Buchanan, for whom he has harbored an affection since they first met years ago. He is known for his extravagant parties, which attract a huge crowd, but otherwise, his past and personal life remain hidden and enigmatic. Gatsby's mysteriousness leads Nick Carraway to develop an interest in decoding him, and while he does not get particularly close to him, he learns enough to respect him and believe that he is all the purer for his lack of title and inherited wealth. In the end, we learn that Gatsby was born poor to parents out West, and changed his name from Gatz to the more aristocratic-sounding Gatsby. Nick admires Gatsby for his unflappable hope and optimism, even in the face of nearly unbeatable odds. In this way, Gatsby represents a particularly American hero, a "Horatio Alger"-type, self-made man, a man who wants to make the best of himself, ignoring the obstacles in his way.
Nick Carraway
Nick Carraway is the narrator of the film and its primary protagonist. Nick is a WWII veteran, scholarly and intellectual, who becomes enamored with the lavish life of Jay Gatsby, his wealthy neighbor, after being invited to one of his famous parties. Throughout the movie, Nick observes Gatsby, and becomes increasingly drawn into his personal affairs and the events that surround him. Nick does not have much of a personal life of his own, beyond his interest in the wealthier set in which he socializes. He works selling bonds on Wall Street, seems to have a small crush on Jordan Baker, and has a strong moral center.
Daisy Buchanan
Daisy Buchanan is Nick's cousin, Gatsby's former lover, Jordan's best friend, and Mrs. Tom Buchanan. She is charming and ingratiating, but delicate, and sometimes seems overwhelmed by the world around her by virtue of her refinement and privilege, which has cut her off from normal society for most of her life. She is romantic, inquisitive, and warm, but when matters get more complicated, she exhibits a chilly detachment that comes as a great surprise to Nick, who thought her more genuine.
Tom Buchanan
Tom Buchanan is the corrupt, possessive, and conservative husband of Daisy. Even though he is having an affair with a lower-class woman named Myrtle Wilson, he is incensed to find out that Daisy is sleeping with Gatsby, a man he deems to be beneath her. Tom is baldly racist and sexist, and exhibits a kind of hypocrisy afforded to him by his inherited privilege. Tom is the picture of a man who has been handed everything, yet deserves none of it.
Myrtle Wilson
Myrtle Wilson is the mistress of Tom Buchanan, an ambitious yet foolish woman who has aspirations to climb the social ladder and escape poverty as the wife of a garage owner. She is highly emotional, often silly, and dismissive of her loving husband, insulting him for not having his own suit for their wedding.
George Wilson
George Wilson is the hardworking, pitiable husband of Myrtle Wilson, who loves her dearly even as she has an affair. After her death, he becomes extremely sorrowful and inconsolable, which transforms into a vengeful rage, leading him to kill Gatsby, and then himself.
Jordan Baker
Jordan is a golf pro and Daisy's best friend. She has a cool, detached demeanor, and does not suffer fools. She and Nick strike up a flirtatious friendship, but nothing ever comes of it, as she ultimately aligns herself more with the Buchanans than with Gatsby, Nick's closest friend.
