The Great Gatsby Chapter 1 Character Traits Chart
The Great Gatsby is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald that is set in the roaring twenties of America. The novel is centered around the life of Jay Gatsby – a wealthy man who is known for throwing grand parties at his mansion. The first chapter of the novel introduces us to the key characters and their different character traits. This article will delve into the character traits of the main characters introduced in the first chapter of The Great Gatsby.
Nick Carraway
Nick is the narrator of the novel and is also a character in the story. He is a young man from the Midwest who has moved to New York to work in the bond business. Nick is portrayed as being reserved, non-judgmental, and observant. He is also depicted as being honest and having a strong sense of morality. This is evident when Nick refuses to drink alcohol during a party and when he criticizes the behavior of the guests at Gatsby's party.
Jay Gatsby
Gatsby is the main character of the novel and is known for being wealthy and throwing grand parties at his mansion. He is portrayed as being mysterious, charming, and ambitious. Gatsby is also depicted as being obsessed with Daisy Buchanan – a woman he fell in love with many years ago. This is evident when he tells Nick his life story and reveals that he has been in love with Daisy all along.
Daisy Buchanan
Daisy is the love interest of Gatsby and is portrayed as being beautiful, charming, and wealthy. She is also depicted as being selfish, shallow, and materialistic. This is evident when she talks about her daughter and when she expresses her desire to have a luxurious life. Daisy is also portrayed as being unhappy with her marriage to Tom Buchanan.
Tom Buchanan
Tom is Daisy's husband and is portrayed as being wealthy, arrogant, and aggressive. He is also depicted as being unfaithful to Daisy and having a mistress. This is evident when Tom receives a phone call from his mistress during dinner with Nick and Daisy. Tom is also shown to be racist and sexist, which is evident when he talks about the book he is reading and when he makes derogatory comments about women and minorities.
Jordan Baker
Jordan is a professional golfer and is portrayed as being beautiful, confident, and independent. She is also depicted as being dishonest and cynical. This is evident when Jordan tells Nick about cheating during a golf tournament and when she talks about the dishonest behavior of the guests at Gatsby's party.
Conclusion
The first chapter of The Great Gatsby introduces us to the key characters and their different character traits. Nick is reserved, non-judgmental, and observant, while Gatsby is mysterious, charming, and ambitious. Daisy is beautiful, charming, and selfish, while Tom is wealthy, arrogant, and aggressive. Jordan is beautiful, confident, and independent, but also dishonest and cynical. These character traits set the stage for the events that unfold in the rest of the novel.