The Great Gatsby character profile

Tom Buchanan

Personality: Arrogant - flaunts his wealth - 'he'd brought down a string of polo ponies from Lake Forest.'  Patronising - 'just because I'm stronger and more of a man than you are'. Insatiable - Unsatisfied with what he has - 'I felt that Tom would drift on for ever, seeking'. Aggressive / Violent -  Prideful - 'I've got a nice place here.'  Opinionated - 'Civilisation's going to pieces.'

Background Information:Antagonist of Daisy's & Gatsby's relationship. Married to Daisy - Nick's second cousin once removed. Athletic - A national figure. (Once played football at New Haven). Accumulated a small and limited excellence at the young age of 21. Family is extremely wealthy - 'old money'. He likes to flaunt his wealth. He has travelled around the world, visiting other wealthy people and polo players. He has a daughter with Daisy called Pammy.  Age 30 - Straw-haired, sturdy & filled-out body.

Development & Change of Tom Buchanan.

Throughout the novel, we discover that Tom is a slightly misunderstood character. It is shown that he does in fact deeply care about Daisy and is devoted to her, regardless of his previous actions aka his affair with Myrtle. This is evident when he protects Daisy after the 'incident', ensuring her innocence from it all. Similarly, despite not being particularly close with Nick and occasionally patronising him, Tom does at times display a softer side towards him. For example; in one scene where Nick is leaving the Buchanan's house, Tom shows genuine and keen interest in Nick's love life. This is a contrast to his masculine and domineering manner. 

Nick Carraway

Personality: Sexist/Misogynistic: 'I drove over there to have dinner with the Tom Buchanans.'  Privileged & Judgemental: "Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." Vulnerability around Jordan: 'A phrase began to beat in my ears with a sort of heady excitement.'  Dishonest: 

Background information: Narrator of The Great Gatsby, but he is not the protagonist. Unreliable narrator - He doesn't always tell us the truth about what's happening. Family is wealthy but not to Tom's extent - old money - Family wholesale hardware business. Went to Yale University & then fought in WWI. Nick leaves home to be a bond salesman & (presumably) to leave a woman who believes they are getting married. (This is downplayed in the novel).

Development & Change of Nick Carraway.

In the beginning of the novel, Nick starts out as a naive character who tries to persuade the readers that he is honest in his narrations. However, we soon find out that he is a very unreliable narrator because he skims over details (I.e. Gatsby's background) and uses information from another character's p.o.v to narrate the Myrtle incident. He also acts optimistic about his new life and future in New York, which drastically changes towards the end of the novel, especially after the incidents concerning Myrtle, Gatsby and Wilson. In the end, Nick becomes a bitter, angry and regretful character.Despite having negative feelings towards Daisy, Tom and Jordan and being cynical about his future - Nick holds some admiration for Gatsby and it could be suggested that he pities Gatsby for his loss of love, status and relationships of those around him.