The Great Gatsby Character

Analysis
Examples
EXAMPLE 1
The 1920s was a revolutionary time for women, and
acted as a transition period from meek housewives to
independent workers. Daisy Buchanan was stuck in the
middle of this transition. As a wealthy 20s woman she
has the ability to act as an independent flapper
would, throwing parties and being with men. However,
she is still oppressed by gender roles in many ways.
Though independent, rich, white men still had more
standing. Daisys bad (yet acceptable) marriage
doesnt allow her the freedom she desires. If it was
ended, she would merely receive a bad name.
EXAMPLE 2
Tom is a very wealthy white male in this early 1900s time
period, a period in which in the American culture racism is
still widely accepted and classes were separated. Fear of
cultural change and the white race being submerged with
every other race. Being not only white, but also
overwhelmingly rich and famous, Tom concludes all this
high class prejudice into one person. He seems to be what
most men would want and aspire to be like in that culture;
strong, successful, free, wealthy, and confident. It is clear
in The Great Gatsby that Tom does whatever he wants and
whenever, whether it is going freely to New York or
conducting the behavior of others around him like when he
first met Nick.
EXAMPLE 3
When Nick Carraway moves to to the affluent West Egg
area of Long Island, his geographical and physical closeness
to Jay Gatsby shapes an era in Nicks life. Nick rents a
decent house, but it pales in comparison to the grandiose
mansion next door owned by Mr. Gatsby. The mansion,
every weekend without fail, fills with partygoers as Gatsby
threw grand get-togethers. One evening Gatsby personally
invites Nick to a party. From that point on, Nicks life would
never be the same. His forthcoming friendship with Gatsby
would throw him in the middle of one of the great
American dramas, rife with extramarital affairs and murder.
All this was due simply to the geographic proximity to Jay
Gatsby. Nick was largely influenced by this geographic
location.