The Great Gatsby: Character Charts Activity

Instructions: for each character trait, find at least 2 instances (quoted or

paraphrased, with page numbers) from the novel that demonstrate how this
character has the trait.
1. Nick Carraway

Trait Ex 1 Ex 2 Ex 3 (optional)
Observant “he wanted to go and he
didn’t see that Mr. Sloane had
determined he shouldn’t” (p.
109)

Non judgemental P.1: “in consequence, I’m am inclined to

reserve all judgments, a habit that has
opened up many curious natures, natures
to me and also made me the victim of
not few veteran bores.”

Honest “You’re a rotten driver, I “You’re acting like a little

protested.” (P. 62) boy” (p.93)

Middle class “My family have been

background prominent, well to-do people
in this middle western city,
for three generations.” (p.3)
Reflective […] I saw that this was
“Daisy’s embarrassed too.
because she felt safer on a
‘She’s embarrassed? he
plane, where any divergence
repeated incredulously. ‘‘Just
from a code would be
as much as you are.’ ” (p. 93)
thought impossible. (P. 62)
Ambiguous
 2. Jay Gatsby

Trait Ex 1 Ex 2 Ex 3 (optional)
Mysterious

Wealthy

Ambitious

Romantic

Nostalgic
“Can’t repeat the past?” he
cried incredulously. “Why of
course you can!”

Generous
 3. Daisy Buchanan

Trait Ex 1 Ex 2 Ex 3 (optional)
Shallow

Materialistic “They’re such beautiful shirts,”

she sobbed, her voice muffled
in the thick folds. “It makes me
sad because I’ve never seen
such — such beautiful shirts
before.”
Socially connected “She was eighteen, two years
older than me, and by far the
most popular of all the
young girls in Louisville.”
(P.79)
Feminine

Careless When Daisy runs Myrtle over

with the car. Even though it
was an accident, she’s not
concerned

Unfulfilled

Artificial
“[…] followed by Daisy’s
voice, on a clear artificial
note: ‘I certainly am awfully
glad to see you again’”
 4. Tom Buchanan

Trait Ex 1 Ex 2 Ex 3 (optional)
Arrogant

Racist “Well, it’s a fine book, and

everyone ought to read it. The
idea is if we don’t look out, the
white race will be— will be
utterly submerged. It’s all
scientific stuff; It’s been proven.”

Impulsive

Slaps Myrtle

“By God, I may be old-

Hypocrite fashioned in my ideas, but
women run around too much
these days to suit me. They
meet all kinds of crazy fish.”