Jay Gatsby:
* Wealth as a means to an end: Gatsby's immense wealth is not an end in itself, but a tool to recapture Daisy, the love of his life. His lavish parties are an attempt to impress her and recreate a past he believes he can reclaim.
* Greed for the past: Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy is fueled by a deep-seated greed for the past. He desires to recreate a time that is gone and to believe that wealth can bridge the gap between their past and present lives. This relentless pursuit ultimately leads to his downfall.
* Corruption of dreams: Gatsby's obsession with wealth and Daisy ultimately corrupts his dreams. He becomes consumed by the pursuit of material possessions and social status, leading him to engage in illegal activities.
Daisy Buchanan:
* Enthralled by wealth and status: Daisy is deeply enmeshed in the world of wealth and privilege. She is drawn to Gatsby's riches and the lifestyle they afford, but also trapped by her marriage to Tom, who represents the same world of privilege and status.
* Indecision and moral ambiguity: Daisy's indecisiveness and moral ambiguity are shaped by her desire for both Gatsby and Tom. She is torn between her love for Gatsby and the security and comfort her marriage provides.
* Incapable of love or commitment: Ultimately, Daisy is unable to commit to Gatsby or make the sacrifices necessary for true love. Her wealth and privileged upbringing have made her incapable of true love or commitment.
Tom Buchanan:
* Greed and entitlement: Tom is characterized by his greed and sense of entitlement. He believes that his wealth gives him the right to control others and indulge his desires, including his extramarital affair.
* Violence and cruelty: Tom's greed and desire for control manifest in violence and cruelty, both towards Myrtle Wilson and, ultimately, Gatsby.
* Blindness to the truth: His arrogance and belief in his own superiority blind him to the reality of his own actions and the consequences they have on others.
George Wilson:
* Desperate for a way out: Driven by poverty and grief after Myrtle's death, George becomes desperate for answers and a way out of his misery. He is manipulated by Tom and becomes fixated on Gatsby, mistakenly believing him to be the driver of the car that killed his wife.
* Tragic victim: George is a tragic victim of the greed and recklessness of the wealthy. He is driven to despair and violence by his inability to cope with the injustices of his life and the loss of his wife.
Other Characters:
* Nick Carraway: Nick acts as an observer, reflecting on the corrupting influence of wealth and greed on the characters around him. He eventually rejects the shallowness of the East Egg society, disillusioned by the emptiness and moral decay he witnesses.
* Jordan Baker: She embodies the shallowness and moral ambiguity of the upper class, prioritizing wealth and status above integrity and genuine relationships.
The characters in "The Great Gatsby" are all shaped by their interactions with wealth and greed. Some are consumed by it, others are trapped by it, and some are ultimately destroyed by it. The novel serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangers of allowing material possessions and social status to overshadow true values and human connection.