Journal Entry #2: Character Development in Three Parts

Character Development: Chapters 1-3:

In Chapter 1, I’m introduced to Nick Carraway, a 30-year-old man who moves east to start a career in the bond business. We learn that he comes from a wealthy family that made their fortune by sending substitutes to fight in the Civil War, allowing them to start a successful wholesale hardware business that has flourished for years.

We’re also introduced to Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Daisy, Nick’s second cousin, and Tom, her husband, were both familiar to Nick from his time in college. Tom was a standout football player at New Haven and is known as one of the best athletes of his time. As a result, he’s become a wealthy man, and he and Daisy live in a beautiful mansion in East Egg overlooking the lake.

When we first meet Tom, he’s described as “a sturdy straw-haired man of thirty, with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner” (Fitzgerald, pg11). His sense of superiority is evident when he takes Nick on a tour of his house, almost pushing him from one room to the next while gruffly commenting on how impressive everything is. In contrast, Daisy is described as stunningly beautiful and charming. When Nick sees her, she looks up at him, saying with a smile that "there’s no one in the world she’d rather see" (Fitzgerald, pg13).

By the middle of Chapter 3, we meet the central character, Jay Gatsby. Nick encounters Gatsby at one of his lavish parties. Gatsby is portrayed as a man in his early thirties, who speaks with elaborate formality and eloquence. He appears kind and genuine, and Nick notes that his smile gives off a sense of “eternal reassurance and understanding” (Fitzgerald, pg52, pg).

Character Development: Chapters 4-6:

By Chapter 4, Nick and Gatsby are becoming better acquainted. While they’re out for a drive, Gatsby opens up about his past and how he accumulated his wealth. He tells Nick that he’s the son of wealthy parents from the Midwest, that they’re all deceased, and that he was educated at Oxford due to family tradition. However, Nick remains skeptical, noticing Gatsby’s discomfort and the way he keeps glancing sideways while telling his story.

This moment reinforces Nick’s sharp eye for detail and his refusal to take things at face value unless there’s solid proof. It also confirms my suspicions that there’s more to Gatsby than meets the eye, and he’s definitely hiding something.

Later in Chapter 4, we learn about Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan’s past. Five years earlier, they were romantically involved, but Gatsby went off to serve in World War I. In 1919, Daisy became engaged to Tom. On the eve of her wedding, she almost called it off after receiving a letter from Gatsby. However, she decided to marry Tom, claiming she was truly in love with him. Despite this, Gatsby never stopped loving her. When he returned to the East years later, he bought a mansion in West Egg specifically to be close to Daisy, who lived in East Egg.

This background explains why Gatsby reacts awkwardly when Nick introduces him to Tom. It also sheds light on why Gatsby has been so friendly toward Nick from the start; he knew Nick and Daisy were cousins. Once all of this information is revealed, Gatsby asks Nick to invite Daisy to his house for tea so they can reunite.

Character Development: Chapters 7-9:

A few weeks after Daisy and Gatsby rekindle their romance, Chapter 7 begins with Nick noticing that Gatsby’s house has become unusually quiet. The extravagant parties that once lasted until dawn have stopped, and Nick learns that Gatsby has replaced most of his staff. When Nick asks him about it, Gatsby explains that he made the changes for Daisy. She doesn’t like his parties, and they usually meet in the afternoons. As a result, he stopped hosting them and swapped out his staff to avoid any rumors about him and Daisy.

This shows just how important Daisy is to Gatsby. Not only was he willing to wait five years to see her again, but he was also ready to change his entire lifestyle and persona for her. Both Gatsby and Daisy seem perfectly content to pursue their own selfish desires, with little regard for what’s best for Daisy’s family.

At the end of Chapter 8, Gatsby is tragically shot by George Wilson, who believes Gatsby was driving the car that killed his wife, Myrtle. Nick does his best to ensure Gatsby receives a dignified funeral. He tracks down everyone Gatsby knew and insists they attend, which shows the depth of his respect for Gatsby.

However, as Nick arranges the funeral, Tom and Daisy quietly leave their home without a word and don’t show up to the burial. This infuriates Nick, and he describes them as “careless people who retreat into their wealth and leave others to clean up their messes" (Fitzgerald pg187, pg188). Tom and Daisy’s selfishness and disregard for others are evident until the very end.

Sources:

The book: https://www.planetebook.com/free-ebooks/the-great-gatsby.pdf

Character Development Research (Paid): https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Character-Development-In-The-Great-Gatsby-P3BSHKPG69P

Sentence Structure: Grammarly.com/

Images: Google.ca (I searched for photos that related to the paragraphs)