Dan Cody

Jame Gatz is one of the main characters in "The Great Gatsby". The story pretty much revolves around him. When he was 17 he decided to change his name to Jay Gatsby, witch was when he also started his "career". He started to "work" for a wealthy man named Dan Cody. Dan was a softminded and niave person, who was taken advantage of by many women. He had a very serious drinking problem and was often drunk. Gatsby became his steward, mate, skipper, secratary, and over all sitter. Dan Cody trusted Gatsby very much because of the many years of service. Cody died and left $25,000 to Gatsby, witch he never received due to Cody's mistress. Dan Cody is an important figure in "The Great Gatsby" because influences Jay Gatsby alot. He motivates Gatsby to make himself a wealth and sucessful man. Cody's death also englightened Gatsby to the dangers of excesive drinking, which is why Gatsby drinks little.

htttp://www.fcps.edu/westspringfieldhs/academic/english/1project/99gg/99gg2/charlis2.htm

The Green Light

"The Great Gatsby" is a full of many great literary devices. One, being a more well known symbol in the book, is "the green light" that is first introduced when Gatsby reaches out for it in an ernest way. The main reason for Gatsby's passionate interest in the light is the fact that it is were Daisy, the women he loves, lives. Later in the book it is confirmed that the green light is actually located at the end of Daisy's dock. Gatsby's attitude and the mysterious nature of the green light makes it a symbol of Gatsby's hope. Hope for the future, a future with Daisy. Green is said to be the color of promise and hope, so it fits the story perfect. Whether F. Scott Fitzgerald put that much thought or research into it is unknown. It is used a couple different ways in the story. The green light symbolizes the joyful and the distraught along with it and the "wasteland" between west and east egg. Its used to compare Gatsby's dreams of being with Daisy and failing due to material objects. Fitzgerald does this by saying Gatsby's wish is like explorers discovery of wealth, they're both foiled by wealth and material objects.

www.msu.edu/~millettf/gatsby.html

The Men of Gatsby

The major men in the Great Gatsby are Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, and Tom Buchanan.

Jay Gatsby is the main character and person in the story. He is very wealthy and throws the most luxurious and biggest parties in town, but he got all his money through bootlegging. Gatsby sold alcohol illegally in the 1920's Prohibition, but lies about having drug businesses instead. He is madly in love with Daisy Buchanan and she's basically the reason why he throws all his parties hoping that she will come to them. Also, he believes that he can still win her heart back when it's impossible because Daisy loves her husband Tom. Gatsby shines a green light at his house to Daisy's dock to always check up on her and see if she's alright. Near the end of the story, Daisy drives over Myrtle with Gatsby, but he takes the blame for it and gets shot by George Wilson. At his funeral, no one attends except for Nick, his father, and the minister. I feel pity and sad for Gatsby because everybody hated him, but deep inside he's not even a bad person.

Nick Carraway is the narrator of the story and the person who pretty much knows everything that's happening. He is a very down to earth person and not judgemental, which makes him the good person in the story. He doesn't like lies but he is a real person. Nick isn't super rich, yet he is content and happy with the home, and belongings that he has. He is the only person that Gatsby got really close to and basically became his best friend. Nick also gets close to Jordan Baker in the beginning, but their relationship fades away because he can't stand dishonest people. Nick is related to Daisy Buchanan being cousins, but dislikes her selfish personality. He pities Gatsby because of how people look at him with no respect and think that he's a bad person. I personally like Nick's character the most because he is real and true.

Tom Buchanan is one of the selfish and careless men in the story in my opinion. He is Daisy's husband and one of the richest men in East Egg. Tom inherited his wealth and riches from his family that was passed down. In the story, they describe him as arrogant, big, and tough. He is very selfish because all he cares about is his happiness and not others. Tom has an affair with Myrtle Wilson which shows that he's not truthful to Daisy, yet he still says he loves her. Also, he thinks that he is the best because he's so rich and can afford all the things in life that he wants unlike the rest of the people. Later in the story, he meets up with Nick and thinks that Nick is avoiding him, which he really is, then goes off to buy more jewelry which shows how much money plays a huge part in his life.

http://www.gradesaver.com/the-great-gatsby/study-guide/character-list/