Journal 19 -- Characterization

Journal 19 - Characterization in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby

Write a description for each of the following characters based on his/her first appearance in Chapter 1.  Your description should include:

-the character’s physical appearance;

-the character’s actions/words;

-an adjective that best describes the character based on his/her initial    

 appearance

Nick Carraway        Adjective: _____Tolerant_______

Nick is a very understanding and tolerant of others’ problems. Nick tells the reader that people often come to him with their problems because he is a good listener. He doesn’t necessarily like this about himself. He is soft spoken and always kind to others. He seems to genuinely care about his friends, and often focuses on others before himself. Nick’s physical appearance is not discussed in the novel.

Tom Buchanan        Adjective ___Arrogant_________

Tom is described as having an aggressive appearance. Nick describes Tom as having shiny and arrogant eyes. Tom was a successful football player, and still has his aggressive edge as he appears to always be leaning forward. Nick sees Tom as an arrogant and somewhat snobby character. He comments that Tom is wealthy and isn’t afraid to show it. Nick makes it very clear that Tom is overly confident and stuck up.

Daisy Buchanan     Adjective ____Superficial_________

Daisy is Tom’s wife. She is Nick’s second cousin once removed. She is described in this way: “her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget.” She is blonde haired, dainty, and fair skinned.

Jordan Baker           Adjective ____Independent___________

Jordan is essentially Daisy’s opposite. “She was extended full length at her end of the divan, completely motionless, and with her chin raised a little, as if she were balancing something on it which was quite likely to fall.” She is very poised and elegant. She is described as being slender, small-chested, and having an erect carriage. Her face appeared to be discontented, but polite and welcoming.

Jay Gatsby               Adjective _____Mysterious_____________

Jay Gatsby is a mysterious character. He is close friends with Nick and confides in him in times of need. Jay appears to have a lot of secrets that he is hiding, and Nick describes him as: “If personality was an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, as if her were related to one of those intricate machines that register earthquakes then thousand miles away.” Jay is first described when Nick sees him peering into the distance at the green light across the water. This further adds to Gatsby’s mysterious character.