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The Great Gatsby Character Analysis

Decent Essays

Values play a very important role in many people's lives. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s characters in the novel The Great Gatsby show drastically different values when in comparison to each other. Three of the main characters are Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan, and of course Jay Gatsby. The love triangle between the three of them play into the theme of the novel. The theme would be money can be deadly when love is involved. Each of the characters’ values play into this theme wonderfully. Tom Buchanan has a sad input on life. It's obvious that Tom only values himself and his wealth. While he is married to Daisy, he does not treat her with an ounce of respect. Daisy had explained to Nick that Tom had hit her before and treats her very poorly. “ —that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool… You see, I think everything's terrible anyhow…”(17). Although Tom values himself over others, he always wants to please his mistress, Myrtle. “‘Here's your money. Go buy ten more dogs with it’”(28). Myrtle is wanting a dog, so Tom needs to show that he can keep his women with money by buying her one. He had been cheating on Daisy for a long time, but Daisy never does anything about it because of her values. Towards the beginning of the novel Daisy was a beloved character, but because of her selfish values that changed in the end. Daisy Buchanan values her fancy, rich lifestyle. Because of this, she ends up getting herself in a heartbreaking

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