Character Analysis - Textual Evidence - Period 4 by Tracey Barksdale

careless

tracey_barksdale — 2025-10-21 18:54:19 UTC

Nick calls Tom and Daisy "careless people" in the final chapter after the accident and Gatsby's death (179). They packed up and moved on after causing a mess and didn't seem to care at all about how it affected others.

Farsighted

638131_1 — 2025-10-21 18:59:55 UTC

"So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end" (98). Gatsby looked far into his future, planning out at a very young age the exact type of man he wanted to grow up to be.

romantic

2025-10-21 19:00:12 UTC

On page 93, Daisy goes to Gatsbys house and shows her many old clippings of her from the newspapers to impress her. "Look at this', said Gatsby quickly. 'Here's a lot of clippings -- about you.' (pg. 93)

Aggressive

2025-10-21 19:00:49 UTC

"Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand" (41)

I can prove Tom Buchanan is aggressive because he was angry at Myrtle for repeating his wife's name. I believe his aggressiveness built up because he knows he's in the wrong for having a mistress, but refuses to face it.

determined

2025-10-21 19:01:21 UTC

Gatsby was determined to be with Daisy. " 'Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay' "(78). Gatsby waited years for Daisy.

Mature

2025-10-21 19:01:42 UTC

"In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since"(1). Nick is maturing even more by using the advice that was given to him by his father when he was younger.

Strong

2025-10-21 19:01:57 UTC

¨ Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body.... and you can see a great pack of muscle shifting when his shoulder moved under his thin coat.¨(7) in the first chapter of the novel Tom is introduced and described by Nick.

Vindictive

2025-10-21 19:02:15 UTC

"Even that's a lie", said Tom Savagely. "She didn't know you were alive" (132). Tom wants to be right and makes sure Gatsby knows.

Hypocritical

638104_1 — 2025-10-21 19:04:25 UTC

"She does, though. The trouble is that sometimes she gets foolish ideas in her head and doesn't know what she's doing." He nodded sagely. "And what's more I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time" (131). -- Tom gets upset at Daisy for cheating, yet despite having done so himself he defends himself while putting her down; albeit agreeing to only call them both fools for it.

secretive

2025-10-21 19:05:03 UTC

¨ill tell you gods truth. im the son of some rich people in the middle west, both dead¨(65) later on in the book we find out gatsby made up this life to tell nick so he wouldnt believe any rumors.

materialistic

2025-10-21 19:05:17 UTC

In chapter 7, Nick describes Daisy's voice as indiscreet. "Her voice is full of money," (120). This is an example of Daisy's entire persona, showing what she truly cares for. Her love for wealth counteracts her love for other things (Gatsby).

Racist

2025-10-21 19:05:30 UTC

In chapter 1 when Nick visits Daisy and Tom In East Egg, Tom is telling Nick about the book "Rise of the Coloured Empires" where he tells Nick "It's up to us, the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things" (12). Tom is worried that the whites will be overwhelmed and submerged by people of color. This means that Tom believes that people of color are a threat to what he believes is a dominant race.

Confident

678444_2 — 2025-10-21 19:06:59 UTC

"He had passed visibly through two states and was entering upon a third. After his embarrassment and his unreasoning joy he was consumed with wonder at her presence" (91-92). Gatsby's belief in his dream are so strong that even after all this waiting, he still feels certain that he is meant to be with Daisy.

Shallow

2025-10-21 19:09:49 UTC

"She began to cry-- she cried and cried I've never seen anything so beautiful" (92) This shows how shallow she can be.

Disillusion

2025-10-21 19:09:56 UTC

"I hope she'll be a fool...that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."(17). While this is about Daisy's daughter, it shows her insight about the world and the lack of fairness and opportunities the women had during this time period (regardless of wealth). In her mind, it's better to be clueless than face the reality of her circumstances.

Rude

2025-10-21 19:10:48 UTC

¨Well, he certainly must have strained himself to get this menagerie together.¨ (107) Tom Buchanan makes this comment of the diverse groups of people at Gatsby´s party

Naive

637979_1 — 2025-10-21 19:13:40 UTC

Gatsby responded to Nick saying, "Can't repeat the past?" "Why of course you can!" after Nick states that he can't repeat the past (110). Gatsby had the childlike idea that now, since he had money, Daisy would jump into his arms again as if 5 years had never passed.

mysterious

643609 — 2025-10-21 19:14:22 UTC

"who is he?" I demanded. "Do you know?" "he's just a man named Gatsby." (48) at the first party nick ran into gatsby but knew nothing of him not even his name and the person he asked all he knew was Gatsbys name

optimistic

2025-10-21 19:16:09 UTC

"Can't repeat the past?... Why of course you can!"(110). It shows that Gatsby is hopeful and optimistic about getting Daisy back just how he wants.

Loyal

2025-10-22 19:38:39 UTC

In chapter 9 when Gatsby dies, Nick tries to ask around and get people for Gatsby's funeral service. "I went to the drawing-room and thought for an instant that they were chance visitors, all these official people who who suddenly filled it. But, as they drew back the sheet and looked at Gatsby with unmoved eyes, his protest continued in my brain: 'look here, old sport, you've got to get somebody for me. You've got to try hard. I can't go through this alone,'" (165). While Gatsby never told Nick to find people to come to his funeral, Nick thought that Gatsby would have wanted it anyway. This shows that Nick was at the moment thinking about what Gatsby would've wanted and thought it was his duty as his friend to honor him.