The Great Gatsby Character Report Cards

The Great Gatsby, a masterpiece of American literature, paints a vivid picture of the Roaring Twenties, exploring themes of wealth, love, and the elusive American Dream. While we analyze the novel’s literary merit and symbolic layers, let’s have a bit of fun and approach it from an unconventional angle: report cards for the main characters. How would Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Nick Carraway, and Jordan Baker fare if they were graded not on their actions within the plot, but on aspects like responsibility, integrity, relationships, and personal growth? Let’s dive in and assign some grades.

Jay Gatsby: The Enigmatic Dreamer

Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, is a complex and ultimately tragic figure. He’s driven by an unwavering desire to recapture the past and win back the love of Daisy Buchanan. He amassed a fortune through questionable means, throws lavish parties, and cultivates a carefully constructed persona, all in pursuit of his dream. But beneath the surface, he’s just Jimmy Gatz, a poor farm boy with an idealized vision.

• Responsibility (Financial): C Gatsby's wealth is the foundation upon which he builds his new identity. However, the source of his fortune is dubious at best. His involvement in bootlegging and other shady dealings reflects a serious lack of ethical responsibility. He prioritizes acquiring wealth over the means by which he obtains it, demonstrating a disregard for the law and its impact on others.

• Responsibility (Social): D Gatsby throws extravagant parties, ostensibly to attract Daisy’s attention. However, he demonstrates little genuine care for his guests. They are simply props in his grand performance, utilized to project an image of wealth and success. He doesn't engage with them on a personal level and shows little interest in their well-being.

• Integrity: D Gatsby's entire persona is built on a lie. He fabricates his past, hides his true identity, and engages in dishonest activities to achieve his goals. His lack of honesty and transparency permeates every aspect of his life, making it difficult to trust anything he says or does. While he believes he is acting out of love, his actions are ultimately rooted in deception.

• Relationships: C- Gatsby's relationship with Daisy is the driving force behind his actions. However, it is based on an illusion, a romanticized version of the past that can never be fully realized. He idealizes Daisy, refusing to see her flaws and holding her to an impossible standard. His other relationships are superficial and transactional, serving only to further his ambitions. His sole genuine connection seems to be with Nick, but even that is strained by Gatsby's dishonesty.

• Personal Growth: D+ Despite his relentless pursuit of Daisy, Gatsby shows minimal personal growth throughout the novel. He remains fixated on the past, unable to move forward or learn from his mistakes. His tragic death is a direct result of his inability to let go of his idealized vision and embrace reality.

• Overall Grade: D Gatsby's report card reflects his tragic flaw: his unwavering commitment to a dream built on illusion and dishonesty. While his romantic idealism and unwavering dedication are admirable in some ways, they ultimately lead to his downfall.

Daisy Buchanan: The Golden Girl with Tarnished Values

Daisy Buchanan, the object of Gatsby’s affection, is a beautiful and charming socialite. She embodies the allure and superficiality of the wealthy elite. But beneath her glittering exterior lies a shallowness and moral ambiguity that contribute to the tragedy of the story. She's trapped in a loveless marriage, burdened by societal expectations, and ultimately unable to break free from her gilded cage.

• Responsibility (Financial): N/A Daisy is born into wealth and privilege, never having to work or worry about finances. Therefore, it's difficult to assess her financial responsibility, as she has never been required to manage her own money or contribute to her household.

• Responsibility (Social): D Daisy's social responsibility is severely lacking. She is careless and impulsive, prioritizing her own desires above the well-being of others. Her involvement in Myrtle Wilson's death highlights her recklessness and willingness to evade accountability.

• Integrity: F Daisy is arguably the least ethical character in the novel. She is dishonest, manipulative, and self-centered. She allows Gatsby to take the blame for Myrtle's death, demonstrating a complete lack of moral courage and a willingness to sacrifice others to protect herself.

• Relationships: D- Daisy's relationships are shallow and unsatisfying. She marries Tom for his wealth and social status, not for love. Her affair with Gatsby is driven by nostalgia and a desire for excitement, but she is ultimately unwilling to leave Tom and risk her comfortable lifestyle. She prioritizes security and social acceptance over genuine connection.

• Personal Growth: F Daisy shows no evidence of personal growth throughout the novel. She remains trapped in her self-absorbed world, unable to confront her own flaws or make meaningful changes in her life. She is a static character who perpetuates the cycle of unhappiness and moral decay.

• Overall Grade: F Daisy's report card reflects her moral failings and her contribution to the tragedy of the novel. Her beauty and charm mask a deep-seated lack of integrity and a profound inability to take responsibility for her actions. She is a symbol of the moral corruption that lies beneath the glittering surface of the Roaring Twenties.

Tom Buchanan: The Arrogant Aristocrat

Tom Buchanan, Daisy's husband, is a wealthy and powerful man who embodies the arrogance and entitlement of the old aristocracy. He is physically imposing, aggressively masculine, and deeply prejudiced. His infidelity and domineering behavior create a toxic environment for those around him.

• Responsibility (Financial): B Tom manages his inherited wealth with a certain level of competence. He's not reckless or extravagant, but he also doesn't demonstrate any particular concern for social responsibility or philanthropic endeavors.

• Responsibility (Social): F Tom's social responsibility is virtually nonexistent. He is openly racist, sexist, and classist. He believes in the superiority of his race and social class, and he treats those he deems inferior with contempt and disdain. His infidelity and abusive behavior towards Daisy demonstrate a complete lack of respect for women.

• Integrity: F Tom is consistently dishonest and manipulative. He carries on numerous affairs, lies to Daisy, and uses his wealth and power to intimidate others. He lacks a moral compass and operates according to his own selfish desires.

• Relationships: D Tom's relationships are based on power and control. He views Daisy as a possession, someone to be dominated and controlled. His affairs are purely physical, lacking any emotional connection. He is incapable of genuine intimacy or empathy.

• Personal Growth: F Tom shows absolutely no sign of personal growth throughout the novel. He remains entrenched in his prejudiced beliefs and his domineering behavior. He is a static character who represents the worst aspects of the old aristocracy.

• Overall Grade: F Tom's report card reflects his moral bankruptcy and his destructive influence on those around him. He is a symbol of the entrenched inequality and social injustice that plague the society depicted in the novel.

Nick Carraway: The Observant Narrator

Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, is an aspiring writer from the Midwest who comes to West Egg to seek his fortune. He is initially drawn to the glamour and excitement of the wealthy elite, but he gradually becomes disillusioned by their moral decay and superficiality. Nick is generally considered to be the most morally grounded character in the novel, though he too is not without his flaws.

• Responsibility (Financial): C+ Nick is relatively responsible with his finances, though he struggles to make ends meet in the expensive environment of West Egg. He works diligently and avoids excessive spending, but he is also somewhat naive and easily swayed by the allure of wealth.

• Responsibility (Social): B Nick generally tries to be a good and responsible member of society. He is polite, respectful, and tries to avoid conflict. However, he can also be passive and indecisive, sometimes failing to take a stand against injustice.

• Integrity: B- Nick is generally honest and well-intentioned, but he is not without his moral compromises. He is drawn to the wealth and glamour of the wealthy elite, and he sometimes overlooks their flaws and misdeeds. He also engages in a brief and ultimately unsatisfying relationship with Jordan Baker, despite knowing that she is dishonest.

• Relationships: C+ Nick's relationships are complex and often strained. He is drawn to Gatsby's charisma and generosity, but he is also disturbed by his dishonesty and obsession. He is initially attracted to Jordan Baker, but he eventually becomes disillusioned by her cynicism and lack of integrity. His relationship with Daisy is distant and somewhat awkward.

• Personal Growth: B Nick undergoes significant personal growth throughout the novel. He becomes increasingly aware of the moral decay and superficiality of the wealthy elite, and he ultimately rejects their values and returns to the Midwest. He learns valuable lessons about the dangers of wealth, the importance of honesty, and the elusive nature of the American Dream.

• Overall Grade: C+ Nick's report card reflects his moral complexity and his journey of self-discovery. He is not a perfect character, but he is ultimately a decent and well-intentioned person who learns from his experiences and strives to become a better version of himself.

Jordan Baker: The Cynical Golfer

Jordan Baker is a professional golfer and a close friend of Daisy Buchanan. She is portrayed as being cynical, self-centered, and dishonest. She embodies the reckless and morally ambiguous spirit of the Roaring Twenties.

• Responsibility (Financial): N/A As a professional golfer, Jordan is presumably responsible for managing her own finances. However, the novel doesn't delve into her financial situation, so it's difficult to assess her financial responsibility.

• Responsibility (Social): C- Jordan is careless and often disregards social conventions. She is a reckless driver and is rumored to have cheated in golf tournaments. She prioritizes her own amusement and convenience above the well-being of others.

• Integrity: D Jordan is consistently dishonest and manipulative. She lies frequently and without remorse, often to gain an advantage or avoid consequences. Her lack of integrity undermines her relationships and makes it difficult to trust her.

• Relationships: C Jordan's relationships are often shallow and based on convenience. She is attracted to Nick, but their relationship is ultimately doomed by her dishonesty and his growing disillusionment with the wealthy elite. She is loyal to Daisy, but their friendship is based on shared experiences and a mutual understanding of the rules of their social circle.

• Personal Growth: C- Jordan shows limited personal growth throughout the novel. She remains cynical and self-absorbed, unwilling to confront her own flaws or make meaningful changes in her life. She represents the moral stagnation and lack of introspection that characterizes many of the wealthy characters in the novel.

• Overall Grade: C- Jordan's report card reflects her moral ambiguity and her contribution to the overall sense of disillusionment in the novel. She is a product of her environment, a society that values wealth and status above honesty and integrity.

Final Thoughts: A Reflection of the Roaring Twenties

Grading the characters of The Great Gatsby in this way offers a unique perspective on their flaws and virtues. It highlights the moral complexities of the Roaring Twenties and the destructive consequences of wealth, ambition, and unchecked desire. While fictional, these report cards serve as a reminder that character, integrity, and genuine connection are ultimately more valuable than material success. The characters' grades reflect their moral compass, or lack thereof, and contribute to the tragic events that unfold. The novel serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing illusions and the importance of living an authentic and meaningful life.