1. Describe three key characters and explain how they change throughout the novel.

Nick: Just like Gatsby in a way Nick is out to seek his American Dream also from a small town Nick moves to east egg after the war to learn the bond business. We see that Nick gets stuck in a conflict much bigger than himself. Nick says at the start of the novel as Honest, tolerant, and inclined to reserve judgment, and because of this Nick never chooses a side and is often seen as a confidant. But we see at the end of the Novel Nick does show Judgement towards both the Buncannas and Gatsby by saying “They’re a rotten crowd,” I shouted across the lawn. “You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together and “they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness,” calling them careless people and showing his Judgement towards them.

Gatsby: We first hear about Gatsby as a strange but powerful person and comes to mind as a selfish and sinister character from the rumours spread but other characters in the novel. When we get to meet Gatsby at one of his parties Nick is invited to, it’s clear to see his wealth and power, but he also seems shy and very low key, Gatsby as the main character in the story, we learn all the traits and personalities of Gatsby’s private life and by the end of the novel we see his how willing and determined he is to achieve what he wants by being oblivious to everything else happening around him. It is a shame that we seem him change his ways right before his death. Because I believe Gatsby would be a much more likable Character once he had forgotten about Daisy.

Daisy: is in love with money, ease, and material luxury. She is capable of affection but not of sustained loyalty or care an example of this is when Gatsby leaves for the war instead of waiting for his return she marries Tom a wealthy, fit young man also showing us Daisys greed for money. In Fitzgerald’s idea of America in the 1920s, Daisy and her husband Tom represents the amoral values of East Egg.

2. Identify how each of the characters you have explored above presented the idea of illusion in the text. Describe how they concealed their true self from other characters in the novel. Explain what helped you uncover their illusion in the text.

Gatsby: Is the central illusionist in the novel conflicted by the illusion made by Daisy Buchanan about her true feelings and what she really wants this illusion blinds Mr Gatsby about everything around him not just being the illusionist but fixated on his on illusion of changing the past and having what he used to have “Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!” Gatsby expects Daisy to tell Tom she doesn’t love him anything anymore erasing all the past 5 years. It isn’t until the end of the novel that Gatsby realises he was chasing fairy tales and that his illusion was never going to become his reality.

Nick: Instead of being a character thats is an illusionist Nick is quite the opposite he sees reality. He can see how the extent of money and fame corrupts the people around him and changes how they see the world. we realise this when Nicks last words are to Gatsby “They’re a rotten crowd,”. “You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.

Daisy: creates the illusion for Gatsby

3. Describe 3 important relationships in the text. Explain how these relationships were presented as being false.

Nick and Jordan: Are seen to have a relationship with each other throughout the novel that is complicated and can be prorated as false by the reader The first few chapters when Nick and Jordan get introduced to each other seems like they get pulled together through the confusion between Daisy, Tom and Gatsby. Even with Nick having an entanglement with a girl back home (mentioned by Daisy at dinner) Nicks relationships with Jordan is unsatisfactory which Nick ends after Mrtyle and Gatsby death by saying “I’m thirty,” I said. “I’m five years too old to lie to myself and call it honour.” 

Daisy and Gatsby: Earlier in their lifetime it is said that Daisy and Gatsby have had a past relationship but 5 years past that Daisy is married and has a daughter yet still has feelings for Gatsby and vice verse. Their relationship gets carried away that Daisy is the last thing Gatsby needs to complete his American dream and is willing to do anything for it, we know this as Gatsby coerces Daisy into telling Tom that she does not love him. Which results in his death after taking the blame for the murder of Myrtle. Daisy and Gatsbys relationship is seen upon as a crisis or tragedy as it is the main relationship in the novel.

Tom and Myrtle: Neither Myrtle’s relationship with Tom or Gatsby’s deep desire for Daisy can drive a wedge between the couple. Despite everything that occurs during the summer, Tom and Daisy end the novel just like they began it: careless, restless, and yet, firmly united. Showing us that the power of old money is stronger than their love.