Tom and Daisy Buchanan seem to represent those who were considered to be old money: this means that they were born into money, that they have inherited their fortunes and do not have to work to earn them. Gatsby can be interpreted as representing those who were considered new money: this means that he, and others like him, have had to work for their fortunes themselves. Although new-moneyed individuals could earn as much or even more money than old-moneyed individuals inherited, they were somewhat lower on the social ladder because their fortunes were earned rather than passed down. We see this represented in the differences between East Egg, where the old money live, and West Egg, the "less fashionable of the two," according to Nick, because it is where the new money live.
George Wilson seems to represent those sympathetic individuals who are still trying to reach the American Dream, which the book presents as fantastic rather than realistic. He works hard, doing good honest work, but he simply cannot get ahead because other corrupt men seem to pull the strings of society.
The Great Gatsby, is known as a classic tale of money, power, love, betrayal, and loyalty. The characters throughout this story represent certain traits at given times, while still staying true to who they are at their core.
Jay Gatsby, the main character, represents the American Dream. Gatsby is determined to win back the love of his life, whom he met while he was a soldier, by becoming one within her social status. His humble beginnings eventually lead to a life of fortune, eventually turning him into a prominent host of outrageous parties for the elite. It seems as though each decision he makes, is driven by the hope of getting Daisy to notice him. Daisy comes across as a fairly shallow, naïve, yet somewhat charming socialite who enjoys her life of money, parties and status. She reunites with Gatsby, with the help of her cousin, and falls back in love with him. Nick Carraway, Daisy’s cousin, a salt of the earth type of guy, maintains his loyalty to his family and friends throughout the story. He preserves a somewhat hopeful outlook but grows more aware of his surroundings as the story unfolds. Daisy is actually married when she reunites with Gatsby. Her husband, Tom, is the antagonist of the novel. He’s vulgar, unfaithful, filthy rich, and unforgiving.
Each character brings their own unique story to The Great Gatsby, and it’s their ties with one another that lead to a devastating ending, resulting in betrayal and lies.
In thinking about what the characters in The Great Gatsby might "represent," it is important to remember that they are not mere symbols without any kind of human agency. That said, several characters are certainly representative of various themes or trends.
For example, both Tom and Daisy Buchanan can be seen as representative of old American wealth, as a portrait of the wasteful upper classes that come from money and that people like Jay Gatsby want to emulate. Alternatively, Gatsby is in many ways representative of the American Dream, in that he believes he can obtain the wealth and status of people like the Buchanans simply by working hard (he does, of course, break the law as well, which isn't necessarily a component of the American Dream). Thus, even if the characters cannot be reduced to mere symbols, they definitely represent trends and themes that are integral to Fitzgerald's story.
Ultimately, it is the collision of these themes, of the new wealth of Gatsby and the old wealth of the Buchanans, that acts as one catalyst for the disastrous events at the end of the book.
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