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The Library
of Alexandria

A character in The Great Gatsby

Who is Daisy Buchanan?

By the Library of Alexandria · 2 minute read · Updated 23 oct 2026

In short

  • Daisy Buchanan is Nick's charming cousin and Tom's wife in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
  • She lives among the established rich of East Egg, across the bay from Gatsby's mansion.
  • Her voice and manner draw Gatsby toward a dream of recovering their shared past.

Who Daisy Buchanan is

Daisy Buchanan lives with her husband, Tom, in East Egg, where older wealth carries a quiet social authority. She is light, playful and charming, with a voice that seems to promise excitement to anyone listening.

When Nick visits, her bright manner does not fully hide the unease in her marriage. She knows Tom has another woman, though she continues to smile through an uncomfortable dinner.

Daisy Buchanan and the others in the story

Daisy is Nick Carraway's cousin, and Nick becomes the link between her and his mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby. At Gatsby's request, Nick invites her to tea without telling Tom about the meeting.

Their reunion begins awkwardly, but the strain eases when Nick leaves them alone together. Gatsby's devotion reaches beyond Daisy herself toward an image of her that he has built over years.

What Daisy Buchanan wants

Daisy is drawn toward comfort and safety, values shaped by a life protected by inherited wealth. She can show warmth and strong feeling, yet Gatsby's glittering parties leave her cold rather than delighted.

Her response exposes a distance between Gatsby's hopes and the woman he wants to impress. Through Daisy, the novel explores how charm and feeling can exist alongside carelessness and the protection of money.

Questions

Who is Daisy Buchanan married to?

Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, a wealthy former football star with a domineering manner.

How is Daisy related to Nick Carraway?

Daisy is Nick's cousin, and he arranges her reunion with Gatsby at his cottage.

Why is Daisy important to Gatsby?

Daisy is the person around whom Gatsby builds his hopes. He wants not only to renew their connection, but also to recover the past.

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