The protagonist in "The Great Gatsby" is Jay Gatsby himself. Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this classic novel is set in the Jazz Age of the 1920s and explores themes of wealth, social status, and the American Dream. Gatsby is a mysterious and affluent man who throws lavish parties in hope of rekindling a past romance with Daisy Buchanan. His relentless pursuit of love and the idealized version of his life culminates in tragic consequences, making him an iconic figure in American literature. Gatsby's story serves as a critique of the era's moral decadence and the elusive nature of dreams.