1. Describe the main characters and what they seem to want out of life. If you are reading nonfiction, who are the most important people involved in the events of the book, and what do they seem to want? Finally, if the book has no main characters, describe the main forces that are moving the events of the story forward. (any story)

Since you said any story, I will use the novel "The Great Gatsby", by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Answer and Explanation:

Jay Gatsby - the main character. Gatsby wants it all - wealth, fame, love. But there are two driving forces that will lead to his ruin. First, he wants to be accepted by the rich as one of them. However, he is "new money". He has not inherited his wealth or name, which makes him "less than" in the eyes of the wealthy. Also, he has made his money criminally. That too is a reason for his shunning. Second, Gatsby wants Daisy's love, but he demands it in an impossible way. He wants her to tell her husband that she has never loved him. Gatsby wants to recreate the past, to pretend Daisy and him were never separated. The impossibility of those dreams will cause his death.

Nick Carraway - the narrator, Gatsby's neighbor, Daisy's cousin. Nick is driven by his ability to refrain from judging people too soon. That is a quality he learned from his father. He abstains from judging, which allows people to befriend and trust him, like Gatsby does. However, that ends up involving him in several inconvenient situations. Nick often finds himself witness to people's affairs and vices.

Daisy Buchanan - Gatsby's love interest, Tom's wife. Daisy is superficial. She and her husband Tom are "old money", meaning they inherited their names and wealth. Daisy is deeply unhappy but conceals such feeling under a façade of fun, lightness, disinterest. That façade is what drives her, compels her to act. She depends on other people's company and on parties and social events to distract her from her senseless life.

Tom Buchanan - a former polo player, and very wealthy, Tom is used to having everything he wants in life. Racist and misogynistic, Tom cheats on Daisy. What drives him is the sense of power he derives from his actions. Every affair, every woman, every friend and social event server the purpose of making Tom feel better about himself. He sees himself as stronger, superior, and he will do anything to justify that.