Pamela ”Pammy“ Buchanan is a minor character of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby. She is the daughter of Tom and Daisy Buchanan, and cousin removed of Nick Carraway.
In the 1974 movie, Pammy plays a slightly larger role and appears more frequently. She appears in the scene that Fitzgerald wrote in the novel. She's seen in the added scene of the movie where she throws a fit because her nanny is making her wear a dress, she sobs to her mother but her mother is distracted by the fact that she killed George Wilson's wife (Myrtle) and he's at their house with a gun. She's also seen at the very end of this movie in an added scene when Nick meets up with Buchanan's once again when he wants to confront them about their actions.
In the 2013 movie, Pammy does not appear where she should in the house but she appears at the end of the movie, while the staff pack the house, she asks her mother where they are going.
Role[]
Although Pammy is rarely referenced in the novel, Daisy recounts that when Pammy was born and was told the baby was a girl she said:
"All right...I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."
Pammy did appear in the novel, towards the end when her parents, Gatsby, Jordan and Nick are all at the house on the hottest day of the year. She comes in with her nanny and Daisy flaunts her and asks if she likes her friends. Pammy responds and then her nanny takes her away.
Representation[]
Pammy most likely represents a younger version of Daisy. Daisy wishes that her baby girl will be a fool like her so she ends up married and well off with a rich man. She also wants her daughter to be a fool so she is protected. She is taken care by a nurse rather than Daisy herself.
Pammy reminds Gatsby of how much time has passed and that Daisy does have another life. She might tarnish the vision he had of Daisy, realizing that she is married and a mother. Pammy was not part of Gatsby's vision and Gatsby wishes for Daisy to leave her behind, despite Daisy's affection and fondness for her daughter.
Trivia[]
- Pammy was portrayed by three different child actresses in the 2013 film.
- It is unknown is she had any idea about her mother’s previous affiliations with Gatsby.
- She is the only prominent child character in the story/films.