Examples Of Obsessive Love In The Great Gatsby

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Despite being one of the most powerful emotions, the definition of love cannot be encompassed in one, singular statement. However, it can be said that love is a fundamental life force experienced by all beings, humans and animals alike. The complexity of love can be explained by the fact that there are many different types of love that exist. Romantic love is characterized by feelings of desire and affection between two people. Parental love highlights the protective, caring relationship shared by parent and child. Platonic love is the supportive, closely-knit connection that occurs among friends. While love in all forms is beautiful, the nature of love can sometimes become obsessive, and fog all other thoughts that an individual has. This obsessiveness, in turn, can have disastrous effects on the individual and those around him or her. In literature, the obsessive love often serves as the central focus of books, short stories, plays, and poems. The Great …show more content…

Gatsby’s gestures for Daisy throughout the novel exhibit his unconscious struggle with obsessive love for her. Gatsby’s struggle can be seen in the sacrifices he makes for Daisy, which result in his ultimate downfall. A clear instance of sacrifice driven by Gatsby, occurs in the final chapters of the novel, when Gatsby takes the blame for hitting Myrtle, despite the fact that Daisy was the one who was driving. In conclusion, this essay has effectively examined the nature of obsessive love in The Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby’s obsessive love for Daisy serves to create conflict and thus, stimulate the narrative of the novel. Perhaps Fitzgerald’s intention was to comment on the dangers of overly-obsessive love as a warning to readers, encouraging them to examine the presence of love in their lives and ultimately ask the question, how much is too

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