In my opinion, in the novel “The Great Gatsby” written by F. Scott Fitzgerald published in 1925, an intriguing character is Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is the object of Jay's (the mysterious millionaire that resides next to the narrator, Nick Carraway) affection, and the woman he devotes his whole life trying to get back. Though on the surface Daisy appears to be an illusion of innocence and beauty, throughout the novel it is evident that she is an ambiguous and complex character who may or may not be deserving of Jay's devotion for her. After Jay spent five years trying to get Daisy back, he discovers when they are finally reunited that she does not fit his expectations. For example: Jay expects Daisy to leave her current husband Tom Buchanan to …show more content…
be with him. Jay says to Tom: “She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except for me” but although her marriage with Tom was a marriage of convenience, Daisy falls in love with him and the security he provides for her and for the daughter she conceives with him. Even though she can be seen as materialistic for choosing Tom for his wealth and security, eventually Jay is wealthy enough that he can provide the same amount of security but Daisy still wants Tom which tells us that Daisy does love Tom as well as Jay and that she harbors an intense need to be loved. Daisy also leads Jay on, providing the notion that she will leave Tom and they will be together but when it comes time for her to finally be with him, she decides that she wants Tom over Jay. Daisy is also a very foolish character in her cousin Nick Carraway's (Daisy's cousin and Jays neighbor/friend) eyes. For example, he says: “She hesitated. Her eyes fell on Jordan and me with a sort of appeal, as though she realized at last what she was doing – as though she had never, all along, intended doing anything at all.” He also says: “But there was Jordan beside me, who, unlike Daisy, was too wise ever to carry well forgotten dreams from age to age.” Daisy talks about never have loving Tom but it is transparent to Nick that she doesn't mean what she is saying. When Daisy is describing her hopes for her daughter, Pammy, to Jordan and Nick, she says “I hope she'll be a fool – that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” This quote reveals a glimpse into Daisy's character. While Daisy is not a fool herself, she is largely a product of society and her social environment that doesn't value intelligence in women. Daisy seems to imply that girls who are physically attractive and simplistic have more fun and she often attempts to act this way. In order to circumvent her undying love for Jay Gatsby, she conforms to societies standards of American femininity in the 1920's. In my opinion, the main character Jay Gatsby is a very interesting and memorable character. At the beginning of the novel, Jay appears to be a very mysterious and wealthy young man who throws extravagant parties for no apparent reason. Throughout the novel, Nick Carraway discovers that Jay Gatsby was originally James Gatz and was born in North Dakota to a farming family. While Jay served in the war he met Daisy and fell in love with her, and used her loved as motivation to reinvent himself as Jay Gatsby using the parties and wealth to win her back. Nick says: “He had deliberately given Daisy a sense of security; he let her believe that he was a person from much of the same stratum as herself – that he was fully able to take care of her. As a matter of fact, he had no such facilities” Jay feels that the only way to win Daisy over is by creating a false life that is similar to her own.
From the five years, he gains millions of dollars from his dedication to winning Daisy to the point where he completely changes his identity. Nick states:
“So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end”
Jay lies about countless things in order to live a luxurious lifestyle and fit in to the lifestyle that Daisy would like.
In this novel, Jay is in between a fine line between love and lust and confuses the two of them. Jay and Daisy are said to be passionately in love but it is clear that Jay just wants to be in love that he puts love in to Daisy who is filled with empty promises, and who could never fill his expectations. For example, Nick says:
“There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams – not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion.”
He also says:
“I saw the expression of bewilderment had come back into Gatsbys face, as though a faint doubt had occurred to him as to the quality of his present
…show more content…
happiness” Jay had spent five years building up false expectations and hopes that he experiences emptiness and disappointment of Daisy not being the illusion he created. Jay and Daisy both know that Daisy cannot leave her husband, Tom Buchanan, but Jay convinces himself that she will leave Tom for him and they will end up together deeply in love. He is blinded by his infatuation for her and will not admit to himself that Daisy is not the love of his life as he once thought. Nick asks Jay for his own safety and says “He couldn't possibly leave Daisy until he knew what she was going to do. He was clutching at some lost hope and I couldn't bear to shake him free.” I think that “The Great Gatsby” is still considered to be a literary classic because it still relates to people in this day and age.
Jay Gatsby represents the American dream. He was a “nobody” who reinvented himself, transforming from poverty to immense wealth. F.Scott Fitzgerald captured the essence of the American spirit but also the American dreams destructive power and the price that's payed for that dream. This novel also captures the power of money to corrupt and let the wealthy elude from the consequences and affects of their actions which is still relevant almost 90 years later.
I think this novel was interesting and effective because of its relevance to this time period, today's generation and the next generations to come. The story explores dynamic economic and social environments and circumstances and its duplication of rudimentary conflict between accustomed sources of economic and cultural power and reinvention in almost all aspects of the American society. I think readers around the world could relate and identify with this book because of this concept, especially Americans, making it interesting for most readers. It's also interesting because of the exploration of success and failure, starting over again, the brutal sides of social politics and societies expectations in the 1920's and betrayal from people and ones ideals which are all still relevant
today.
Gatsby’s quest to acquire Daisy was enlarged by his colossal obsession with the idea of being reunited with her, until the time actually came in which something so simple as a tea date was all he asked for in order to meet her. The purpose of acquiring such wealth and an extravagant home seems so pointless when Gatsby decides to meet with Daisy in Nick’s underwhelming cabin. The extravagancy of his vision deeply contrasts the modesty of the acquisition of his goal in this case. This shows a different side of Gatsby and his visions on what he thought would happen when he reached his goal and what actually occurred. Gatsby starts to panic when his visions do not occur when Nick and Gatsby are sat in Nick’s home, waiting for Daisy, Gatsby argues “Nobody’s coming to tea. It’s too late...I can’t wait all day” Fitzgerald 85). Gatsby is clearly very antsy and nervous about seeing Daisy again. He was very deeply in love with her and after 5 long years of waiting to see her again and they are finally reunited. All of his plans will be put into action and all of this planning will make him terribly self conscious
I ran inside as if nothing would be stopping me. Gatsby, in all of his mysteriousness, and all of his thoughts, shrouded because of his love for me, is a wonderful man but he has only brought me more problems since we reunited.
Jay Gatsby is dishonest to himself to and those around him which ultimately leads to his failure. He lies about his past, his family, and his accomplishments in order to achieve his version of the American dream, which ...
had to. Daisy was really in love with Jay but because she felt like she had to
Its theme is far more complex than a simple love story. It tells about the corruption of the American dream, the broken promise of “equality for all” and the fact that you can’t be “whatever you want”. The novel is concerned with Jay Gatsby’s life, who is the protagonist of the story and perhaps American’s literature most powerful character.Gatsby lives a luxurious life in west Egg, we learn about his glamorous parties full of drinks and people from everywhere! But all this is just a facade that hides what Gatsby really is- a simple man in love. It seems that years ago Gatsby had fallen in love with a golden-haired girl named daisy. However, he wasn’t always rich and wealthy there was a time when he was poor and had nothing. This was the reason he lost the love of his life, and now does everything only to gain it back.
One of the traits of Gatsby that makes him truly great is his remarkable capacity for hope. He has faith that what he desires will come to him if he works hard enough. He does not comprehend the cruelty and danger that is the rest of the world. Gatsby, while a man of questionable morals, is as wide-eyed and innocent as a small child in his views of the world. These ideals are evident in Nick’s narration and in the words spoken by the other characters, including Gatsby himself.
Jay Gatsby is certainly great in the eyes of Nick, but there are also traces of suspicion in Gatsby’s work. Nick, the narrator, thinks that Gatsby was “all right”, but some of his actions rose some questions in Nicks mind (2). Many phone calls made Nick think that he got his money dishonestly. Some of the facts that Gatsby said about himself contradicted each other. Most of what Nick thought about Gatsby was that he was a good man and was indeed ‘great’, but he could not dismiss the fact that there were a lot of reasons for suspicion.
Similarly, The Great Gatsby is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, who plays with the idea of whether the American Dream is attainable. He projects the American Dream during the roaring twenties with the character named Jay Gatsby. Gatsby strives for the American Dream. He captures everything a wealthy man could possibly own.
Jay Gatsby’s dream became corrupted by money and dishonesty. Gatsby’s obsession with wealth and social standing defined his greatness. Ironically, it was this perceived importance which became his downfall. He gained money and social riches, and the obsession with Daisy continued. Gatsby presents an image of a classy, fun-loving and generous man, but in reality, he is lonely, vulnerable and unhappy. He even felt it necessary to make up his entire identity. Gatsby’s dream of life with Daisy is beyond his reach and unattainable.
Jay Gatsby believes that wealth and power can lead to love and happiness. He spends his entire life trying to create himself and change his past so that he can rekindle his love affair with the love of his life Daisy Buchanan. The two were young lovers, unable to be together because of very different social statuses. After Gatsby learns that he cannot be with Daisy because of this, he spends the rest of his life attempting to acquire wealth and power.
Daisy Buchanan, in reality, is unable to live up the illusory Daisy that Gatsby has invented in his fantasy. After Daisy and Tom Buchanan leave another one of Gatsby’s splendid parties, Fitzgerald gives the reader a glimpse into what Gatsby’s expectations are. Fitzgerald claims that “he wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: ‘I never loved you.’” (109). Here it is revealed that Gatsby’s one main desire is for Daisy to go willingly...
The Great Gatsby presents the main character Jay Gatsby, as a poor man who is in love with his best friends cousin, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby was in love with Daisy, his first real love. He was impressed with what she represented, great comfort with extravagant living. Gatsby knew he was not good enough for her, but he was deeply in love. “For a moment a phrase tried to take shape in my mouth and my lips parted like a dumb man’s”(Fitzgerald 107). Gatsby could not think of the right words to say. Daisy was too perfect beyond anything he was able to think of. Soon Gatsby and Daisy went their separate ways. Jay Gatsby went into the war while telling Daisy to find someone better for her, someone that will be able to keep her happy and provide for her. Gatsby and Daisy loved one another, but he had to do what was best for her. Gatsby knew the two might not meet again, but if they did, he wanted things to be the same. “I 'm going to fix everything just the way it was before”(Fitzgerald 106). He wanted Daisy to fall in love with him all over again. Unsure if Daisy would ever see Gatsby again, she got married while he was away. The two were still hugely in love with one another, but had to go separate ways in their
F. Scott Fitzgerald the author of "The Great Gatsby" reveals many principles about today's society and the "American dream." One of the biggest fears in today's world is the fear of not fitting into society. People of all age groups and backgrounds share this fear. Many individuals believe that to receive somebody's affection, they must assimilate into that person's society. In the story, Jay Gatsby pursues the American dream and his passions to be happy to only come to a tragedy and total loss. The author illustrates through the characters that the search of wealth, love, or fame or going after the past ideals may not lead to true happiness.
Jay has sunk thousands of dollars into making his dream a reality, And now he is finally attempting to make his past dream a reality. To Jay’s dismay, he finally realizes that Daisy is not in love with him, or Tom, but instead is in love with their money and lifestyle. While Nick, Jay, Tom, Daisy, and Jordan are packing for a day on the town, Nick and Jay finally realize Daisy’s true nature. Fitzgerald writes, “‘Her voice is full of money,’ (Jay) said suddenly.” (120) After this realization, Jay still attempts to get Daisy back from Tom. Jay and Tom start arguing and Jay is angered to the point that he tells of his and Daisy’s affair. Fitzgerald writes, “‘ Your wife doesn 't love you,’ said Gatsby. ‘She’s never loved you. She loves me.’” (130) Jay and Daisy leave together and Jay lets Daisy drive. Daisy, in a bizarre accident, hits and kills Tom 's mistress, Myrtle. Myrtle’s husband is told by Tom that it was Jay driving, so in an act of revenge he kills Jay, and then
One can easily view Daisy as a victim. Fitzgerald distinctly exposes Daisy’s need for stability, which, according to Fitzgerald, or perhaps the mentality of the time period, can only be found in a man. “Her need for stability was immediate, and she attempted to satisfy that need through something tangible, something close at hand” (Fryer 51).... ... middle of paper ...