Examples Of Love In The Great Gatsby

Throughout history, a proven fact is that love can make many people do things that they had never imagined they would. It can turn honest people in to liars and the righteous to thievery. Love, while it is a superb feeling, can lead individuals down a dark path. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fizgerald, there are many examples of how someone can bend their own moral values. Love seems to motivate some of the characters to act out of the ordinary.

Jay Gatsby has only had one love in his life. His dream of recapturing the heart of his only love, Daisy Buchanan, has lead him to back alley deals and bootlegging. While none of the characters directly acknowledge that he is a bootlegger, there are many times it is implied. He is often

called away during his own parties by mysterious callers. “…a butler hurried toward him with the information that Chicago was calling him on the wire.” (48) After Tom Buchanan pieces together that Gatsby is not all he seems to be, he makes the remark that “You can buy anything at a drug store nowadays.” (121) Jay Gatsby, who was a skilled an eager youth, had his judgment clouded by being in love with a woman.
Daisy Buchanan is a social debutant. During her life, she has known nothing but luxury and comfort. Tom Buchanan has been born into an enormous fortune and woos Daisy. She
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marries Tom and soon finds out that money can be a great comfort when a spouse is not.

Tom was not even present when their daughter was born. “Well, she was less than an hour old and Tom was God knows where.” (16-7) Although she has been across the globe, she is still haunted by all of the scandals that Tom has caused. “…that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful fool.” (17) Yet, she remains married to him. Daisy Buchanan has a love for wealth that overpowers any mental or physical abuse she receives from her husband.

George Wilson is an amicable man. He lives a simple life with his wife and lives in an apartment above his service station. When he discovers that his wife has been having an affair, he is heartbroken to the point of sickness. “I’ve been here too long. I want to get away. My wife and I want to go West.” (123) Tragically, shortly after the affair is brought to light, she is killed in a hit and run. George is destroyed with the grief of losing his wife. After learning who may have been guilty of the murder, George does not waste time to attain vengeance. “I’m one of these trusting fellas and I don’t think harm to nobody, but when I get to know a thing I know it.” (158-9) He shoots Gatsby then immediately shoots himself. George Wilson, a usually passive person, kills another human then commits suicide over the lost love of his

wife.
The loss of a loved one, the love of money, and the desire for another can be blinding. For Jay Gatsby, the love of a woman guided him to a life of crime. Daisy Buchanan give up happiness in her everyday life for her love of money. George Wilson is turned into a murderer. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fizgerald shows that no matter the gender or social class of the character, all are persuaded to do the unthinkable for love.