Jay Gatsby; The White Knight Fighting for the Fair Maiden

Jay Gatsby;

The White Knight Fighting for the Fair Maiden

Courtly love is a fundamental metaphor of Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, and, therefore, the elusive Jay Gatsby plays out his role as a courtly lover throughout the novel. Gatsby’s abnormal situation with Daisy reflects the metaphor of courtly love. Many of the characteristics used to define courtly love are reflected in Gatsby’s actions. Every choice that he makes is an attempt to win Daisy’s love, however unworthy of it she proves to be. He and Daisy’s relationship reflects the way that knights had to prove that they were cultivated to win a woman, as well as abiding to the adulterous aspect of courtly love, and being an example of the many times the “white knight” dies for their love.

In order to achieve courtly love, a knight at the bottom of the noble hierarchy has to prove that he is well educated and cultivated as well as a good warrior. As a young man, Gatsby “accepted a commission as first lieutenant”(65). By accepting a position in the army, he shows Daisy that he is a strong warrior. He demonstrates that he is a modern-day knight, who acts as a warrior for a good cause. As well as being a good soldier, Gatsby is an “Oxford man” (49). When he tells people that he is an alumni of Oxford, he is trying to show off the fact that he is well educated. He wants people to know that he is refined, and cultured as well as being intelligent. He longs to prove that he is worthy of Daisy and worthy of her love. Soon, Gatsby moves to West Egg with his newly accumulated wealth and “[buys] that house so that Daisy [will] be just across the bay”(78). Gatsby starts getting involved in business with people like Meyer Wolfsheim, who are not exactly chivalrous, so that he can amas...

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...ct of chivalry, dying for his love, however unworthy she is of it. Daisy proves completely unworthy of Gatsby’s love when she does not even make an appearance at his funeral.

Throughout The Great Gatsby courtly love is drawn as the central metaphor. From the time that James Gatz turns into Jay Gatsby the metaphor is portrayed through the various intimacies that Gatsby experiences with Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby starts his life at the bottom of the hierarchy of wealth and uses his experiences to prove that he is accomplished and educated enough to be worthy of Daisy. The relationship that he and Daisy share also reflects the adulterous aspect of courtly love that was despised by many in the early centuries. Gatsby does prove himself to be worthy of a wealthy woman who is towards the top of the hierarchy of wealth, but he finds Daisy to be unworthy of his striving.