Similarities Between Gatsby And Blanche Dubois

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness” (Martin Luther King, Jr.). This quote pertains to the characters Jay Gatsby and Blanche Dubois. Jay Gatsby is a charming dreamer who lives a corrupted flamboyant life in The Great Gatsby by F. Scoot Fitzgerald. In Tennessee Williams’ play, Streetcar Named Desire Blanche Dubois is a teacher who is lost, confused, and conflicted while living in her own fantasy world. Jay Gatsby is the architect of his own tragic life however Blanche Dubois is destroyed by the world in which she lives. She is more sinned against than sinned. Gatsby initiates an affair with his untimely love Daisy Buchanan who is now married. He knowingly

and willingly takes the blame for the death of Myrtle though Daisy is responsible which leads to his death. He takes advantage and lies to everyone in his life. Blanche Dubois is surrounded by death leaving her traumatized for life. While visiting her sister she experiences emotional and physical abuse from her brother in law Stanley Kowalski. It is evident that Jay Gatsby responsible for his tragic life while Blanche Dubois is destroyed by her surrounding life.

Gatsby is a man who becomes successful through the illegal business of bootlegging. He lives in west egg the “less fashionable” (Fitzgerald, 5) side of long island. he lives and an exceptional mansion right across from his love Daisy Buchanan. Throughout the novel we can see that it is clear that Gatsbys intentions are to be with Daisy. he makes friends with his new neighbor Nick Carraway, who also, is Daisy Buchanan cousin. Gatsby becomes real friendly with Nick and invites him to a party. Nick the only invited guest becomes confused, but gatsbys intentions become clear when Nick meets Jordan at the party. Jordan tells nick “…Gatsby doesn’t want her to know. You’re supposed just supposed to invite her to tea” (Fitzgerald, ). Gatsby strategically tells Jordan to speak with Nick, manipulualting nick to meet with daisy. after being confronted about the plan Gatsby “doesn’t want [doesn’t] want to put [Nick] to any trouble” (Fitzgerald, 82), as they continue to talk nick accepts to participate in the plan, gastby offers money to nick, nick taking offence to this states he will do this as a kind gesture “for a service to be rendered” (Fitzgerald, 83). Showing that Gatsby is clearly using Nick from himself since he is offers nick money to meet with daisy.

After the party, nick makes the plans for daisy and him ot meet for tea.

After daisy arrives Gatsby walks in, nick then leaves the two alone. Both being very neverous and awkward, daisy began to cry and “a new well-being radiated from [Gatsby] and filed the little room”(fitzgerald,89). They began to talk as if nothing happen, both becoming joyful and happy. Gatsby achieves his wishes; he and daisy are together once again and believes he has started to win her back. Gatsby beginning to interfere with Daisy marriage with Tom invites the two to one of his parties. As the two arrive Gatsby begins to introduce the couple to many rich people, trying to impress daisy. he then asks her to dance, tom observing them, deamnds to know “who [Gatsby] is and what he does” (fitzgerald, 108). Showing publically that Gatsby has great affection towards Daisy, spiking an intreast to tom. After the party is over, nick and gastby talk about the events; Gatsby tells nick that he wishes daisy to tell tom that she never truly loved tom. Nick states that “you cant repeat the past,” to which Gatsby replies, “why of course you can” (Fitzgerald, 110). Gatsby is unable to face the truth causing him to be blind, leaving him to see and illusion where there is true love between Daisy and

himself.

Tom confronts Gatsby about his relationship with Daisy; when is comes time for daisy to choose between Tom or Gatsby, she states “ I did love him once-but I loved you too” (fitzgerald, 132). After hearing this Gatsby is heartbroken since he thought they were in love he wish she said she loved him. Gatsby living in an illisoun doesn’t believe what she has said to be true and still fights with tom. Daisy becomes overwhelmed with emotion from the fighting and wishes to be taken home, tom insist that she should go home with Gatsby. Driving home myrtle Wilson, the woman tom was having an affair with, believes tom is driving and runs put infront of the car; Dasiy driving the car who is upset does not stop and kills myrtle. After arriving home nick again speaks to Gatsby about the current events that have taken place. Conversing over the problem nick learns thay Gatsby has taken the blame for Daisy; convincing himself daisy did not mean to do it, she only drove because “she was nervous and thought it would steady her” (Fitzgerald, 143), He takes the blame for the death in hope of getting daisy to love him once again, though he has lost her to tom. Gerorge Wilson, husband of myrtle, losing his mind and morning his wifes death believes Gatsby has killed his wife. As a result, wilsion kills Gatsby. Gastby is responsible for his own death, he is blinded by love, acts unjust, and faces death for his actions.