Examples Of Infidelity In The Great Gatsby
How similar are an arrogant, wealthy man, a poor mechanic's wife, and a Southern beauty? Although seemingly different, all three of F. Scott Fitzgerald's characters practice infidelity throughout The Great Gatsby. By choosing his theme and character development carefully, the author proves that infidelity pertains to no specific types of people or social classes in the novel. Fitzgerald consciously and effectively combines the theme of unfaithfulness with the character development of Tom, Daisy, and Myrtle throughout The Great Gatsby.
Fitzgerald's narrator depicts Tom as a spoiled rich man from the beginning of the novel; "His family were enormously wealthy- even in college his freedom with money was a matter of reproach..." (6). Because of this wealth, Daisy "married Tom Buchanan without so much as a shiver" (76). But despite his comfortable lifestyle and his loving wife Daisy, Tom deliberately searches for more. When Jordan confesses, "...Tom's got some woman in New York" (15) the author directly depicts Tom as a cheater. Fitzgerald establishes his theme of unfaithfulness in Tom, the rich man, but continues the theme with other types of characters as well. …show more content…
When Daisy "...went over to Gatsby and pulled his face down, kissing him on the mouth" (116) just as Tom left the room, she blatantly abandons her poise and self-control, and establishes herself as a cheater as well. Nick describes Daisy's charming nature at the beginning of the novel, "[She] held my hand for a moment, looking up into my face, promising that there was no one in the world she so much wanted to see. That was the way she had" (8-9), yet by the climax of the story, Daisy's infidelity proves to the reader that unfaithfulness pertains to even the most unexpected. Fitzgerald characterizes Daisy in a much more positive way than Tom, yet both married people cheat on their
Fitzgerald's narrator depicts Tom as a spoiled rich man from the beginning of the novel; "His family were enormously wealthy- even in college his freedom with money was a matter of reproach..." (6). Because of this wealth, Daisy "married Tom Buchanan without so much as a shiver" (76). But despite his comfortable lifestyle and his loving wife Daisy, Tom deliberately searches for more. When Jordan confesses, "...Tom's got some woman in New York" (15) the author directly depicts Tom as a cheater. Fitzgerald establishes his theme of unfaithfulness in Tom, the rich man, but continues the theme with other types of characters as well. …show more content…
When Daisy "...went over to Gatsby and pulled his face down, kissing him on the mouth" (116) just as Tom left the room, she blatantly abandons her poise and self-control, and establishes herself as a cheater as well. Nick describes Daisy's charming nature at the beginning of the novel, "[She] held my hand for a moment, looking up into my face, promising that there was no one in the world she so much wanted to see. That was the way she had" (8-9), yet by the climax of the story, Daisy's infidelity proves to the reader that unfaithfulness pertains to even the most unexpected. Fitzgerald characterizes Daisy in a much more positive way than Tom, yet both married people cheat on their