The Great Gatsby Daisy
The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald is a critique of American prosperity, and the endless drive for wealth brought on by the economic growth against the background of Long Island, New York City. The Great Gatsby critiques materialism and the new American Dream, no longer defined by prosperity for equality, but by prosperity for the goal of excess wealth. Nick Carraway, the protagonist, views Jay Gatsby’s disillusionment about Daisy Buchanan, the object of his affection. The tale is not a story about past lovers, but instead represents a cast of characters chasing the American Dream which destroys them. The theme suggests that Americans have created a second form of aristocracy that the original founding fathers tried to escape. Each character
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He is an eager and naive social climber who is driven, disillusioned with the glamour of old money, class and wealth. "It excited him, too, that many men had already loved Daisy — it increased her value in his eyes" (Fitzgerald 141). He does not love her, but merely obsesses over the thought of her, and uses her existence to drive old money to accept him. When Nick meets Gatsby, there are a plethora of holes throughout Gatsby’s childhood story that signal that Gatsby is nothing more than a farce, and social climber with an agenda to win Daisy back. Through dialogue, Gatsby reveals that in the last five years, Daisy has never left his mind. He resorts to illegal activities and deception to obtain Daisy Buchanan: “I was in the drug business, and then I was in the oil business. But I’m not in either one now” (Fitzgerald 97). Daisy Buchanan is the object of the Nick Carraway’s affection, and he spends his time avoiding the other socialites, yet makes an exception for Daisy which suggests that she is his on motivation for existence. Gatsby requests Nick to bring Daisy, and it becomes obvious to Carraway that everything that Gatsby achieved occurred with obtaining Daisy’s affection in mind. It is apparent to Nick that Jay Gatsby places Daisy’s approval on a pedestal so high that Nick worries that Gatsby will only disappoint himself. Although Gatsby is aware that Daisy is materialistic, he chooses to look past her flaws even when met with her weaknesses. Daisy Buchanan’s materialistic trait is revealed when she behaves enthralled by Gatsby’s material possessions. “They’re such beautiful shirts,” she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. “It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such—such beautiful shirts before” (Fitzgerald 92). The scene suggests that Daisy is overwhelmed that Gatsby is no longer the poor man she once knew. Daisy’s self-pity is apparent when she realizes that Gatsby is now
He is an eager and naive social climber who is driven, disillusioned with the glamour of old money, class and wealth. "It excited him, too, that many men had already loved Daisy — it increased her value in his eyes" (Fitzgerald 141). He does not love her, but merely obsesses over the thought of her, and uses her existence to drive old money to accept him. When Nick meets Gatsby, there are a plethora of holes throughout Gatsby’s childhood story that signal that Gatsby is nothing more than a farce, and social climber with an agenda to win Daisy back. Through dialogue, Gatsby reveals that in the last five years, Daisy has never left his mind. He resorts to illegal activities and deception to obtain Daisy Buchanan: “I was in the drug business, and then I was in the oil business. But I’m not in either one now” (Fitzgerald 97). Daisy Buchanan is the object of the Nick Carraway’s affection, and he spends his time avoiding the other socialites, yet makes an exception for Daisy which suggests that she is his on motivation for existence. Gatsby requests Nick to bring Daisy, and it becomes obvious to Carraway that everything that Gatsby achieved occurred with obtaining Daisy’s affection in mind. It is apparent to Nick that Jay Gatsby places Daisy’s approval on a pedestal so high that Nick worries that Gatsby will only disappoint himself. Although Gatsby is aware that Daisy is materialistic, he chooses to look past her flaws even when met with her weaknesses. Daisy Buchanan’s materialistic trait is revealed when she behaves enthralled by Gatsby’s material possessions. “They’re such beautiful shirts,” she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. “It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such—such beautiful shirts before” (Fitzgerald 92). The scene suggests that Daisy is overwhelmed that Gatsby is no longer the poor man she once knew. Daisy’s self-pity is apparent when she realizes that Gatsby is now