Gatsby's Idealism

Throughout the entire story, Gatsby truly does possess an “extraordinary gift for hope” and a “romantic readiness” that seems to conquer all worldly cynicism and material corruption. Gatsby’s life’s goal is to return from the war and marry Daisy. Even though she is already married and has a family, Gatsby has the unwavering belief that Daisy will drop everything she has and join him. When he confronts Tom in the hotel room, he tells him that “You’re not going to take care of her anymore.” This shows that Gatsby has the romantic assumption that Daisy’s love for him will conquer her ties to her family and the material world, and she will be able to marry him. Gatsby “wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say, ‘I never loved you.’ After she had obliterated three years with that sentence they could decide upon the more practical measures to be taken.” Gatsby believes that he can “repeat the past” and live happily with Daisy without outside conflicts. At the end of the chapter, Gatsby waits outside of Daisy’s house to make sure she is not injured by Tom. In fact, Gatsby may be still clinging to the romantic hope that Daisy will run away from Tom. He fails to acknowledge that Daisy may have conflicting interests and may not be able to leave Tom. Gatsby idolizes Daisy throughout the entire novel, but Daisy seems to be unable to achieve these lofty ideals.