Theme: Hope/Disillusionment
Question: What does Gatsby want Daisy to do?
Quotation: #5
Jay Gatsby is a mysterious man; no one really knows where he came from, where he got his money, or why he hosts parties that he never enjoys. Nick is finally informed by Jordan that his purpose for all of these things is to be reunited with his long lost love, Daisy. Gatsby has obsessed over meeting her again for years. All the money and the parties have all been an attempt to catch Daisy's eye. When he finally learns Jordan and Nick know Daisy, he wants them to help him see Daisy again. Nick invites Daisy to tea at his house, she doesn’t know it but he’s also arranged for Gatsby to come as well. The two meet again and within hours the old flame appears to be rekindled. Daisy is taken will Gatsby’s new wealth; she even cries when she sees all of his “beautiful shirts”. Nick notices Daisy's reactions, and Gatsby's reactions to Daisy's reactions. Gatsby seems to seek the approval of Daisy on all of his possessions. This visit with Daisy sparks hope in Gatsby; he thinks maybe she is still in love with him, as he is with her. After much secret time spent together, Gatsby is convinced Daisy is in love with him and not Tom. After a lunch at the Buchanan's house, Daisy suggests they all travel to New York. Tom begin to realize Daisy's attraction to Gatsby when she and Gatsby take a separate car, leaving Nick, Jordan and Tom riding together. In New York Tom finally confronts Gatsby; Daisy tries to get him to calm down but he responds ,"I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife,". Gatsby can only think of one thing to say back to Tom and that is, "your wife doesn't love you!". Tom obviously argues this point until Gatsby asks Daisy to say she doesn't love her husband. Eventually, with some reluctance, Daisy says it. This is what Gatsby has dreamed of for years: Daisy. "He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: 'I never loved you.'" However, all of this progress Gatsby thinks he's made with Daisy is merely hope. He can only hope Daisy loves him, there is no guarantee. Later we learn, that after all of this, Daisy really does love Tom. All of Gatsby's perseverance has in turn, pushed Daisy away.
1 comment:
Gatsby is defined by hope--and by his desire to deny time itself. He wants to turn back the clock and recapture what he had five years ago, and the glory of his character is that he never stops believing he can do this.
Dr. No
Post a Comment