FREE ESSAY ON GATSBY

GATSBY

The Great Gatsby
Why did Daisy choose Tom in the end??? In the novel The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan was
faced with an enormous decision. She had to choose between Tom; her husband and Jay
Gatsby; her lover. Gatsby seemed to be the ideal man of his time. Fabulously wealthy,
handsome, charismatic and intriguing, he seemed to be able to offer everything a woman
could want. All he wanted in return was Daisy's complete unconditional love. Tom, on the
other hand could offer Daisy money, security and freedom. Ultimately Daisy chose the
latter. The roaring 20's was an era of total decadence. The first World War had ended and
industry was booming. People were becoming millionaires overnight. There seemed to be no
end in sight to the prosperity. Although people were becoming rich quickly, old money
provided more privilege than new money. Tom Buchanan came from old money. He was a
Westerner who was renowned in college for both his football skills and his supremely
decadent lifestyle. The narrator states His family were enormously wealthy, even in
college his freedom with money was a matter for reproach-but now he'd left Chicago and
come East in a fashion that rather took your breath away: for instance, he brought down a
string of polo ponies from Lake Forest. Daisy chose to marry Tom because of his wealth
and power. Fitzgerald writes There was a wholesome bulkiness about his person and his
position and Daisy was flattered. He could offer Daisy prestige in addition to all the
old money one could dream of. Gatsby had made his money by illegal means. He was a nobody
from nowhere and although he was rich beyond belief, he was one of the hundreds of
nouveau riche who lacked the cache of the old money set. Although Gatsby could offer
Daisy romance, love, excitement and intrigue, her need for security freedom and money
made her eventually choose Tom. In terms of security, Tom could offer much more than
Gatsby. Tom's old money could offer Daisy prestige and social position whereas Gatsby's
money was quickly and somewhat questionably earned. Everyone including Daisy realized
that it could be just as quickly lost. Tom states I found out what your drug-stores were.
He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here in Chicago and sold
grain alcohol over the counter . Tom also said That drug-store business was just small
change but you've got something on now that Walter's afraid to tell me about. This proves
that Gatsby's money was achieved through corrupt means and his lack of position would
leave him vulnerable to prosecution if he were to be caught. On the other hand, Daisy and
Tom's elite position in society enabled them to get away with murder. They were able to
move away and start anew after hitting Myrtle in the car. Due to the wealth and power of
Tom and Daisy, they were able to live with a substantial amount of freedom. They were
able to tear apart the lives of people and move on without as much as a backward glance.
Nick's judgment of them was They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-they smashed up
things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness,
or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they
had made. Daisy's selection of Tom over Gatsby afforded a somewhat unorthodox freedom.
Tom had many mistresses but always returned to Daisy. He said Once in a while I go off
and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the
time. Daisy also loved the luxury of having both a husband and a lover but Gatsby would
not allow it. He wanted all of her and she could not give that to him. She said Oh, you
want too much. I love you now- isn't that enough. Although Gatsby could have offered
Daisy a variety of things such as romance, love and excitement, she ultimately chose Tom
because of her selfishness. She grew up with old money, security and freedom and was not
willing to give it all up for love. I believe that the author chose the name Daisy
because Daisy in Latin means the day's eye or the sun and everything revolves around the
sun. Daisy does not care about anyone else and she believes that everything revolves
around her!
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitsgerald, is about the American Dream, and the
downfall of those who attempt to reach its imaginative goals. The attempt to capture the
American Dream is common in many novels. This dream is different for fidderent people,
but in The Great Gatsby, for Jay, the dream is that through wealth and power, one can
acquire happiness. To get this happiness Jay must reach into the past and relive an old
dream and in order to do this he must have wealth and power. Jay Gatsby, the main
character of the story , is a character who longs for the past. Suprisingly he devotes
most of his adult life trying to recapture it and, finally, dies in its pursuit. In the
past, Jay had a love affair with the extravagant Daisy. Knowing he could not marry her
because of the difference in their social status, he leaves her to obtain wealth to reach
her high standards. Once he acquires this wealth, he moves near to Daisy, Gatsby bought
that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay, and throws extravagant parties,
happen,he asks around casually if anyone knows her. Soon he meet Nick Carraway, a cousin
of Daisy, who agrees to set up a meeting, He wants to know... if you'll invite Daisy, who
agrees to set up a meeting, He wants to know...if you'll invite Daisy to your house some
afternoon and then let him come over. Gatsby's personal dream symbolizes the larger
American Dream where all have the opportunity to get what they want. Later, as we see in
the Plaza Hotel, Jay still believes that Daisy loves him. He is convinced of this as is
shown when he takes the blame for Myrtle's death. Was Daisy driving? Yes...but of course
I'll say I was. He also watches and protects Daisy as she returns home. How long are you
going to wait? All night if necessary. Jay cannot accept that the past is gone and done
with. Jay is sure that he can capture his dream with wealth and influence. He believes
that he acted for a good beyond his personal interest and that should guarantee success.
Nick attempts to show Jay the folly of his dream, but Jay innocently replies to Nick's
assertion that the past cannot be relived by saying Yes you can, old sport. This shows
the confidence that Jay has in fulfilling his American Dream. For Jay, his American Dream
is not material possessions, although it may seem that way. He only comes into riches so
that he can fulfill his true American Dream, Daisy. Gatsby doesn't rest until his
American Dream is finally fulfilled. However, it never comes about and he ends up paying
the ultimate pirce for it. The idea of the American Dream still holds true in today's
time , be it wealth, love, or fame. But one thing never changes about the American Dream;
everyone desires something in life, and everyone, somehow, strives to get it. Gatsby is a
prime example of pursuing the American Dream.
Symbolism in the Great Gatsby