Appearance Vs. Reality In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Many individuals are victims of having profound admiration for someone only to find out later that their admiration is a staggering illusion, and the person is not who they reveal themselves to be. It is believed that covering up personal truths is a tactic to gain an undeserving appreciation, however, it eventually destroys relationships and trust. This certain predicament is thoroughly prevalent in both the modern-day and literary worlds. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, author F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the theme of appearance vs. reality to prove that even the most respected people are not who they are depicted to be. The novel is set in the early 1920s and provides insight into the twisted lives of wealthy Long Island inhabitants told through

reality is through the marriage of Tom and Daisy Buchanan. When the reader is first introduced to Tom and Daisy, they are defined as a rich and glamorous couple who appear to be fairly satisfied with one another as they host dinners and present themselves as a loving husband and wife to others. The two are shown to be living in a sumptuous estate located right in East Egg, an old money consumed sector of New York’s Long Island. Keeping this information in mind, it is assumed that the Buchanans are content with their marriage and status of wealth. Although this assumption is somewhat valid on Daisy’s part, Tom tends to find that the unification lacks the excitement and control he so desperately craves. These unreasonable needs lead him to commit adulterous acts against his wife. Tom introduces Nick to his mistress: “‘I want you to meet my girl’” (Fitzgerald 13). Tom’s decisions to perform unfaithful acts with another woman and openly introduce her to Nick, Daisy’s cousin, show the lack of respect and love he has for his spouse, which contradicts how the couple is first illustrated. Despite the fact that Tom’s rendezvous seems to be the main reason for the reader's misconception of the pair, it is later revealed that Daisy does not marry Tom for reasons most believed. Nick recalls stories of her past, explaining that Daisy ultimately longed for stability and wealth when selecting a possible suitor. Tom Buchanan sells her on the decision to wed him because he possesses the materialistic cloak of safety that she tends to lean towards to guarantee her a secure future. However, her choice in choosing Tom does not hold an emotional connection, isolating them from each other spiritually and opposing the idea of the two being in an affectionate relationship. Tom’s constant demand for power and unfamiliar presences, as well as Daisy’s misguided attraction to Tom, perfectly object the first impressions of