Can History Repeat Itself In The Great Gatsby

“History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done,” (Sydney J. Harris, 1986). History can repeat itself and is likely to repeat itself, especially if it is encouraged. In chapter six of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby have a misunderstanding of what they believe can happen in the future. “Nick says to Gatsby, ‘I wouldn’t ask too much of her...You can’t repeat the past.’ Gatsby answers, ‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously, ‘Why of course you can!’” (Fitzgerald, 116). I believe that history can and will repeat itself in most ways, but only if it is allowed by both parties. Jay Gatsby believes that he and Daisy can have the same relationship they once had before he left to go into the war; however, Nick Carraway believes that too much has changed and that they can not possibly get back together and have the same relationship they had many years before. I can see both points of view, but I ultimately believe that if Daisy and Mr. Gatsby really wanted to be with one another, they would manage to get together,

She’s asleep. She’s two years old. Haven’t you ever seen her?” (Fitzgerald, 14). This informs the reader that Daisy and Tom, a seemingly normal husband and wife at the time, must have a baby girl. What we didn’t know until we really got deeper into the novel, was that Tom has a woman in New York. He has been having an affair with her for sometime now. They have an apartment together, and he even bought Myrtle, the woman he has been having the affair with, a dog: “It’s a bitch,’ said Tom decisively. ‘Here’s your money. Go and buy ten more dogs with it,” (Fitzgerald, 32). This affair that Tom seems so serious about should be a deal breaker for Daisy, but divorce was rarely ever an option during their time. It was very highly frowned