Similarities Between Daisy And Tom Walker And The Great Gatsby

Happiness is something humans have been pursuing for centuries. The quest for happiness is so cemented in the minds of human beings that it has been used as a method of control, and as a weapon against others. Humans are moths, ever drawn to the distant flame of joy. Over the past year I have learned much about this pursuit that has plagued humans for millennia. Pieces of literature like The Great Gatsby, Of Mice and Men and The Devil and Tom Walker all explore this pursuit in unique and diverse ways. The Great Gatsby features characters that repeatedly hurt and discard others in their own selfish pursuit of happiness, like Daisy and Tom Buchanan who “...smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness…”(9). Jay Gatsby, the main character, devotes his life to pursuing what he believes is the key to his happiness, Daisy Buchanan. Ultimately his offer is spurned, and the dream that the pursuit of happiness created crumbled, and broke Gatsby. He drifted around, searching for happiness, as Gatsby states himself, “You see I usually find myself among strangers because I drift

That's all you can ever remember is them rabbits" (38). George frequently admonishes Lennie, but he Lennie only wishes to hear about the farm. The farm is Lennie’s way to maintain hope. No matter how many times George snaps at him, he is always willing to return to get to the farm. Lennie even kills someone to maintain the dream of the farm, albeit accidentally. “Don’t you go yellin’,” he said, and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck.”(131). Lennie is trying to get this woman, Curley’s wife, to stay silent for fear of angering George and then not being able to keep the rabbits at their dream farm. This example of the pursuit of happiness is hopeful, but when the dream of happiness is put at risk, it hurts others in order to maintain its