The Importance Of Love In The Great Gatsby

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Do you define your love for someone off of how much you think they love you? In Tom and Daisy’s relationship, they love each other, but Tom repeatedly has sexual interactions with other women. In the beginning of The Great Gatsby, Daisy was in love with Gatsby, but when Gatsby left to go into the military and she met Tom during his absence. The above-average man during this time period was able to have affairs with other women and not get called out for it due to the lack of right women had at this time. The wives of these men would stay because that’s the acceptable option to choose for their social class. On the other hand, if a woman during this time period had an affair, it would be viewed as being selfish. Tom has multiple affairs because he knows it is socially acceptable, Daisy will not leave him, and even if Daisy wanted to leave him she would not as it is not acceptable in society. Tom is able to have affairs with other women without repercussions from his wife or friends. Because Tom has a surplus amount of money to cover up his affairs, he is able to sneak around whenever he wishes. In a particular chapter in the novel The Great Gatsby, Tom states that he wants Myrtle to visit him, “I want to see you, get on the next train.” (Fitzgerald 30). Furthermore, Tom wants Myrtle to visit the apartment he has in the city to show her how much he can offer her in return for her time. Later, Myrtle replies with, “I’ll meet you by the newsstand on the lower level.”