Gatsby and Daisy: Love or Ambition in Fitzgerald's Narrative?
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Dec 12, 2024
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ELA Graphic OrganizerTopic Sentence: Fitzgerald’s development of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship reveals thatfive years ago, they were not truly in love with one another.Claim #1: Gatsby never intended to fall in love with Daisy because he used her to climbthe social ladder.Context: In Chapter Eight, when Gatsby shares with Nick when he first realized his lovefor DaisyEvidence: “ I can’t describe to you how surprised I was to find out I loved her, oldsport..”(150)Analysis: When Daisy and Gatsby meet for the first time, Gatsby’s intentions were to useDaisy to get the wealthy lifestyle that he dreamed of. However, The phrase "howsurprised I was" indicates that Gatsby’s realization of love for Daisy was not initially partof his calculated plan. This reveals that often what looks like genuine emotions is thepursuit of material success.Claim #2 Gatsby’s ambition and dreams become Daisy.Context: In Chapter Six, Gatsby talks to Nick about the past and shares that one night, fiveyears before.Evidence: “…[s]o he waited , listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that hadbeen struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed for him like aflower and the incarnation was complete” (111)Analysis: For Gatsby, Daisy represents the fulfillment of his dreams and aspirations andwhen “the incarnation was complete”, Gatsby's dreams momentarily come to life. Daisybecomes Dan Cody’s yacht, his aspirations and desires.or everything that Daisyrepresents, such as wealth and higher social status. Gatsby’s whole life changes andwhatever he is pursuing after, whether it is purely Daisy herself, or Daisy’s wealth andhigh social status, Gatsby is more than determined to acquire it.This highlights the intensity of his feelings and the lengths he has gone to in order torecreate the past.
ELA Graphic OrganizerGatsby's kiss with Daisy is described as of “blossoming” “incarnation”, showing howtransformation.Gatsby's perception of Daisy is more about his dreams and desires than about who shetruly is.Claim #3 Daisy initially refuses to marry Tom, but she she gives in to social pressureContext: In Chapter Four, when Jordan Baker was telling Nick how drunk Daisy was thenight before her wedding and how she said that she didn’t want to marry Tom. Then, onthe next day, Daisy was determined to marry him.Evidence: “...[t]ell’ em all Daisy's change’ her mine.. (76), however; the“...[n]ext day at five o’clock she married Tom Buchanan without so much as a shiver, andstarted off on a three months’ trip to the South Seas” (76)Analysis: By saying, "tell 'em all Daisy's change' her mind," Daisy suggests that she has asense of hesitation or doubt before her marriage to Tom Buchanan. It implies that Daisyconsidered not going through with the wedding, possibly due to remaining feelings forGatsby or uncertainty about her future with Tom. Despite her moment of doubt, Daisyproceeded with the marriage "without so much as a shiver”, indicating that sheultimately conformed to societal expectations and pressures, choosing the security andstatus that Tom represents over her personal feelings.Clincher: In the end, Gatsby's surprise love for Daisy was mixed with his dream of success,making it hard to tell real feelings from ambition.
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ELA Graphic OrganizerTopic Sentence:Fitzgerald’s development of Gatsby's relationship with Daisy revealsthat he never truly loved her, but rather loved what she represented.Claim #1: Gatsby doesn’t have anything in common with DaisyContext:In Chapter Seven, Gatsby was at Tom’s house and he shared with Nick thatEvidence: “...[h]er voice is full of money,” he said suddenly (120)Analysis: Gatsby feels far away from Daisy because they are different from eachother. Gatsby comes from a poor family and has no status at all and Daisy comesfrom a generationally rich family and has fairly high status. For that reason, hedoesn’t feel connected to her; there is nothing that holds together.Daisy is not the women that Gatbsy knew five years ago and symbolizes her wealthybackground and his perception of herClaim #2 Gatsby wants to rewrite the past.Context: In Chapter Seven, Tom and Gatsby started arguing Gatsby demandedEvidence: “…[j]ust tell him the truth—that you never loved him— and it’s all wipedforever” (132). “ I love you now—isn’t that enough..?”Analysis: Gatsby's request demonstrates his persistent belief in the power of love totranscend time and reality. He clings to the notion that if Daisy can verbally affirmshe never loved Tom, their past could be erased, and his dream of a future with Daisycan be realized. Gatsby wants to beat Tom and show him that Daisy “never lovedhim”. Gatsby's use of "wiped forever" indicates his wish to eliminate any emotionalties or commitments that Daisy has with Tom. He believes that by denying her lovefor Tom, the complications of their past can simply be erased. He wants to prove thathe can repeat the past.
ELA Graphic OrganizerThe tragic conclusion of Gatsby and Daisy's relationship reveals a broader message fromFitzgerald about the hollowness of the American Dream. Their love is ultimately unattainable,built on illusions and materialism rather than genuine emotion. Through their failed romance,Fitzgerald critiques the notion that wealth can buy happiness or authenticity, exposing themoral decay hidden beneath the glittering surface of the 1920s. Consequently, the noveladmonishes the reader to recognize the dangers of idealizing the past and valuingappearances over substance.Gatsby's desire to be with Daisy stems from his idealized vision of her as a symbol ofsuccess and perfection. She represents a world of elegance and affluence that heaspires to attain.Claim #3 Gatsby takes the blame for the accident, not because he loves Daisy, butbecause he thinks that that’s the standard way to handle the situation.Context: At the end of Chapter Seven, when Nick and Gatsby see each other outsideof Tom’s house and Nick asks GatsbyEvidence: “...[w]as Daisy driving?”“Yes,” he said after a moment, “but of course I’ll say I was (143).Analysis: Gatsby’s sacrifice is perfunctory. By saying “of course,” Gatsby illustratesthat he believes this is what people in love are supposed to do, rather than actingout of genuine love and a desire to protect Daisy. His actions might be motivated by acommitment to an idealized version of their relationship, rather than true sacrifice.This suggests that Gatsby is maintaining appearances and fulfilling a role, rather thanacting out of deep personal conviction.Clincher: Ultimately, Gatsby's obsession with erasing the past and winning Daisy'slove highlights how he chases an idealized vision of wealth and status, rather thantruly understanding or connecting with who Daisy is as a person.
ELA Graphic OrganizerTopic Sentence: Fitzgerald’s development of Daisy's relationship to Gatsby, revealsthat she never truly loved Gatsby, but just wanted to get back at Tom.Claim #1: Daisy compliments Gatsby to annoy TomContext: This significant moment occurs at Tom Buchanan's house when DaisyBuchanan speaks to Jay Gatsby.Evidence: “Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, alone in space.WIth an effort she glanced down at the table. “You always look so cool,” sherepeated” (119).Analysis: Daisy's remark to Gatsby, "You always look so cool," can be interpreted as astrategic move rather than a genuine compliment. By saying this in front of Tom,Daisy attempts to provoke a reaction or express her dissatisfaction with Tom'sbehavior. This interpretation suggests that Daisy's actions are motivated by a desireto regain some control in her relationship with Tom, rather than a sincere admirationfor Gatsby.For Daisy, Gatsby embodies a lost part of her past—a time when she had choices andpossibilities before submitting to her marriage to Tom Buchanan. Her attraction toGatsby is tinged with nostalgia and a longing for escape.Claim #2 DaisyContext: At the end of Chapter Seven, when Nick went to see if there is any sign ofdisturbance to help Gatsby’s worries.Evidence: “ There was an unmistakable air of natural intimacy about the picture, andanybody would have said that they were conspiring together” (145)Analysis: The quote indicates a natural, comfortable connection between Daisy andTom, implying that despite the turbulence and complexities of their individual affairsand wrongdoings, there is a fundamental bond that ties them together. Either Tomand Daisy are “conspiring” to make sure Gatsby takes the blame for Myrtle’s death orthey are planning to leave East Egg immediately. This moment highlights a stark
ELA Graphic Organizercontrast with Gatsby, who despite his profound love for Daisy, is ultimately anoutsider in their world.Claim #3 Daisy prefers material comfort over love.Evidence: “...She vanished into her rich house, into her rich life, full life, leavingGatsby—nothing”(149)Analysis: Daisy's retreat into her "rich house" symbolizes her choice to remain withinthe security and comfort of her established social status, leaving Gatsby with nothingbut his dreams and illusions. Despite Gatsby's efforts to win her over, Daisyultimately prioritizes her own stability and societal expectations over their romanticconnection. Daisy “leaving nothing”highlights the emptiness of material wealth andthe emotional void left by unfulfilled desires.Clincher: Daisy's actions show that she uses Gatsby to deal with her unhappinesswith Tom, but in the end, she stays with the comfort and safety of her marriage, notbecause she loves Gatsby.