Daisy's Qualities In The Great Gatsby

The True Qualities Gatsby’s Greatness What are the qualities that make a person achieve greatness? Many of Gatsby’s actions are questionable but when you take all that away he truly is great. In a time of rebellion and corruption, true intentions was a lacking and rare quality that was much needed. Greatness is not always determined by size or actions it’s sometimes determined by intentions. Gatsby is great because he is selfless, he knows what love is and wants to give it away and even though he is corrupt, none of the corruption is personal. Gatsby, despite what he says, has had a very erratic childhood. He was never brought up with, or inherited any money. He had to work for all of it. On top of all that he is a very selfless and charitable person. Even though most of his selfless acts are for Daisy, he still doesn’t mind doing things for others. He gives Klipspringer a place to stay, food and clothing without expecting anything in return. Just
like one of the women at one of Gatsby’s parties said “ When I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me my name and address –inside of a week I got a package from Courier’s with a new evening gown in it.” That’s not anything that was done for Daisy, proving he truly is selfless. In the 1920’s bootlegging was a popular yet illegal act, one of the many forms of rebellion that the men and women of this time took upon themselves to participate in.
Corruption also smothered America and almost everyone was a part of it. Tom and Daisy were just an all American wealthy family but many times portrayed personal manipulation to others. Gatsby, on the other hand, also took part in the corruption but it was never personal and didn’t affect anyone. It was all about business for him. During lunch in New York, Mr.Wolfsheim said to Nick “I understand you’re looking for a business gonnegtion.” He was mistaking Nick for someone else but it’s obvious that all any illegal activity Gatsby is involved in is strictly business. Daisy had no problem toying with Gatsby’s emotions and Tom had no problem toying with Daisy’s so it’s all personal with them. On the outside looking in Tom and Daisy seem like the perfect family when in reality their family is just as corrupt as the rest of America was at the that
time. One thing the world is always lacking is love. From back in the twenties until now and many people don’t realize that it’s a quality that could change the world. Anybody that knows what love is and is willing to give it away is great just from that simple quality. Gatsby wants to love Daisy unconditionally and is willing to do anything for her. Just as Jordan was explaining the story of how Gatsby and Daisy knew each other she said “Gatsby bought his house so that Daisy would be right across the bay.” He wants to be near her and take care of her and that’s real love. Greatness can be such a vague quality but just the fact that it’s a positive quality is enough. Gatsby may have been a questionable man but his intentions were all for the right reasons. He never personally hurt anyone, he was very giving and he wanted love and to be loved in such a way that he was unstoppable. In such a time of defiance Gatsby only wanted to relive the past and do it in a good matter. Because of all those things Gatsby was truly The Great Gatsby.

Works Cited
Fitzgerald, Frances Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York City, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1925. Print.