Examples Of Denial In The Great Gatsby
Denial is an unconscious defense mechanism that “discharges anxiety and emotional discomfort” (Jacobson). Anxiety and emotional discomfort come in many forms and so does denial. People seem to deny the existence of any conflict that seems to haunt them. Whether it is an event, an action, an illness, or an impulse, humans avoid these problems using denial. For them, it is an escape route from a fire in their apartment. They can flee and escape the problem, but that does not mean it will necessarily go away. The apartment will still continue to burn and the owner will end up facing the consequences. In a way, denial just “sweeps our problems under the rug”(Jacobson). They are still there and they are still “gnawing” and still getting in the way
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Gatsby sees that Daisy may be “[tumbling] short of his dreams” (Fitzgerald 95). That girl he has been dreaming of for “five years” is just not the same (Fitzgerald 95). Gatsby just has “been full of the idea so long” and he “dreamed it right through to the end”, but after realizing that Daisy is not the same, “he [is] running down like an overwound clock.” (Fitzgerald 91-92) At this point, the realization really hits Gatsby and he is really disappointed because he has been waiting for so long to be with the girl of his dreams, but now he sees that she does not match his fantasy. Now Gatsby, instead of giving up on Daisy and leaving behind that fantasy of being with her, Gatsby goes into denial. He is so afraid of loosing her that he sets aside all of those flaws. He [throws] himself into [an illusion] with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that [drifts] his way” (Fitzgerald 95-96). Denial takes over Gatsby and he starts to ignore all of Daisy’s flaws. This is not happening with just the way Daisy acts, but Gatsby starts telling himself that Daisy never loved Tom. That Daisy will be “leaving [Tom]” because Gatsby is so sure that she only loves him (Fitzgerald 133). Along with this, Gatsby plainly
Gatsby sees that Daisy may be “[tumbling] short of his dreams” (Fitzgerald 95). That girl he has been dreaming of for “five years” is just not the same (Fitzgerald 95). Gatsby just has “been full of the idea so long” and he “dreamed it right through to the end”, but after realizing that Daisy is not the same, “he [is] running down like an overwound clock.” (Fitzgerald 91-92) At this point, the realization really hits Gatsby and he is really disappointed because he has been waiting for so long to be with the girl of his dreams, but now he sees that she does not match his fantasy. Now Gatsby, instead of giving up on Daisy and leaving behind that fantasy of being with her, Gatsby goes into denial. He is so afraid of loosing her that he sets aside all of those flaws. He [throws] himself into [an illusion] with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that [drifts] his way” (Fitzgerald 95-96). Denial takes over Gatsby and he starts to ignore all of Daisy’s flaws. This is not happening with just the way Daisy acts, but Gatsby starts telling himself that Daisy never loved Tom. That Daisy will be “leaving [Tom]” because Gatsby is so sure that she only loves him (Fitzgerald 133). Along with this, Gatsby plainly