Love In The Great Gatsby

Viviana G.

Love is defined as having passion, devotion, and tenderness in which these feelings are shared between two people. In the 1920’s the meaning of love greatly changed in the eyes of society. Divorce was more common, committing adultery was normal, and, small-town women went to the big city in search for rich husbands. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the reader is shown how adultery was normal when Tom has an open affair with Myrtle. Through Daisy’s horrible marriage with Tom, Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy, and Gatsby’s need for wealth, the reader can see that the value of this book is to be aware of and to protect yourself from the blinding power of love and how it can push someone away further from reality.
A marriage filled with lies, abusive arguments, and cheating cannot be considered to be a happy marriage. This disorderedly marriage could be seen between Tom Buchanan and his wife, Daisy. Within Tom and Daisy’s marriage, the reader is shown just how open people were about adultery. While Tom, Daisy, Nick, and Ms. Baker have lunch together at the Buchanan’s home, Tom goes into the kitchen to receive a phone call, during which Daisy follows him into the kitchen with an irritated expression on her face. Nick is left at the table confused about the circumstances. Ms. Baker tells Nick, “You mean to say you don’t know? I thought everybody knew” (15). In this quote by Miss Baker, the reader can see how everyone knew about Tom’s affairs, especially his own wife was clearly aware about his cheating. Another example of how open people were about their relationships was demonstrated when Tom and Nick went to the city together. “We’re getting off, he insisted. I want you to meet my girl” (24). Tom forces Nick to meet his mistress and they end up having a party at a city hotel room. Through Tom and Daisy’s marriage, we see how the love that Daisy has for Tom causes her to not see that Tom doesn’t love her. This forces her to think that even though her husband cheats, they should still be together. Having an interest in someone and having an obsession are two completely different things.
Gatsby’s obsession or so-called love for Daisy, is causing him to live in a fantasy world in which he believes he will be in an relationship with Daisy again just like how it was when they were young teens. Gatsby moves to West Egg after he comes back from the war to live closer to Daisy. Daisy has a green light that shines at night across the bay, which Gatsby stares at every night and reminisces on the past. “I think he half expected her to wonder into one of his parties some night, but she never did,” (79) said Jordan Baker. Through this quote, the reader can view how Gatsby only hosted these parties for Daisy. He would throw these great parties every weekend, wishing to see Daisy once again and hopefully repeat the past by reliving their relationship. Another example that demonstrates Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy is how he only became friends with Nick to increase his chances of meeting Daisy at his home. “He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths—so that he could “come over” some afternoon to a stranger’s garden,” (78) said Nick. From Nick’s quote, the reader can tell that even Nick himself found it rather odd that Gatsby wanted to come over to his home, just to meet Daisy, although he lived just across the bay from her. Nick can see Gatsby must have been planning this event for a long time, since Gatsby knew how what he wanted
things to play out. “Look at this. Here’s a lot of clippings—about you,” (93) said Gatsby to Daisy. In this quote, the reader can clearly see how Gatsby is obsessed with Daisy and keeps a close eye on her. His obsession has lead him to buy a house so that he could look over at her house across the bay, set up a meeting with Nick so that Daisy would "run into" Gatsby without knowing why she is there and has also kept clippings of Daisy for five years.
The need for wealth can change someone drastically.
Gatsby’s need for money comes from his desire for the approval of Daisy. Gatsby wants to become a rich man with many valuables to impress Daisy with the hope that she will be amazed and love him again. “He’s a bootlegger,” (61) said the young ladies. Mr. Gatsby is known to have gained all of his money from bootlegging. He would sell illegal alcohol over the counter at pharmacies in which he owned. Daisy only married Tom because of his money. “ I was a bridesmaid. I came into her room half an hour before the bridal dinner, and found her lying on her bed as lovely as the June night in her flowered dress—and as drunk as a monkey. She had a bottle of Sauterne in one hand and a letter in the other,” (76) said Ms. Baker. On the day of Daisy’s bridal party, she received a letter from Gatsby. She is overpowered with emotions because she had waited so long to hear from Gatsby because he was overseas in the war, and now she was about to marry Tom. “The day before the wedding Tom gave her a string of pearls valued at three hundred and fifty dollars” (76). Daisy cleans up her act after receiving the expensive gift, and goes onto marring Tom. “That huge place there?” She cried pointing. Daisy’s impression, from when she sees Gatsby’s home is an example of how her main concern is his money. The reader also sees this reaction from Daisy when Gatsby shows her his closet. “They’re such beautiful shirts. It makes me sad because I’ve never
seen—such beautiful shirts before,” (92) Daisy sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. Gatsby is so blinded by her love that he doesn’t see that Daisy doesn’t truly love him. Even after Gatsby takes the blame for killing Myrtle, Daisy still doesn’t appreciate his actions by repaying him by reliving their relationship. The power of love can change a person into living in a fantasy world, which they are pushed away from reality. The reader can see this happening through Daisy’s horrible marriage with Tom, Gatsby’s obsession or so-called love for Daisy, and Gatsby’s need for becoming a rich man.