The Role Of Daisy In The Great Gatsby

Chanya Likitkunawong
'The real tragedy of Jay G was not that Daisy betrayed him, but that he could not let go of the past. To what extent do you agree?'

Whilst Daisy was the spark that led to Gatsby's many tragedies, it was Gatsby himself that added fuel to it until it got out of control, ultimately ending in the 'real tragedy', his death. The series of unfortunate events that led to his 'real tragedy' was due to his past with Daisy that hurt him both mentally and physically, causing him to become corrupted and infatuated with Daisy, his willingness to do anything for her leading himself to his death.

Growing up in a poor family, Gatsby became corrupted. He symbolised the American Dream, working himself from the bottom to the top after getting a glimpse of 'wealth', although his own real reason was so that Daisy would come back to him as she was prohibited by her family from having a relationship with him due to his low status. He climbed over other people in order to get where he was, losing himself in the corrupted people around that helped him achieve his "new money" status. Wolfsheim is suggested to be a symbol of corruption. Fitzgerald uses the description of "large, flat-nosed Jew" whilst describing
him, also inferring that Fitzgerald's political views are present in the novel, and also showing his stereotypical views on Jewish people being linked to crime and corruption. Gatsby and Wolfsheim's relationship is mysterious and suspicious. It was hinted that they dealt with illegal activities, and confirmed at Gatsby's parties as they had alcohol, bootlegging, which was illegal during this time period.

Gatsby sacrificed himself in order to appease Daisy. His infatuation with Daisy blossomed because of their past relationship. Gatsby was infatuated with the Daisy he was with in the past, not the Daisy he knew present. He idolised her, and ultimately betrayed himself by painting a character that had no flaws in his mind, and the very thought of a flaw left him shocked. This was shown in the evident suddenness in his voice with "her voice is full of money".

Gatsby transformed into 'the Great Gatsby' for Daisy, but was only left with his own hollow shell of his facade.
He became someone who wasn't originally, and is uncomfortable with this fact, his "agitated and restless" nature, as well as his "isolation" at his own parties supporting this. Gatsby's parties, as stated in the novel, was his own way of calling for Daisy. Simultaneously, the guests themselves can also be a representation of how corrupted not only the American Dream was, but of how Gatsby himself was an empty shell. This is because of their "vacuous laughter" and alcohol that distorted their own realities. His repetition of parties also suggested to symbolise his obsession of repeating the past despite Nick's criticism of "you can't repeat the
past".

Gatsby sacrificed who he was in order to retrieve something that couldn't be taken back, and that was his greatest tragedy. Believing in something that was gone, and losing themselves in it, distorting their own reality until they inevitably faced death.