Okay. This post is essentially a response to Stephanie's post about Daisy's relationship with Gatsby, but also a deeper exploration of their relationship.
In Stephanie's post, she questions if Daisy is truly in love with Gatsby or just his money in the last sentence of her second paragraph. At this point in the story, Daisy is in complete awe of Gatsby - his home, his clothing, his possessions, and ultimately his presence. Everything about Gatsby is everything Daisy has ever wanted but was unable to find: love and riches. (Tom showers her with riches - the pearls - but is an adulterer; Daisy's devotion and love are not returned.) It seems as if Daisy has at last found her 'prince charming' but it is unclear if she is merely dazzled by Gatsby's reappearance in her life and display of grandeur or if she is actually in love with him.
Looking back on previous events in the story, Jordan tells Nick that "[Daisy and Gatsby] were so engrossed in each other that she didn't see me until I was five feet away" (74). Here, it is obvious that Gatsby and Daisy were romantically involved, but to what extent is unknown. Jordan also says that "After you (Nick) had gone home she (Daisy) came into my room and woke me up and said: 'What Gatsby?' and when I described him - I was half asleep - she said in the strangest voice that it must be the man she used to know." (77) These stories and Daisy's drunken episode with the letter (presumably from Gatsby) before her wedding day give us proof that Daisy, at one point, was in love with Gatsby.
Presently, Daisy is feeling a lot of things after seeing Gatsby again after so many years apart, but I do believe she still loves him. When Gatsby asks Daisy what she thinks about the rain stopping she says "'I'm glad, Jay.' Her throat , full of aching, grieving beauty, told only of her unexpected joy." (89). Perhaps the theory of Daisy only loving Gatsby's wealth is supported by her tears over his "beautiful shirts" (92) and other notable possessions because the Gatsby she used to know was only a soldier with no material possessions and now Gatsby has a beautiful home right across the bay from hers with more wealth than she could imagine.
At this point we can only wait and see what happens next between them.
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There's definitely a contrast between Nick and Jordan's relationship and Gatsby and Daisy's relationship. Nick and Jordan have a much more stereotypically "romantic" relationship - they go out together, and trust each other intimately (At least, Jordan trusts Nick enough to tell him about Gatsby and Daisy's past together). On the other hand, Gatsby and Daisy don't start to have a relationship until Gatsby brags a little, and shows his exploits to Daisy, at which point Daisy suddenly grabs his arm.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Fitzgerald is using this to criticize the upper class' version of 'love'? That it's all based on material wealth? Or that the upper class itself is corrupt, since Daisy is cheating on Tom, and that Gatsby is lusting after a married woman?
Hi Paulina!
ReplyDeleteI think that the fact that Gatsby now has money plays an important role in Daisy's feelings towards Gatsby. Daisy has definitely always loved Gatsby but didn't necessarily felt the need to confront Tom about his mistresses or leave him. On Daisy's wedding night, Daisy recieved a letter from Gatsby and if she TRULY loved Gatsby (not just love him for his luxuries) would have left Tom to be with Gatsby. So, the fact that Gatsby is now wealthy does not hurt his and Daisy's relationship; it only helps.