“Doesn’t he know she doesn’t want him?” (pg. 93)
Fitzgerald shows Tom’s obvious feeling towards Gatsby by voicing his opinion through the woman. Even though she says numerous times that she wants Gatsby to go Tom says she doesn’t. Fitzgerald does this to show how Tom is threatened by Gatsby and is concerned that he is involved with his wife. Tom isn’t concerned about Daisy’s relationship with this man he is concerned with the power that Gatsby may be taking from him by being with his wife. He would feel the same way if Gatsby was to take all of Tom’s friends away from him. Tom is afraid of losing the one person he has full control over. He knows that they weren’t in love when they got married but she was easy to control so he ignored her obvious love for someone else. (Words 135)
“She didn’t have a good time.” (pg. 98)
Gatsby is portrayed as a man consumed with love for Daisy. But really he isn’t desperate for Daisy he is desperate for the way things were before he went off to war. War can do a lot to a man especially for men like Gatsby who had survived on other people taking him along at the time. After he went to war he had to take care of himself. Daisy is a symbol of that time when he didn’t have to always make it on his own. He is now seeing that Daisy is not the same woman she was once he broke her heart. Plus she now has the responsibility of a baby; this woman can’t even take care of herself. Daisy being able to fulfill Gatsby at this stage in her life is highly unlikely. (Words 137)
“’Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” (pg. 99)
Fitzgerald puts forth the belief that you can’t repeat the past. This is untrue when the past repeats itself all the time. The past is bound to repeat itself if the lesson was not learned the first time. World War II, stock market crash, Genocide, all events that repeat themselves in cultures around the world some numerous times. If these horrible things can repeat themselves then so can the good. Gatsby could have his happy ending under slightly different circumstances if he wasn’t searching for exactly what they have. He has to take into account that when you grow you change. There is also the possibility of her being left heartbroken all over again if she chooses him. (Words 118)
“Her voice is full of money” (pg. 107)
Fitzgerald implies that Daisy is a privileged woman full of charm and “jingle” when really Daisy is very easily portrayed and uneducated and dependant. Money is something you need in order to get the things you want. People depend on money but nothing in her voice says that you can depend on her in any way. She sounds flimsy and weak, just as men during this time. Also during this time money speaks of power and status both of which is lost on Daisy with her scandal of a husband and her reluctance to urge him to end his infidelity. (Words 100)
“…there was no difference between men…” (pg. 111)
Nick brings to light the idea that Tom and Wilson are the same in finding out that there women have cheated on them but they are very different. Where Wilson shows sickness and weakness Tom shows strength and courage. He confronts Gatsby about Daisy and his relationship and they argue about. On the other hand Wilson doesn’t even confront Tom about Myrtle’s infidelity instead he tries to buy a car from Tom in an attempt to leave without dealing with it. Not only has this but he allowed Tom to feel pity for him by just giving him the car. Its Tom’s fault that Wilson’s wife died. She was looking to run away with Tom and she got killed by his wife unintentionally. Tom and Wilson are not the same. (Words 130)
(Words 667)
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