Preview

Literary Analysis Of Daisy In The Great Gatsby

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
869 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Literary Analysis Of Daisy In The Great Gatsby
Sophia Santos
Seeck
Junior English Per. 7
2 October 2015
Blinded by Wealth

F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby, emphasizes the ideas of purity throughout the novel. From realizing the actions of Daisy, the readers notice how she is portrayed as pure, but truly is not. On the surface, she maintains this illusion of innocence, however her actions are corrupt. She believes that money, power, reputation, and her position in society are more important than everything else; which also displays acts of selfishness. Daisy is often wearing white, the symbol of innocence. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the color white to ironically represent purity in order to illustrate one of the main character's true personality.
Fitzgerald builds Daisy’s
…show more content…
Tom, her husband, commits unworthy actions that a husband should not do, but is very wealthy. Instead of being with a man who she truly desires to be with, she would rather be with a man that had more money from the beginning. In an argumentative discussion, Daisy communicates to Gatsby that she “did love [Tom] once but [she] loves him too” (140). Since Daisy is torn between the concept of money and love, she does not know who she desires to be with. However, a physical interaction between Gatsby and Daisy made Gatsby’s “heart beat faster and faster as Daisy’s white face came up to his own”(117). This shows that Daisy does have an attraction towards Gatsby, but prefers the benefits she receives by being married to Tom. If she was pure and innocent as her white colored face, she would not use her husband for …show more content…
Daisy was part of killing Myrtle, but Gatsby was the one who took the blame. Afterwards, Gatsby, who worried most about Daisy, checked for any commotion while Tom and Daisy sat at the kitchen table, but he could tell that “there was an unmistakable air of natural intimacy… and anybody would have said that they were conspiring together”(152-153). Fitzgerald describes Gatsby watching over Daisy to make sure she is alright, while she sits with her husband, contently, like nothing had ever happened. If she was innocent, she would have been honest about killing Myrtle instead of letting Gatsby take the blame.
In the The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald elaborates the color white to represent purity and how it is a color worn by people who have feign personalities. White is a color used often to show how someone might seem innocent on the outside, but they are not who people truly think they are. Daisy uses people to get what she wants and lets other people, such as Gatsby, clean up her mess. Although Fitzgerald describes Daisy enough to make her worthy of Gatsby’s ultimate desire, in the end, her real intentions are

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Daisy is a careless woman because she never thought of the consequences behind her actions. Nick Carraway said “They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (Fitzgerald 187-188) describes how Daisy was a careless woman. She would become really close to someone and then as soon as they made a mistake, she would leave and never come back. Daisy is careless because she thinks after she makes a mistake, someone will be there to clean up after her. This means that Daisy did not think twice before making a decision regarding someone else. When Daisy was driving the car back from the city she was not being a careful driver. Her carelessness was what caused Myrtle Wilson to be killed. If Daisy did not make the mistake of carelessly driving, Myrtle`s death could have easily been avoided. The accident where Daisy killed Myrtle indirectly led to the death of Gatsby. Daisy Buchanan`s carelessness is part of why she can be described as…

    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    She is in a relationship with Gatsby before the war, truly loves him, and promises to wait for him. But as she is part of the upper-class aristocracy, it is more ‘proper’ to marry someone in the same class as her. In the end, she allows herself to believe that having more money would be more important than true love. As a result, she did not wait for Gatsby to come back from the war but marries Tom, a man from a very wealthy family, instead. Daisy faces the consequence of her decision and shows the readers of her regret when she says, “that’s what I get for marrying a brute of a man, a great, big, hulking physical specimen of a [man]” (17). She feels even more remorseful when she sees Gatsby’s “Hotel de Ville” (11) and cries “That huge place there?” (87) because the mansion is even bigger than the house that she is living in at the moment. Daisy further shows her materialistic desire when she sees Gatsby’s shirts and sobs, “it makes me sad because I’ve never seen such – such beautiful shirts before.” (89) This materialistic appetite and thirst for wealth is very evident to the aristocracy and contributes to their corruption as they never seem to have…

    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In conclusion, the colors green and white are both competent and symbolic colors of the novel The Great Gatsby. White representing innocence corruption and fakeness, of both men and women. While on the other hand the color green is used as a symbol for having hope, luck, and fortune. Those two colors go hand in hand with characterizing the men, like Mr.Gatsby as well as the women like Mrs.Buchanan (Daisy) in the novel. They depict on what we know about their past, present, and their future goals. They also influence the start of a person's new beginning for one day having the “American Dream.” Which answers the question, “Who really are we?” By saying we are what society makes us thrive for, and what we think is correct. The internal and…

    • 148 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism in The Great Gatsby is the significance of colors. The colors in the novel are used to show things and people for what they truly are, not what they appear to be. One example of this would be how the East and West Eggs are each compared with the color of the inside of an egg. The East Egg is often used with the color white, while the West Egg is used with the colors yellow or gold. The symbolism of colors also connects with people in the novel, such as Daisy. “Daisy is still the ‘nice’ girl...She remains ‘spotless,’ still immaculately dressed in white and capable of a hundred whimsical, vaporous enthusiasms” (Ornstein 142). This quote suggests that Daisy’s soul is “spotless” meaning her innocent soul, but that is actually the opposite of who she is. Daisy is revealed to be mischievous, selfish girl who’s only concern is to stay as rich and powerful as she is. Daisy possibly loves one more thing than money and what it can buy, and that is attention. Daisy is often compared to the color white which usually represents innocence and purity, but further into the novel she shows her true…

    • 1519 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Faces In The Great Gatsby

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Although he may seem corrupt and deceitful, Jay Gatsby distincts himself as a virtuous man. Gatsby created a belief in which he considered himself as an innocent, pure human being,. Gatsby conserved his love for Daisy, he kept it unadulterated. His love for Daisy was something to be truly admired. Despite the fact that Daisy did not return the pureness of their love, Gatsby believed he had a second chance. Gatsby stated,“Can’t repeat the past? … Why of course you can!” (Fitzgerald 110). The day when Daisy was to confess her love for Gatsby to Tom; Jordan, Daisy, and Gatsby wear the color white to symbolize the innocence of Daisy and Gatsby’s…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Colors are often symbolic of infinite numerous things. Artists take this truth into attention whereas choosing the colors they use in their paintings; as these colors area unit wont to generate emotions within their target market. clone of the associate creative person, F. Scott Fitzgerald makes use of sunshine and alters his masterpiece to make float and harmony. There is, however, a further, intensive motive for his use of sunshine and coloration symbolism. Fitzgerald uses lights and hues to target the crucial battle, Gatsby and Daisy's courtship. the primary of the numerous colors employed in the novel is white. the primary…

    • 194 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Colors segregate themselves from each other. For example, the color white is defined as fair and clean, while the color black is defined as dark and fear. Thus, black will always be black and white will always be white. There are a plethora of references to colors in the novel The Great Gatsby written by Scott Fitzgerald. Colors are used everywhere in this novel to describe individuals and their appearance. If examined closely, it is clear that certain colors pertain to certain individuals. Scott Fitzgerald is implying that colors can represent a person and their intentions. In the novel, Scott Fitzgerald uses colors to explain important themes.…

    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Character Color Analysis"The Great Gatsby", written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is discusses social classes, and focuses on the theme of a fading social order. This theme is shown in the relationships between the characters and undoubtedly in the characters themselves. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald not only uses color symbolism to set the scenes and events, but he also uses it to present, describe, and shape every single character. Gatsby is one of these characters; his choices, decisions, ideas, and beliefs are represented by symbolism and colors yellow, green, and white.…

    • 631 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Great Gatsby Color Symbolism

    • 2452 Words
    • 10 Pages

    The color white is associated with purity and innocence. Gatsby and Nick, the main male characters in the story, can be affiliated with this color, but it mostly symbolizes Daisy and Jordan, the main female characters in the story. The characters can be seen using “white” as a way to make themselves look better. The color is first correlated with Daisy and Jordan when Nick is on a tour of Tom’s house, who is Daisy’s husband, and he sees two women who are “both in white” (Fitzgerald 8). This is significant because this is the first time that Daisy and Jordan are mentioned, and it portrays them innocently. Another instance where the representation of Daisy and Jordan together is mentioned is when Nick decides to drive to East Egg, New York for lunch at Tom’s house. When he arrives at the house, they are “laying upon an enormous couch, like silver idols weighing down their own white dresses” (Fitzgerald 115). Even though at this point in the story, you can clearly see the corrupt lifestyles that Daisy and Jordan live, they are still trying to depict themselves righteously. When we start to examine Daisy closer, we realize that she is always connected to white. When Daisy and Gatsby are together, and Daisy decides to kiss Gatsby, it is described as “Daisy’s white face came up to his own” (Fitzgerald 118). When Daisy kisses Gatsby, it is pictured as being a pure act, but…

    • 2452 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    I have chosen Daisy Buchanan as my character and I have chosen the color white to aid me in gaining a better understanding of her character. I have chosen the color white because I noticed, as I was reading, that the color white is used almost everywhere where Daisy is present or speaking, from the very beginning when the reader is first introduced to her. In the very first chapter Daisy (and Jordan) are introduced and given an impression of pure innocence: “The only completely stationary object in the room was an enormous couch on which two young women were buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon. They were both in white, and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house.” The color white is used here to describe the first impression of Daisy indicating how pure, innocent and unsoiled she comes off to an outside viewer.…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the novel, Nick shows Gatsby as the epitome of grandeur and the American Dream. Gatsby’s greatness, however, lies in his ability to pursue his dreams and, from them, create realities. This is the very case with Daisy. The main character feels attracted to her because she represents everything he ever wanted: wealth, glory and a high-class status. Without question, Gatsby is driven to desire Daisy because she is “dressed in white” (pg. 65) and other officers “demanded the privilege of monopolizing her” (pg. 65). It is important to note how Fitzgerald uses the word monopolizing instead of others that would set a more romantic tone. This is, however, because, in Gatsby’s eyes, Daisy is a trophy or a prize. And, thus, Daisy being such a big reward or achievement for Gatsby, he tries to attract her with exuberant parties. Furthermore, the fact that Daisy is so used to the upper class and ridiculous amounts of money also makes Gatsby find her “excitingly desirable” (pg. 128). It is not Daisy’s beauty or smile that wakens Gatsby’s heart; it’s the fact that her mansion was a thing “as casual to her as his tent out at camp to him” (pg. 128). We can see that Fitzgerald is trying to show to the reader why is that all the extravagant qualities Daisy possesses are so attractive to Gatsby; she, like money, represents the American Dream- the illusion of greatness and superiority.…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Fitzgerald’s color imagery is clear when yellow is used to describe situations of greed and the desire for power throughout the story. In The Great Gatsby, there are several characters who wish to have more, who are never satisfied with what they have. They become greedy, and their actions, as small as some are, help to prove this. Daisy Buchanan is Jay Gatsby’s love interest in the story. However, it is known that she is married to Tom Buchanan, and that they have a child together. The narrator of the story, Nick Carraway, describes Tom as an aggressive, arrogant, self-absorbed, man. His aggressiveness leads him to verbally and physically abuse Daisy. One may believe that the best situation would be for her to simply leave Tom in order for her to have a better life. The thing is that Daisy cannot get herself to do that because she…

    • 1308 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gatsby And The Pink Suit

    • 957 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Today's world is full of copycats and stereotypes of people who do not know how to really be themselves. It is rare that a true individual comes along. Although many may try, it is hard to differentiate oneself from the rest of the world. Gatsby, the main character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, has a peculiar way of drawing himself away from the usual stereotypical wealthy man. During one chapter of the book, Gatsby was dressed in a bright pink suit. This uniqueness, such as the pink suit, reflects Gatsby's need for attention from his love, Daisy; his desire to show power and wealth and his poor upbringing. Gatsby has a unique way of dressing and presenting himself that portrays his odd placement in this wealthy and prestigious class.…

    • 957 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The symbolism of colors in F. Scott Fitzgerald's, The Great Gatsby, people see color everywhere, in schools, at work and even when walking outside. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the colors white, gray, and green throughout the novel to justify the power of color to provide a vivid image in the reader's mind.. Fitzgerald uses white to demonstrate the supremacy of the white race. Fitzgerald also uses the color gray to show the lifelessness of the Valley of the Ashes. These are examples of F. Scott Fitzgerald using color to enhance imagination in The Great…

    • 417 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel, The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, color is expressed in a variety of ways. The author uses color to emphasize his vision. The use of color throughout the novel further advances the emotion and irony between the characters relationships. To fully understand the meaning behind the color, it is important to identify the environment in which they are used in. White, green, gold and more are colors that Fitzgerald wants the reader to visualize a more in depth meaning. This is done so the audience can feel the emotion and thought process of the characters. Without this symbolism of color used throughout the novel, readers will not acquire the right connection to the characters. Life in color gives people an advantage to a greater understanding of emotions that are felt day-by-day.…

    • 813 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays