The Great Gatsby Essay --- Ben Ramey
Gatsby’s Contrast in Behavior: Before and After Encountering Daisy
Famous writer Douglas H. Everett once said, “There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other”. This quote evidently connects to “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, as Jay Gatsby himself refuses to face the fact that Daisy, his past – lover, may have moved on from their prior relationship. Instead, Gatsby devoted many years of his life trying to make his fantasy relationship with Daisy a reality. Gatsby’s interest of winning back Daisy quickly evolved into an obsession, where he fantasized of rebuilding the love they once shared. This obsession explains the contrast Gatsby’s behavior before and after he finally meets Daisy, where he was extremely anxious and insecure before reuniting with Daisy and then over determined and domineering afterwards.
Gatsby’s behavior prior to meeting Daisy displayed the severe extent to which he was anxious and insecure. First, Gatsby allows Nick to invite Daisy over for tea, without Daisy knowing that Gatsby will be attending as well. The fact that Gatsby allows Nick to set up the get-together with Daisy, which Gatsby’s has spent many of his years preparing for, suggests that Gatsby feels as if he is not worthy enough to approach Daisy directly. Furthermore, Nick notes the decrepit condition of Gatsby merely hours before Daisy’s arrival that “He was pale, and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes” (Fitzgerald 84). This description helps to illustrate the distress and anxiety that Gatsby has experienced over the inevitable reunion with Daisy, which has caused him to lose sleep. In addition, minutes before Daisy arrives, Gatsby’s insecurity and anxiety explode into a final cry of refusal as he exclaims “Nobody’s coming to tea. It’s too late… I can’t wait all day” (85). This denial to believe that Daisy would show up proposes that Gatsby
Famous writer Douglas H. Everett once said, “There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other”. This quote evidently connects to “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, as Jay Gatsby himself refuses to face the fact that Daisy, his past – lover, may have moved on from their prior relationship. Instead, Gatsby devoted many years of his life trying to make his fantasy relationship with Daisy a reality. Gatsby’s interest of winning back Daisy quickly evolved into an obsession, where he fantasized of rebuilding the love they once shared. This obsession explains the contrast Gatsby’s behavior before and after he finally meets Daisy, where he was extremely anxious and insecure before reuniting with Daisy and then over determined and domineering afterwards.
Gatsby’s behavior prior to meeting Daisy displayed the severe extent to which he was anxious and insecure. First, Gatsby allows Nick to invite Daisy over for tea, without Daisy knowing that Gatsby will be attending as well. The fact that Gatsby allows Nick to set up the get-together with Daisy, which Gatsby’s has spent many of his years preparing for, suggests that Gatsby feels as if he is not worthy enough to approach Daisy directly. Furthermore, Nick notes the decrepit condition of Gatsby merely hours before Daisy’s arrival that “He was pale, and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes” (Fitzgerald 84). This description helps to illustrate the distress and anxiety that Gatsby has experienced over the inevitable reunion with Daisy, which has caused him to lose sleep. In addition, minutes before Daisy arrives, Gatsby’s insecurity and anxiety explode into a final cry of refusal as he exclaims “Nobody’s coming to tea. It’s too late… I can’t wait all day” (85). This denial to believe that Daisy would show up proposes that Gatsby