Examples Of Obsessions In The Great Gatsby

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Obsessions in The Great Gatsby As defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an obsession is “a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling” or “compelling motivation” (Obsession). Gatsby was obsessed with gaining wealth in order to draw Daisy back to him and he lived an illusion of love with Daisy. Though Jay Gatsby’s obsessions are the most prominent, they are not the only ones present. Tom and Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson also have obsessions, but it is the combination of them that causes problems. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the fixations of wealth and love of many characters, lead to the downfall of many lives and create chaos in others. There are many instances in which you can see how fixated Gatsby is on not only Daisy herself, but what she represents. Jay Gatsby has always wanted to be well-off, but the thought of Daisy’s reciprocated love is what motivated him. “Gatsby reinvented his identity and fortunes all to win back the girl he loved from afar in his youth-Daisy Buchanan” (Stevens). He had completely turned his …show more content…

Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy leads to his death when he allows Daisy to drive his car when they go home from the city. Gatsby was so devoted Daisy that he would not let her take the blame for hitting and killing Myrtle. When no one confessed for the crime, George Wilson started to go from garage to garage trying to find the owner of the yellow car that killed his wife. Eventually, George arrived at the Buchanan residence, where Tom insinuated that Gatsby was the one who was driving the car and who was Myrtle’s lover. While George was at their house, Daisy did not come forward and reveal that she was the one driving the car, letting George believe Gatsby was at fault. Gatsby was shot and killed in his pool by George Wilson the next day as a result of Myrtle’s

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