Thus far in the novel The Great Gatsby, the motivation shown by the characters is driven by each other. They all have their own reasonings and ambitions towards one another. Gatsby yearns for Daisy and a hopeful, romantic future with her. However, Daisy yearns for a loyal husband but this may change if old feelings for Gatsby reappear. Tom yearns for Myrtle and will not even tolerate Daisy’s name when he is with Myrtle. On the other hand, Nick seems to have an infatuation with Jordan Baker. Nick mentions in chapter three “Her grey sun-strained eyes stared straight ahead, but she had deliberately shifted our relations, and for a moment I thought I loved her”.”Although, he does seem to have an issue with Jordan being “incurably dishonest.” Since …show more content…
Nick is humble with a heightened sense of what is right and what is wrong. He also can see through the phony nature of some of the other characters in the book. I believe I also share these traits as well as Gatsby’s determination and polite mannerism. Gatsby’s friend Meyer Wolfsheim said “But I knew I had discovered a man of fine breeding after I talked with him an hour. I said to myself: ‘There’s the kind of man you’d like to take home and introduce to your mother and sister.’” Meyer also says that Gatsby is a “perfect gentleman” which indicates he is very polite and also well put together. Gatsby went through a time of difficulty trying to get to Daisy but does not give up. For a long time he could not find anyone who knew of her until he met Jordan. He planned to have Nick invite Daisy for tea and allow him to come without her acknowledgment of him coming over. The barrier he must overcome is Daisy’s marriage with Tom. Gatsby hasn’t seen Daisy for four years and shows feelings for her that are still relevant after all this time. On the other hand, Daisy has the difficulty of a cheating husband, and what seems like feelings for Gatsby. In the end, she must figure out her
When Nick visits Daisy she tells him the story of how her daughter was born, “It’ll show you how I’ve gotten to feel about––things. Well, she was less than an hour old and Tom was God knows where. I woke up out of the ether with an utterly abandoned feeling.” By leaving Daisy behind at a time when she most needs him, Tom loses his value of companionship with Daisy. He no longer fits the three criteria that Daisy feels she needs in a man. Daisy knows that Tom no longer loves her and is having an affair with another woman, but despite all of this, Daisy has no intention of leaving him (20). This is because Tom, despite no longer fulfilling her emotionally, is still better for her financially and socially than if she left him to live alone. If Daisy wants to stay in her class, she has no option other than to stay with Tom. When Daisy finally sees Gatsby again, she suddenly has another option besides staying with Tom. Daisy knows that Gatsby has true feelings of love towards her, but leaving Tom would prove to be risky as it could tarnish her reputation and by extension her social stability. Daisy is now struggling between taking a risk for love and maintaining a safe, stable life she is ultimately unhappy
Gatsby’s love for daisy first went back a long time ago, and Daisy’s parents rejected of Gatsby because he wasn’t “pomp and circumstance”, like Tom Buchananand in result, Gatsby reinvents himself by becoming a financially successful man. Fitzgerald purposely has Gatsby state that Daisy’s “voice is full of money”, this illustrates that Gatsby is still trying to impress her and win her back; but on the other hand, the irony of the situation is that Gatsby can afford almost any materialistic, but can’t win Daisy. Also, when Jordan elaborates that Daisy never desired to attain love “, yet there’s something in that voice of hers”, she demonstrates not only that she is elusive, but also explains that she can manipulate her persona. This excitement and distraction, which is what Daisy provokes on Gatsby, is the what caused by the illusion of attaining Daisy, and thus fulfilling the American Dream. Daisy is personified as the American Dream throughout The Great Gatsby
One of the traits of Gatsby that makes him truly great is his remarkable capacity for hope. He has faith that what he desires will come to him if he works hard enough. He does not comprehend the cruelty and danger that is the rest of the world. Gatsby, while a man of questionable morals, is as wide-eyed and innocent as a small child in his views of the world. These ideals are evident in Nick’s narration and in the words spoken by the other characters, including Gatsby himself.
Through this character, Fitzgerald conveys a skeptical and logical, yet romantic and hopeful tone. This is shown by Nick’s cynical, but tender personality. “‘You can’t repeat the past.’ ‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” (110; Ch. 6).This quote shows Nick’s logical look on life and how he believes these hopeless romantic ways of Gatsby’s will not always work . “You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.” (154; Ch. 8). Contrary to the previous quote, this quote shows Nicks admiration for Gatsby. This quote also may suggest that Nick wishes for something better; he longs for a love like Gatsby’s.This possible romantic side of Nick is also shown by his relationship with Jordan, “.... I put my arm around Jordan’s golden shoulder and drew her toward me and asked her to dinner.”(79;Ch. 4). Nick’s assessment and criticism toward Jordan, Tom, and Daisy also show his skeptical and logical outlook on others around him.This tone shows Nick’s struggle between being like the emotionless and careless people around him (like Tom) or to be his own hopeful and romantic man (following
At the beginning of the book Nick sees Gatsby as a mysterious shady man. In the beginning of the chapter Nick somewhat resents Gatsby. In Nick’s opinion Gatsby was the representation of “…everything for which I have unaffected scorn.” (Fitzgerald 2). Nick sees Gatsby as what he hates the most in life, rich folk. Since the start of the novel it was obvious that had “Disapproved of him from beginning to end.” (Fitzgerald 154). As time passes, Nick realizes his neighbor has quite a mysterious past. Some think he’s a bootlegger, and a different person wa...
67). Despite all the controversy surrounding Gatsby’s past, everything seems to be confirmed, and Nick is led to believe that Gatsby is telling the truth. Among all this reluctance, the most important aspect is Daisy Fay. Daisy was a beautiful eighteen year old woman from Louisville, and at the time her and Gatsby met, he was just a young officer from Camp Taylor. At Gatsby’s request one day that he and Nick ventured into town, Nick later met Jordan for tea to unknowingly discuss Gatsby and Daisy’s past affairs. When she describes to Nick how engrossed in each other they were, she says, “‘the officer looked at Daisy while she was speaking, in a way that every young girl wants to be looked at some time… His name was Jay Gatsby, and I didn’t lay eyes on him again for over four years- even after I’d met him on Long Island I didn’t realize it was the same man.’” (Fitzgerald p. 75). When describing the love they had for each other, she tells the reader how entranced he was in her voice that he did not even notice Jordan’s presence. Portraying Gatsby as obsessed with Daisy, Fitzgerald sets the scene for the inevitable affliction. Being a mere officer in the American army, Gatsby has
In addition, Daisy shows her selfishness when she has an affair with Gatsby. Daisy rekindles her romance with Gatsby, and does not seem to care who it might affect. The affair will hurt Tom, her daughter, Gatsby, and Nick when it ends badly. Daisy only thinks about herself, and what will make her the most happy in that moment. Daisy’s money allows her to have anything she wants, and at the moment she wants Gatsby. She does not think that the affair will leave Tom angry and hurt when he finds out. Daisy does not think what negative effect this affair may have on her daughter because it puts stress on their family. The affair leads to Gatsby getting his heart broken, and eventually dying. The affair also leaves Nick emotionally damaged, and angry.
Throughout the passage, Nick perpetually urges Gatsby to interact with Daisy, a deed he would only do if availing them pursue an extramarital affair. To commence, Gatsby is plagued with nerves as he contemplates the conception of reuniting with Daisy, “shaking his head from side to side,” he mutters, “This is a terrible mistake.” However, Nick is not gratified with Gatsby’s hesitation, reasoning, “You’re just abashed, that’s all… “Daisy’s disconcerted too.” Conspicuously Nick is intransigent about getting Daisy to reconvene with Gatsby, who Nick surmises is a worthy gentleman fit for his beloved cousin. Supplementally, Nick portrays Daisy’s husband, Tom, as frankly -- a dismal scumbag. Besides Tom’s arrogant, shallow nature, he lacks affection
The Great Gatsby, written by F.Scott Fitzgerald, describes a man who instructs his life around to unite with Daisy Buchanan, whose desires lead from poverty to wealth. Although, love is a major theme in the novel, it is portrayed as an illusion. At first impression given, it appears that Gatsby is in love with Daisy, but as we analyzed deeply in the novel, we discovered he’s only in love with the idea of Daisy and what she stands for.
Gatsby and Daisy had a brief love affair that ended when Gatsby went overseas during World War One. Although they loved each other then, five years have passed, and Daisy now has a husband, and a daughter. Gatsby has waited for Daisy “Almost five years! There must have been moments…when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams… because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything.” (103). Gatsby has been holding onto the idea of Daisy and having a life with her for so long that reality is no longer viable and he wants to just pretend that the time they spent apart never happened, which is obviously unrealistic because she has moved so far on. Gatsby is truly removed from the reality of the situation. He went as far as to buying a mansion on West Egg, just across the bay from East Egg, where Daisy and Tom live. Gatsby purposefully decided to live in West Egg so that he could see Daisy’s house. When “[Gatsby] stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way… I could have sworn he was trembling…[I] distinguished nothing except a single
Although being apart from Daisy for nearly five years (Fitzgerald 92), Gatsby does not fail to pursue his dream of being with her. The letter Gatsby receives from Daisy while at Oxford, motivates him to work harder and attain the wealth that will satisfy Daisy’s needs. With the thought of finally being good enough for her, Gatsby moves back to West Egg, “so that Daisy would be just across the bay” (Fitzgerald 76) and believes he can ultimately live up to her standards. Jay remains unseen upon his arrival in New York, but throws glamorous parties in hopes of Daisy attending one (Fitzgerald 77). Furthermore, Gatsby’s sincere emotions towards Daisy are seen after the accident in which Daisy kills Mrs. Wilson. Although it was the end for her and Gatsby, "He couldn't possibly leave Daisy until he knew what she was going to do. He was clutching at some last hope ... " (Fitzgerald 141). Daisy couldn't face the fact that she might go to jail and knew Gatsby would take her blame out of love and compassion for her. Taking the blame would be the last great thing Gatsby could do for Daisy (Fitzgerald 137). Familiarizing himself with Gatsby’s emotions, Nick cannot help but “[admire] Gatsby’s resolute commitment to success, love, and dreams” (Pauly). It is through Gatsby’s refusal to sacrifice his continuous dream, one can see
Gatsby is madly in love with Daisy and believes that she truly loves him back. Gatsby “wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: "I never loved you."” (125). He wants to be the only one Daisy loves, he does not want to share her love with Tom. Although Tom and Daisy have been together for four years, Gatsby desires Daisy to ignore the past four years and suddenly be with him. His fixation on Daisy causes a series of events leading to his murder. Daisy, Gatsby, Tom, Nick and Jordan all travel to New York City together one hot afternoon. With the heat, tensions are rising between Tom and Gatsby as they argue who Daisy loves. After insistent bickering, Daisy admits that She “Did love him once- but [she] love [Gatsby] too.” (132). Gatsby travels to the city for Daisy and she destroys him by revealing her love for Tom as well. Every action Gatsby takes since first meeting Daisy is to grasp her attention. Now she discloses that her love is not entirely for him, but shared. If Daisy discussed this before, then Gatsby would not have been so attached to her, and would not have been in the city at the time. Daisy simply could have told Gatsby she is not interested in only him. Daisy with “her frightened eyes told that whatever intentions, whatever courage, she had had, were definitely gone” (chapter 7) from a future with Gatsby. Daisy leads him on by spending countless hours with him and even inviting him to her house and to the city. All along Gatsby believes Daisy is honestly in love with him, but she cannot and will not give up what she has with Tom. Gatsby is blamed for hitting and killing Myrtle, when in actuality it is Daisy. To seek revenge, Wilson, Myrtle’s husband murders Gatsby. All this could have been avoided if Daisy was sincere with Gatsby and confessed that she never would leave Tom and her current opulent lifestyle with him. Even after Gatsby’s murder,
Despite Gatsby and Daisy’s physical distance, his unceasing hope symbolic distance between his unrealistic aspirations of the future and reality. [Five years prior, Gatsby describes falling in love with Daisy as a defining moment in his life: “His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy's white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God” (Fitzgerald 110). It was at this moment that he gave his rational thoughts away to every unceasing future want of Daisy. From this point forward, he dedicated his life to regaining Daisy’s love despite the moral sacrifices he made. In order to gain the wealth that Daisy desired, Gatsby was forced to turn to a corrupt business by partnering with Meyer Wolfsheim and buying, “Up a lot of side−street drug−stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter” (Fitzgerald 133). On his rise to wealth, Gatsby corrupted his morals. He became involved in illegal enterprises and was ultimately left with nothing to fall back on when his finals attempt to gain Daisy’s love failed. Sitting alone in his pool, Gatsby waited for a call that never came. Nick had, “ An idea that Gatsby himself didn't believe it would come, and perhaps he no longer cared” (Fitzgerald 161). At this moment Gatsby starts to understand the magnitude of his actions and how, “He
Daisy is Gatsby’s fundamental goal; consequently`, he dreadfully attempts to get her back. He even becomes a bootlegger so that he can attain wealth to attract Daisy. When Gatsby claims that Daisy does not love Tom, Tom reveals that “one of [Gatsby’s] little stunts” is that he sells “alcohol over the counter” (Fitzgerald 133). Gatsby’s life consists of performing “stunts” to achieve his goals. He arrives at the point where he does not care what he has to do to get to Daisy. In another instance, Gatsby completely uses Nick to set up a date for him and Daisy. According to Jordan, Gatsby “began asking people casually if they knew [Daisy]” at parties (Fitzgerald 79). Gatsby, with little respect to Nick, inconsiderately utilizes Nick’s connection to Daisy to spend a day with her.
Once stated by Dwight D. Eisenhower, “Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.” The aforementioned ideology places an emphasis on an individual’s internal desires, rather than an outside/external force driving the individual’s consciousness (cognitive evaluation.) Therefore intrinsic motivation is one in which an individual 's own desire comes from within; a relentless and genuine passion for an intended goal. On the contrary, when an individual relies on external factors such as, a reward or any other form of external reinforcement, an extrinsic motivation is exhibited. Although society likes to stress the importance in pursuing an internal motivation, in today 's modern world, an extrinsic factor far outweighs an internal desire to accomplish an objective. As humans, we are too diverse in the way we think and develop, lending the mere classification of an internal motivation to become redundant. Furthermore, as