Love
English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A, topic 5.1.1
Love and Desire - Gatsby and Daisy
It would be overly simplistic to see The Great Gatsby as the story of a failed love affair between Gatsby and Daisy because, in reality, Daisy does not have the same feelings for Gatsby as he does for her.
Gatsby's obsession
- Gatsby’s so-called love of Daisy is closer to an obsession, and it could be said that his feelings towards her are in fact extremely unhealthy. The idea of winning Daisy back has completely consumed his life.
Contrast to Daisy's disinterest
- Gatsby’s desire to be reunited with Daisy contrasts with Daisy’s lack of desire and lack of interest in the world around her.
- Daisy is still only in her early twenties, yet she laments that she has already 'been everywhere and seen everything and done everything' (Chapter One).
- Daisy is not easily able to imagine what the future might hold for her, possibly because she has made a compromise by marrying Tom, choosing stability and security over true love: maybe she has little to feel excited about.
Test yourself on Love
What contrasts with Gatsby’s desire to be reunited with Daisy?