The Great Gatsby Group

Question:

sexycat
sexycat
Student
High School - 11th Grade

In Chapter 7, why does Gatsby view Daisy's child with surprise?

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Posted by sexycat on Friday January 18, 2008 at 12:11 PM and tagged with chapter 7, daisy, daisys child, gatsby, the great gatsby.

Answers:


  1. blazedale

    eNotes Editor

    Gatsby is surprised because he has known Daisy for a long time, but never knew that she had a child.

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    Posted by blazedale on Friday January 18, 2008 at 2:37 PM


  2. sagetrieb Teacher
    Doctorate

    Gatsby is surprised because he does not view a woman as a full human being, which would mean encompassing her sexual as well as her maternal aspects.  He sees Daisy as an ideal in terms of her sexuality which he links with money: the American Dream is symbolized both in money and a beautiful woman. However, in addition to that, accepting Daisy as a mother would mean to accept the fact that she slept with Tom and possibly loved him, too, and that she would have a separate love for her child as well. Gatsby is not prepared to share Daisy with anyone.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/great-gatsby

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    Posted by sagetrieb on Tuesday January 22, 2008 at 5:54 PM