Daisy
Extended Character Analysis
Daisy is a “golden girl,” born with money, beauty, and status. All throughout her life, her beauty and wealth have made men covet her, and she has honed her charms well. However, despite her advantages, Daisy appears to be an unhappy cynic, married to an unfaithful husband and left hoping that her daughter will be a “beautiful fool,” as she once was.
Daisy is a flawed person. She cheats on her husband with Gatsby, kills Myrtle with her reckless driving, and then allows Gatsby to take the blame for it. She is materialistic, self-absorbed, and careless. She looks down on the West Egg nouveau riche with an elitist sneer. However, she also shows moments of genuine depth and insight that make it hard to classify her as a mindless villain. Throughout the novel, Daisy is treated like a prize to be won by both Gatsby and Tom. She is Tom’s trophy wife, his rich, beautiful southern belle whom he makes no secret about cheating on. She is Gatsby’s dream girl—or rather, the person she was five years ago is Gatsby’s dream girl. Either way, Daisy is less a person than a commodity.
Daisy’s decision to stay with Tom makes her a villain in Nick’s eyes, and it leaves the impression that she never loved Gatsby to begin with. However, Daisy’s actions can be read in different ways. By one reading, Daisy is every bit the materialistic, selfish person that she is made out to be. Her relationship with Gatsby is a novelty and possibly even a way to get back at her philandering husband. Gatsby’s wealth impresses her, but ultimately Gatsby is green money, new and untested. Tom, by contrast, is the gold standard, established and secure. By this reading, her decision to return to Tom is purely mercenary: he can give her the more secure future, and their marriage conforms to societal expectations.
By another reading, Daisy views Gatsby as a fantasy to indulge in. He is the hardworking man of humble origins who swept her off her feet when she was eighteen and amassed a fortune solely for the purpose of being worthy of her. Unlike her philandering husband, Gatsby has only ever had eyes for Daisy. However, Gatsby’s dreams are not Daisy’s reality. She is a married woman with a daughter and a life that, for five years, she has built without him. When he resurfaces, Daisy is just as eager as he is to escape back into the past and relive her “white youth.” However, for Daisy, it is only ever a fantasy. When her comfort and stability are put at risk, she retreats back into the safety of her marriage to Tom, refusing to sacrifice her life, imperfect as it is, for a shaky dream.
By a different interpretation, Daisy really does love Gatsby. In a world that expects her to be a “beautiful fool” decorating the arm of a wealthy man, Gatsby offers her something genuine and authentic. By this reading, Daisy sees the same thing in Gatsby that Nick does: a dream to believe in. She writes to him while he is stationed abroad and genuinely mourns his absence. However, unlike Gatsby, she moves on. As a woman, she knows that her beauty and charms will not last forever. Thus when the great love of her youth returns five years later, she is unhappily married to a philanderer. However, it rapidly becomes clear that Gatsby cannot see her as she now is. He is still stuck five years in the past, unable to accept that Daisy has changed. When Gatsby asks her to disavow having ever loved Tom, she cannot. By asking her to go against her convictions and lie, Gatsby makes the same mistake as Tom, treating Daisy as an ideal or symbol rather than a nuanced human being.
Daisy is a deceptively complex character. Filtered through Gatsby’s lens, she is the ideal of womanhood, an angel whom he must have at all costs. To Tom, she is a fellow member of the “secret society” of rich people who live above the concerns of the rest of the world. In her own words, she is a woman of the view that “everything is terrible” and whose best wish for her daughter is that she grows up to be a “beautiful little fool.” Perhaps she really is the cruel, careless woman that Nick believes her to be. Or, maybe she’s just a cynical, heartbroken woman who wishes she could go back to being the beautiful little fool who didn’t have to acknowledge the cruel realities of the world.
Expert Q&A
What was Daisy's reaction to Gatsby's house?
Daisy's reaction to Gatsby's house is one of shock, admiration, and emotional turmoil. Initially surprised by its grandeur, she appreciates its beauty and details, expressing joy at the luxury. However, when confronted with Gatsby's wealth, symbolized by his collection of imported shirts, she breaks down crying. This emotional outburst might reflect her regret for not waiting for Gatsby and marrying Tom instead, realizing the life she could have had.
At the end of The Great Gatsby, who does Daisy choose: Tom or Jay Gatsby?
In the conclusion of The Great Gatsby, Daisy chooses Tom over Jay Gatsby. Despite enjoying the attention and revenge she gets from her affair with Gatsby, Daisy admits she loves Tom and never seriously intended to leave him. Her social status and the safety of her current life outweigh the allure of Gatsby's wealth and attention, especially after learning about Gatsby's illicit activities.
How does Daisy want to be viewed when she says, "Sophisticated—God, I'm sophisticated" and why does Nick see "basic insincerity"?
Daisy wants to be seen as worldly and content, portraying herself as sophisticated and experienced. However, Nick perceives "basic insincerity" in her claim, sensing it as a facade masking her true feelings of dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Her insistence on sophistication seems forced, as if trying to convince herself and others of her status and happiness. Nick's discomfort is reinforced by her smirk, hinting at a superficial bond with Tom, despite their underlying marital issues.
How is Daisy depicted as cynical in The Great Gatsby?
In The Great Gatsby, Daisy is cynical because, as a wealthy socialite, she realizes that people largely act out of self-interest. To her, social life is often a misery for a woman, and she realizes that her only way to advance in the world is by being a trophy wife. This is largely why she finds Gatsby to be fascinating but, ultimately, a delusional fool.
Which passages in The Great Gatsby indicate Daisy's distaste for Gatsby's parties?
One passage that shows that Daisy thinks Gatsby's parties are distasteful occurs when Nick notes that "she wasn't having a good time" at the party and that this new-money society "offended her …. She saw something awful in the very simplicity she failed to understand." At the end of the night, Gatsby also tells Nick that Daisy felt this way. "She didn't have a good time," he says. "It's hard to make her understand."
What evidence in The Great Gatsby shows Daisy married Tom for his wealth?
Evidence in The Great Gatsby shows Daisy married Tom for his wealth through several instances. In Chapter Eight, Nick mentions Daisy's desire for immediate security, which Tom's wealth provided. Additionally, Daisy's reaction to Tom's mistress in Chapter One highlights her attachment to their affluent lifestyle. Finally, Nick's observation in Chapter Four and his final judgment emphasize that their marriage is sustained by their financial comfort.
What might be Daisy's tone when she says, "Tom's getting very profound" in The Great Gatsby?
Daisy's tone when she says, "Tom's getting very profound," in The Great Gatsby is ironic and mocking. This facetious comment is made during a discussion where Tom expresses racist views from a book he read. Daisy's subsequent behavior, including winking and whispering, further suggests she does not take his statements seriously and is subtly ridiculing him.
What advantage does Daisy gain by not drinking in The Great Gatsby?
By not drinking in The Great Gatsby, Daisy maintains control over her emotions and actions, ensuring she doesn't reveal too much or make impulsive decisions, as she did when she got drunk before her wedding. Additionally, staying sober helps her preserve her reputation and manage any potential affairs discreetly while others are too intoxicated to notice.
How do Daisy and Gatsby differ when Nick returns after half an hour?
When Nick returns after half an hour, the atmosphere between Daisy and Gatsby has transformed. Initially, they were awkward and embarrassed due to their long separation. However, upon Nick's return, the tension has dissipated. Daisy, who had been crying, appears joyful, while Gatsby, previously nervous, now radiates a sense of well-being and joy. Despite this, Nick senses Gatsby's slight puzzlement, realizing that Daisy does not entirely fulfill his idealized fantasy of her.
In The Great Gatsby, why does Daisy scorn her own sophistication?
Daisy scorns her sophistication because it represents the constraints of her "Old Money" status, which trap her in an unhappy marriage with Tom and prevent her from pursuing a life with Gatsby. Her sophistication implies a life marked by infidelity and superficiality, making her miserable. She expresses disdain for this lifestyle, suggesting it is a facade that forces her to endure Tom's affairs and abandon her true desires.
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