Fitzgerald uses the character of Gatsby and his “extraordinary gift for hope” (P. 2), to display how hope can turn a reality into an illusion, much like Daisy and Tom’s seemingly perfect life - due to their money - is really an illusion to mask their “vast carelessness” (P. 190) and unhappy lives. Gatsby is depicted as an incessant dreamer, someone who never gives up on his dreams, no matter the consequences. In order to achieve his dream of Daisy, he erases his past, becomes a bootlegger to gain money and buys a house in West Egg “so that Daisy [is] . . . just across the bay” (P. 83). After dedicating much of his life to getting Daisy, he begins to skew his perception on who Daisy is, especially since she now has a life with Tom. This is confirmed by Nick when he states
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. [be] moments . . . when Daisy tumble[s] short of his dreams - not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion” (P. 102). Daisy cannot possibly be the same as her former self as she now is married with a child. Gatsby foolishly believes he can “repeat the past” (P. 117) with Daisy, proving his own illusion is blinding him. Furthermore, Tom and Daisy are perceived as wealthy, fulfilled and successful by others in the text. Also, their behaviour is rewarded at the end of the book as they “[retreat] back into their money [and] their vast carelessness . . . and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (P. 190). Happy endings like this are usually associated with characters who encapsulate the good of humanity and should be supported by the reader. However, Tom and Daisy are portrayed as shallow and reckless. Daisy is responsible for Myrtle’s passing yet seems unfazed and willing to pass blame onto Gatsby, showing how careless she is. Blaming Gatsby leaves the truth in the dark indicating how others cannot see through the falsity of Daisy and Tom. In order to illustrate the illusion and reality in the text, Fitzgerald depicts the characters in a certain
. [be] moments . . . when Daisy tumble[s] short of his dreams - not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion” (P. 102). Daisy cannot possibly be the same as her former self as she now is married with a child. Gatsby foolishly believes he can “repeat the past” (P. 117) with Daisy, proving his own illusion is blinding him. Furthermore, Tom and Daisy are perceived as wealthy, fulfilled and successful by others in the text. Also, their behaviour is rewarded at the end of the book as they “[retreat] back into their money [and] their vast carelessness . . . and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (P. 190). Happy endings like this are usually associated with characters who encapsulate the good of humanity and should be supported by the reader. However, Tom and Daisy are portrayed as shallow and reckless. Daisy is responsible for Myrtle’s passing yet seems unfazed and willing to pass blame onto Gatsby, showing how careless she is. Blaming Gatsby leaves the truth in the dark indicating how others cannot see through the falsity of Daisy and Tom. In order to illustrate the illusion and reality in the text, Fitzgerald depicts the characters in a certain