Blinded
Some critics argue that Jay Gatsby 's devotion to Daisy Buchanan in Fitzgerald 's The Great Gatsby is obsessive and dysfunctional; I believe that some of his actions, although ultimately tragic, prove Gatsby to simply be a man blinded by love. Jay Gatsby is first portrayed after Nick Carraway spots Gatsby at the dock of his mansion overlooking the river separating the West Egg from the East Egg. However, Jay Gatsby is only an identity created by James Gatz; he created his identity after saving Dan Cody, a wealthy businessman, who was yachting on Lake Superior where Gatsby was fishing: “It was James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach that …but it was already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a row-boat… and informed Cody that a wind might …show more content…
Zeus asked Paris to judge three goddesses and decide which of them was the most beautiful. Paris was offered bribes by each goddess, and he accepted a bribe from Aphrodite, goddess of love, who promised him help to win the most beautiful woman alive. In turn, Paris steals away Helen, the wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta, who was regarded as the most beautiful woman alive. Menelaus challenges Paris to a duel to determine who shall keep Helen for himself, but Paris cowers, and runs from the duel. Hector, Paris’s brother, spites him: “evil-hearted Paris, fair to see, but woman mad and false of tongue… And now can you not dare face Menelaus… whose wife you have stolen?” (Homer 54). Like Gatsby, Paris was attempting to steal away the woman of a married man. Gatsby’s ordeal was not as catastrophic as that of Paris’s. Helen is considered to be the “face that launched a thousand ships”, as Paris’s theft started the Trojan wars, leading to millions of death. Gatsby only caused the death of two people, himself and Myrtle. However, Gatsby had a convincing reason in his attempt to steal away Daisy; Gatsby and Daisy had previously loved each other: “The officer [Gatsby] looked at Daisy… in a way every young girl wants to be looked at… His name was Jay Gatsby…” (Fitzgerald 81). Paris, however, was driven by lust, as he and Helen had no romantic history and Paris only wanted her because she was beautiful. Though Gatsby and Daisy …show more content…
This occurs after Gatsby devises a plan for Nick to invite both Daisy and Gatsby to tea without Daisy’s knowledge of Gatsby’s planned attendance. Before they meet, Gatsby was nervous, exclaiming “in an uncertain voice that he was going home” (Fitzgerald 91). Gatsby was terrified, because he didn’t know whether or not Daisy would be happy to see him again. Despite this, Nick convinces him to follow through the plan, and after Gatsby and Daisy see each other once again, Gatsby once again gets cold feet: “’This is a terrible mistake… a terrible, terrible mistake.’” (Fitzgerald 94). Nick chastises Gatsby after this, calling him childish, while comforting him saying that both Daisy and Gatsby are just embarrassed. This ignites a new flame in Gatsby, as he becomes confident to win Daisy over. Nick leaves the two alone for a moment, and after returning, Gatsby and Daisy were glowing, ecstatic to see each other again. The rain that had gloomed over their meeting had ended, signaling that Daisy had fallen in love with Gatsby once again. Gatsby invites both Nick and Daisy to his mansion, and as they arrive, Daisy is awed by the
Some critics argue that Jay Gatsby 's devotion to Daisy Buchanan in Fitzgerald 's The Great Gatsby is obsessive and dysfunctional; I believe that some of his actions, although ultimately tragic, prove Gatsby to simply be a man blinded by love. Jay Gatsby is first portrayed after Nick Carraway spots Gatsby at the dock of his mansion overlooking the river separating the West Egg from the East Egg. However, Jay Gatsby is only an identity created by James Gatz; he created his identity after saving Dan Cody, a wealthy businessman, who was yachting on Lake Superior where Gatsby was fishing: “It was James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach that …but it was already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a row-boat… and informed Cody that a wind might …show more content…
Zeus asked Paris to judge three goddesses and decide which of them was the most beautiful. Paris was offered bribes by each goddess, and he accepted a bribe from Aphrodite, goddess of love, who promised him help to win the most beautiful woman alive. In turn, Paris steals away Helen, the wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta, who was regarded as the most beautiful woman alive. Menelaus challenges Paris to a duel to determine who shall keep Helen for himself, but Paris cowers, and runs from the duel. Hector, Paris’s brother, spites him: “evil-hearted Paris, fair to see, but woman mad and false of tongue… And now can you not dare face Menelaus… whose wife you have stolen?” (Homer 54). Like Gatsby, Paris was attempting to steal away the woman of a married man. Gatsby’s ordeal was not as catastrophic as that of Paris’s. Helen is considered to be the “face that launched a thousand ships”, as Paris’s theft started the Trojan wars, leading to millions of death. Gatsby only caused the death of two people, himself and Myrtle. However, Gatsby had a convincing reason in his attempt to steal away Daisy; Gatsby and Daisy had previously loved each other: “The officer [Gatsby] looked at Daisy… in a way every young girl wants to be looked at… His name was Jay Gatsby…” (Fitzgerald 81). Paris, however, was driven by lust, as he and Helen had no romantic history and Paris only wanted her because she was beautiful. Though Gatsby and Daisy …show more content…
This occurs after Gatsby devises a plan for Nick to invite both Daisy and Gatsby to tea without Daisy’s knowledge of Gatsby’s planned attendance. Before they meet, Gatsby was nervous, exclaiming “in an uncertain voice that he was going home” (Fitzgerald 91). Gatsby was terrified, because he didn’t know whether or not Daisy would be happy to see him again. Despite this, Nick convinces him to follow through the plan, and after Gatsby and Daisy see each other once again, Gatsby once again gets cold feet: “’This is a terrible mistake… a terrible, terrible mistake.’” (Fitzgerald 94). Nick chastises Gatsby after this, calling him childish, while comforting him saying that both Daisy and Gatsby are just embarrassed. This ignites a new flame in Gatsby, as he becomes confident to win Daisy over. Nick leaves the two alone for a moment, and after returning, Gatsby and Daisy were glowing, ecstatic to see each other again. The rain that had gloomed over their meeting had ended, signaling that Daisy had fallen in love with Gatsby once again. Gatsby invites both Nick and Daisy to his mansion, and as they arrive, Daisy is awed by the