Recreating a past love through false memories can be painful and degrading. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby, a man of riches and wealth, attempts to revive a past relationship with Daisy Buchanan, the woman of his dreams. A series of parties is thrown in desperate hopes of capturing Daisy’s attention. One heated argument in a New York City hotel room causes Gatsby’s downfall with Daisy; although Gatsby hopes his newfound wealth draws Daisy back into his arms. Recreating the past through power, manipulation and riches will ultimately erupt into something out of control. Gatsby uses lavish, exciting parties hoping to tempt Daisy back to him. He throws these parties in hopes they will show Daisy how he has climbed
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In reality, Daisy is married to Tom and cannot be with Gatsby. Gatsby’s delusions about Daisy’s and Tom’s relationship cause him to believe that Daisy will leave her husband to be with him. Daisy’s loyalty to Gatsby is all he wants to remember. These delusions eventually drive Gatsby mad in the hotel room in New York City. Gatsby tries to convince Daisy to tell Tom she never loved him. His mind is clouded with golden memories of Daisy’s loyalty that he cannot accept the marriage Daisy is invested in. Gatsby insists Daisy is leaving Tom and will spend the rest of her life with him. Unfortunately, his memories cannot be recreated the way he wants them to, and he is once again in denial: “‘She never loved you, do you hear?’ he cried. ‘She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me!’ ” (138). Gatsby is desperately trying to convince both Tom and himself that Daisy never really loved Tom. By telling himself Daisy never loved Tom, Gatsby can continue to believe that Daisy will remain his forever. He remembers what they felt when they first met, and convinced himself that Daisy still feels the same way. He believes that Daisy will stop living her life to run back to the life they had before. He always remembers the world where Tom does not exist, and therefore cannot unable steal Daisy from Gatsby. Delusions have made Gatsby so love-sick that he will do anything for Daisy. For example, he takes the blame when Myrtle is run over. Daisy is the one driving, but Gatsby will take the blame because he does not want Daisy to get hurt. Daisy allows him to blame himself without disagreeing, which shows that she does not truly care about Gatsby as a person, and she has become superficial. Gatsby is blind to this because he still sees Daisy as the innocent young woman he fell in love with. Simply speaking,
In reality, Daisy is married to Tom and cannot be with Gatsby. Gatsby’s delusions about Daisy’s and Tom’s relationship cause him to believe that Daisy will leave her husband to be with him. Daisy’s loyalty to Gatsby is all he wants to remember. These delusions eventually drive Gatsby mad in the hotel room in New York City. Gatsby tries to convince Daisy to tell Tom she never loved him. His mind is clouded with golden memories of Daisy’s loyalty that he cannot accept the marriage Daisy is invested in. Gatsby insists Daisy is leaving Tom and will spend the rest of her life with him. Unfortunately, his memories cannot be recreated the way he wants them to, and he is once again in denial: “‘She never loved you, do you hear?’ he cried. ‘She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me!’ ” (138). Gatsby is desperately trying to convince both Tom and himself that Daisy never really loved Tom. By telling himself Daisy never loved Tom, Gatsby can continue to believe that Daisy will remain his forever. He remembers what they felt when they first met, and convinced himself that Daisy still feels the same way. He believes that Daisy will stop living her life to run back to the life they had before. He always remembers the world where Tom does not exist, and therefore cannot unable steal Daisy from Gatsby. Delusions have made Gatsby so love-sick that he will do anything for Daisy. For example, he takes the blame when Myrtle is run over. Daisy is the one driving, but Gatsby will take the blame because he does not want Daisy to get hurt. Daisy allows him to blame himself without disagreeing, which shows that she does not truly care about Gatsby as a person, and she has become superficial. Gatsby is blind to this because he still sees Daisy as the innocent young woman he fell in love with. Simply speaking,