Comparative Essay: Topic 3

Hidden behind the captivating plot, vibrant settings and enchanting characters, at its very core
The Great Gatsby is a love story between Gatsby and Daisy. Throughout the novel, the reader learns the
extent of Gatsby's infatuation with Daisy. Gatsby's lavish parties, extraordinary estate, and fancy sport
cars are merely used as tools to woo Daisy. Unfortunately the protagonist is unable to win Daisy back
because she is simply unwilling to leave Tom. The relationship between Tom and Daisy is interesting
because neither are entirely happy yet both stay together. It appears that Daisy is unwilling to leave Tom
because of the similarities in social class, personality and values shared between the two. Unfortunately
for Gatsby, he is unable to rekindle the love of his youth because the similarities between Daisy and Tom
are too much to overcome.
Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald cleverly uses various characters to symbolize different social
classes. For example, Tom and Daisy both represent old money as they are born into extreme wealth
and affluence. This type of pampered upbringing is made evident when Nick introduces the audience to
Tom, His family was enormously wealthy-even in college his freedom with money was a matter for
reproach. Similarly Daisy is also born into an extremely rich family background as indicated when Nick
recounts the wonder and admiration Gatsby felt when he laid eyes on her house for the first time, "It
amazed him-he had never been in such a beautiful house before. Clearly, both Daisy and Tom share
similar indulged upbringings which is starkly contrasted by the early life of Jay Gatsby. Born to Poor,
unsuccessful farm people it is evident that Gatsby represents new money as he is born into poverty
and earns his wealth on his own during his own lifetime. There is clearly a contrast in social class
between Daisy and Tom, and Gatsby which Fitzgerald illustrates geographically through East Egg and
West Egg. Unfortunately Gatsby is unable to win back the love of his youth because both Daisy and Tom
are born into the same upper class society, while he is born into poverty. Daisy and Tom have lived their
entire lives in similar circumstances and being part of high society, value family background and social
class almost as much as they do wealth. Just because Gatsby has accumulated a great deal of money, he
is not born into his wealth and is therefore not within the same social spectrum as Daisy and Tom. For
this reason, Gatsby is unable to win over Daisy. Even though she does not particularly like Tom, she stays
with him because they are from the same social class and upbringing. To Daisy, leaving Tom for a man
below her social strata is simply something she would not consider. Daisys distaste and aversion to the
new money lifestyle is shown during Gatsbys party when Nick narrates She was appalled by West Egg,
this unprecedented "place" that Broadway had begotten upon a Long Island fishing villageappalled by
its raw vigor that chafed under the old euphemisms and by the too obtrusive fate that herded its
inhabitants along a short-cut from nothing to nothing. She saw something awful in the very simplicity
she failed to understand. Evidently, Daisy is uncomfortable with the West Egg, middle-upper class
lifestyle that Gatsby is part of. She cannot understand or integrate into Gatsbys social class and instead
prefers the East Egg societal values that Tom and herself have grown up with. Daisy is intrinsically
inclined towards Tom due to the similarities in upbringing and social class which work to nullify Gatsbys
romantic ambitions.

In addition to the social class and upbringing, the similarities in personalities between Daisy and
Tom work to impede Gatsbys romantic dreams. On one hand, Gatsby is portrayed as an extremely
methodical, thorough and patient man. Perhaps the strongest evidence of Gatsbys character lies in the
fact that he waits five years before making his move on Daisy. Despite the fact that he lives across the
bay from his lover, he patiently waits for the perfect opportunity to make a move. Even when his
opportunity arises, Gatsby remains patient and meticulously arranges flowers and has Nicks lawn cut in
order to impress Daisy. Gatsbys nature is expressed by Nick as he says He had been full of the idea so
long, dreamed it right through to the end, waited with his teeth set Clearly, Gatsby is a very
thoughtful and careful individual which strongly contrasts Daisy and Toms personality. For instance,
both Daisy and Tom harbour extremely impulsive, irresponsible, and careless personalities. For example,
Daisy jumps rather blindly into a relationship with Gatsby despite the fact that she is married and has a
child. She is simply too flattered and intrigued by the attention of a past lover to consider the
consequences that a romantic relationship might have on her family or others. Similarly, Tom displays a
lack a foresight as he fails to recognize the potential consequences of cheating on his wife with Myrtle
Wilson. He too acts impulsively, engaging in casual sex with a married woman without considering the
effects his extra-marital affairs has on his marriage or Myrtles marriage. As the book progresses, Toms
relationship with Myrtle ultimately leads to her death as well as Gatsbys demise. Although Tom does
display a certain level of sadness following Myrtles death, both he and Daisy act impulsively without
regard or consideration for others. The careless and child-like nature of Tom and Daisy is highlighted by
Nick as he explains, They were careless people, Tom and Daisy--they smashed up things and creatures
and then retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them
together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made... Evidently, both Daisy and Tom act
rashly, in their own interest, and without concern for others. Gatsbys inability to win back Daisy lies in
the fact that their personalities are simply incompatible with each other. Daisy is not attracted to the
slow, methodical nature of Gatsby but is rather inclined to Toms similar impulsive, thoughtless persona.
Both appear to be motivated primarily by their own desires and this shared self centered nature seems
to keep Daisy and Tom together. The similarities in personality between Daisy and Tom is yet another
aspect that keeps them together and prevents Gatsby from winning back the love of his youth.

As the novel progresses and the love triangle is formed, Daisy is given a choice between Tom
and Gatsby. She ultimately choses to remain with Tom despite their rocky marriage because both are
happy with the status quo and are weary of change. This aversion to change is highlighted in Tom as he
ignorantly states Have you read The Rise of the Colored Empires by this man Goddard?. Its up to
us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things. Tom is
clearly part of the controlling upper class and is afraid of the societal changes that will accompany racial
integration. He is happy with the current state of society and does not want anything to alter the status
quo. Although Daisy is not a blatant racist, she too does not welcome change in her life. Despite the fact
that she loves Gatsby and is given the chance to start a new life with him, Daisy refuses. She remains in
her tumultuous relationship because she is unwilling to uproot her life and accept the changes that a
new marriage will bring. It appears that she resists this change because she is happy with the old
money lifestyle that Tom provides. Daisys unwillingness to accept change is demonstrated when she
refuses to renounce her love for Tom, she realized at last what she was doing and as though she
had never, all along, intended doing anything at all. Daisy is quick to engage in a casual affair with
Gatsby, but when it comes time to make up her mind and choose between Tom and Gatsby she is
unwilling to change her current lifestyle. As shown, both Daisy and Tom are characters who are
unwilling to accept change in their lives. Gatsby on the other hand, literally represents change as his
character symbolizes the newly emerging middle class. The explosion of wealth within America during
the 1920s created a new social class which essentially changed the entire economic landscape. Gatsby
is not only part of this new social class, but he also plans to move back to Louisville with Daisy. Daisy
would rather continue living unhappily with a cheating, lying bigot than move across the country and
begin anew with Gatsby. The noveau rich lifestyle is something new and unknown for Daisy. She has
grown up in the upper class society with Tom and her inability to embrace change prevents Gatsbys
dream from materializing. As a result, Gatsbys romantic ambitions are ill fated because Daisys
character does not want to experience change in her life. She therefore seeks out Tom, who shares in
her aversion to change. Daisy and Tom remain entwined in their unhappy marriage not because they
love each other, but rather because they both cling to each other in a mutual fear of change.

As shown, the reason Gatsby is unable to win Daisy back from Tom lies in the fact that his lover
is simply more similar to Tom than she is to him. Parallels in social class, personality and values between
Daisy and Tom is what ultimately keeps Gatsbys idealistic dream from materializing. What makes this
novel so sad is that Daisy clearly loves Gatsby more than she does Tom. However, circumstances beyond
the control of Gatsby prevent him from attaining his dream, Unfortunately, Gatsby is unable to realize
this tragic fact and dedicates his entire life to the pursuit of an unattainable dream.