Throughout The Great Gatsby, but most prominently in chapter eight, Daisy Buchanan is described as money. First, things pertaining to Daisy are often thought to be green, such as the "green light" (92) at the end of her dock, as well as the car she was driving, which Michaelis said he thought was "light green" (137). Second, both Nick and Gatsby use money related words to illustrate physical aspects of Daisy, as seen when Nick describes Daisy as "gleaming like silver" (150) and "shining" (150), and when Gatsby states that "her voice is full of money" (120). Finally, Daisy's presence is monetary, as shown when Nick mentions one of Daisy's good qualities and then says that "it increased her value in (Gatsby's) eyes" (149). Similarly, when Gatsby is separated from Daisy, Nick describes him as "penniless" (153), rather than lonely, or another term that could portray lack of companionship. To Nick and Gatsby, and possibly other characters, Daisy is the personification of money. Could this explain why there is such high demand for her and why Gatsby and Tom are both battling to call her their own? Does anybody like Daisy for who she is, or do they all see her as a material possession? Lastly, what can we derive about Fitzgerald's conceptions of human nature from these descriptions of Daisy?
I believe that the references to money describing Daisy could also be a description of a certain class. Daisy is from old money, which to that class of people is a more elite group than the new money class. Old money is money that is earned from money as apposed to money that is actually earned. Gatsby is very open and obvious about his wealth, like when he threw his beautiful silk shirts for Daisy to see. In contrast, Daisy never speaks about her wealth or her class while both Nick and Gatsby do. (It is obviously apparent that Daisy is from a higher class.) Having earned his money keeps Gatsby separate from Daisy.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't believe that all Daisy is is money. It seems to me that at least Tom doesn't want her for her money. After all, he is from old money as well. However it does seem as though Gatsby was first attracted to Daisy because of her money. "... he had never been in such a beautiful house before. But what gave it an air of breathless intensity was that Daisy lived there..." (148). I interpret this quote as meaning that what Gatsby first noticed was the house, but then he fell for Daisy because she is basically irresistible. It seems like Daisy is mostly money, but that there's a little more to her.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't understand is that Fitzergerald came from an upper middle class home, but in "Gatsby" he speaks with such distain for anyone that was born wealthy. Tom is describing negatively, and Daisy is basically only money, not a human being. I wonder if that is a reflection on what his family was like. It seems possible to me.
I see Daisy as more of a personification of the American Dream, not just money. Of course, Fitzgerald sees the American Dream as primarily consisting of money, so the two idea are not far apart. In Fitzgerald's eyes, the American dream is an unattainable pursuit. You either have it from the start, or you spend your whole life chasing after it, but no one experiences both. From this sense, Daisy's personality shines through. Tom, a man born into wealth and luxury, could "acquire" her, without question, from the day he was born. Gatsby, on the other hand, was doomed to constant failure, regardless of of successful he became financially.
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