Leslie: What's Love Got to Do with It? Nothing!

Lois Tyson takes a classic "love" story and looks at it through a psychoanalytical lens, explaining once and for all, what makes these characters act the way they do. For example, she perceives Daisy's flightiness as her fear of intimacy, "...the history of Tom and Daisy's relationship suggests psychological motives that point to a different interpretation of Daisy's 'delight' in her husband." (p. 41). Also, "Daisy's low self-esteem, like her fear of intimacy, is indicated in large part by her relationship with Tom." (p.42). The seemingly innocen and whimsical ways of Daisy's actions can be explained psychoanalytically, as can Tom's actions. We all seem to think Tom is just a jerk that cheats on his wife to gratify himself. But Tyson explains that it isn't emotional intimacy or physical gratification Tom is after, but ego gratification, proving to himself and others that he is just as much of a man as the next guy. "...Tom's relationships with women, including his wife, reveal his desire for ego gratification rather than for emotional intimacy." (p. 40). Lois Tyson shows that despite one take on a classic, if you look at it from another perspective, the plot and character's motives can change completely.