D+T Flashcards
What does Daisy’s marriage to Tom symbolize?
Daisy’s marriage to Tom is symbolic of her commitment to material pleasures, comforts, and the social order.
How would you describe Tom and Daisy’s relationship dynamics?
Their relationship is one of convenience, with polarized traditional roles, dominated by Tom.
What does Tom and Daisy’s marriage preserve in society?
Tom and Daisy’s marriage solidly preserves social and class harmony.‘Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now.’ (Tom)
How does the Buchanan’s marriage represent their social status?
The Buchanan’s attempts to preserve their union make their marriage a symbol of their exclusive membership to the world of old money, demonstrating how class trumps love.
How does social security affect the Buchanan’s marriage compared to Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship?
The contrast between the words ‘happy’ and ‘unhappy’ illustrates how social security sustains the Buchanan’s marriage while destroying Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship, despite money and social status not guaranteeing the Buchanans happiness.
What does Daisy’s affair with Gatsby reveal about her autonomy?
Daisy gains a semblance of autonomy in her affair with Gatsby, but societal pressures force her to retreat to her marriage with Tom, as her class is the only thing that grants her agency in society.
How does the Buchanan’s social position affect their behavior?
The Buchanan’s social position allows them a careless lifestyle, wreaking havoc without facing serious consequences.‘They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness’ (Nick)
What is marriage portrayed as in the context of the novel?
Marriage appears to be more of a social contract than a romantic one, emphasizing societal expectations over personal desires.
