Gatsby quotes Flashcards
“she dressed in white, and had a little white roadster, and all day long the telephone rang in her house and excited young officers from Camp Taylor demanded the privilege of monopolizing her that night” [Daisy popular/ in demand in her youth, Chapter 4, Page 48]
‘monopolizing her’ the verb ‘monopolizing’
It literally means ‘to obtain exclusive possession or control’, this objectifies Daisy and also reduces the meaning of love between them- Gatsby views her as a prize and not a person
It also is linked closely to the American Dream, Gatsby not only saw her as desired by others (therefore more valuable) he also saw her as the trophy at the end of the Dream (spoiler alert: A.D is unattainable and so is daisy)
“as though she had never, all along, intended to do anything at all” [Daisy is supposed to runaway with Chapter 7 pg 84]
Adverb ‘Never’
Daisy had only known the new Gatsby for a few months in the summer and logically very few would be willing to enlope, however Daisy does lead on Gatsby, who believes he is in love with her. Daisy ‘never’ having the intention to go further within the relationship highlights how she has to decide between (arguably materialistic desire) her feelings towards Gatsby, and the social reputation of her and her family. Gatsby’s ‘love’ for Daisy was just summer excitement for her- someone who had no real deep rooted intentions further than fun. His love is never reciprocated.
“he stretched his arms towards the dark water… a single green light”
[Gatsby reaching towards the dock light- first proper time Nick sees Gatsby Chap 1 pg 16]
Symbolism and motif of the ‘green light’
Gatsby viewed the green light as a sign from Daisy, not only does a green light in term of traffic lights mean a sign to go ahead or continue, but the green is also connotated with greed, money. The green light as a whole represents to Gatsby his goal and hope, however the reality of the artificial electric dock light was nothing like that- it was simply a light at the end of the dock (that Daisy had never even noticed). The hope he put into his dream with Daisy is and ultimately was futile.
“They were both in white, and their dresses were rippling and fluttering”
[Nick describing the women when he goes to Daisy and Tom’s chap 1 pg 7]
Symbolism and verbs
‘White’- the purity of the two women and their perfection
Daisy and Jordan are described like etherial beings with dresses that seem to gracefully work with the natural breeze, this description of the pair idolises and romanticises the pair. The rippling and fluttering are connotated to nature- water and butterflies.
The descriptives present the women in a ‘perfect’ light.
myrtle and tom
“carried her flesh sensuously” “continually smouldering”
[Nick describing Myrtle chap 2 pg 18]
sexualisation, adverb and verb
physical attributes are only of interest
While Nick is the one to be commenting on Myrtle’s body, it can be assumed that she presents herself like this to all men, especially Tom, as this juxtaposes how Daisy would be described by men- they both are climbing social ladders in different ways. Myrtle has to rely on her sexuality to gain social mobility and that is clearly emphasised through “sensuously” and “smouldering” both sexualised words.
“must have been moments… Daisy tumbled short of his dreams…because of the colossal vitality of his illusion.”
[After the day where Daisy and Gatsby spend time together Nick observes this chap 5 pg 61]
Metaphor “tumbled short”
It was impossible for Daisy to meet such high expectations as Gatsby had placed her on a pedestal, “his illusion”, Gatsby was in love with an idea, a version, of Daisy that he had created over the 5 years apart. Gatsby does not love Daisy, he loves his illusion, of which she will never fulfil.
tom and daisy love social conformity and comfort- in kitchen that night- unconditional
“there was an unmistakeable air of intimacy” “his hand had fallen upon and covered her own”
[After the car accident that killed Myrtle Daisy and Tom are in the kitchen discussing something chap 7 pg93]
lexical phrase ‘air of intimacy’
The ‘love’ between Daisy and Tom may not be considered healthy or ideal my most modern readers, but it is unconditional, this may be because Tom acknowledges that he would be hypocritical to not let her back into his heart after the affair, but even after Gatsby and Daisy’s affair, and after all the affairs the Tom has, the pair stay together. Their intimacy in such a critical time could be highlighting that even though they have done many morally grey things to/ against each other they still love and care for one-another. Their marriage works for them socially, economically and interpersonally.
“such beautiful shirts” “she sobbed”[Gatsby throws his shirts towards her to show his wealth, Chapter 5 pg 59]
Dialogue
Though Daisy’s speech it is clear that she is materialistic, her reaction to the beautiful shirts simply emphasises her values as a wealthy, upper class woman. Her reaction could have different meanings, but all are still materialistic, for example- the possibility that a realisation of what Gatsby could have given her (money) and that she should’ve waited, another possible explanation is more shallow- she simply was overwhelmed with how much money Gatsby had to spend on shirts. Both interpretations are rooted in capitalistic values- of which Daisy would have been raised with.
“Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time.”
[Tom justifying his behaviour of having affairs chap 7 pg 84]
Adverb ‘always’
Tom throughout the marriage has had affairs with other women, even in the honeymoon period, however he excuses this behaviour with the argument that he has ‘always’ loved her, the emphasis on ‘always’ as it appears false when admitting the reality of their relationship issues, however Tom did want to marry Daisy and would have the upper hand if they divorced (as a man). This argument however is still highly selfish as it disregards how his actions mad Daisy feel, and it is only said in order to control the conversation again.
“Neither of them can stand the person they’re married to”
[Catherine discussing Myrtle’s reality (Myrtle doesn’t love Wilson but Wilson loves her- people referred to here are Tom and Myrtle) with Nick chap 2 pg 23]
Dialogue
Catherine only knows what has been said yet fully believes that both Tom and Myrtle have the same views on their relationship- Myrtle views Tom as hope for the future, an escape from poverty (unrealistic), whereas Tom views her as a form of self gratification. Tom would never leave Daisy willingly as it would not be socially or economically ideal, especially not for someone of a lower socioeconomic background. While Myrtle may arguably love Tom and not solely view him as an escape, it is one sided as Tom would never be able to love her enough to leave Daisy and considering his history of affairs it is likely he does not view these women as anything more than a mistress.
