Sheena Cook

    CHARACTER ANALYSIS:

     In the story The Great Gatsby, Daisy is on of the main characters in the book. The Great Gatsby takes place in the 1920’s in New York. The story is about a man named Gatsby who has acquired wealth in organized crime to win the love of Daisy Buchanan but his notorious past and lifestyle stand in the way of being received by her. Daisy Buchanan is the wife of a wealthy man named Tom Buchanan. Daisy’s character can be

    considered careless nonchalant, wealthy, and superfluous. Daisy comes from Louisville from an aerostatic background, and in Gatsby’s eyes she is charming, beautiful, and

    sophisticated. However Daisy is really the complete opposite of Gatsby’s mirage. Daisy

    is one of the most important characters in the story because she symbolizes Gatsby’s

    hope but also the decadent of social and moral values.

     In the story, Daisy said some quotes that really tell you a lot about her character. In chapter one Daisy talks about when she was in the hospital having her daughter. “I

    hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little

    fool” (pg 21). I understood this quote as Daisy reflecting on herself and hoping her daughter would turn out the same. Daisy is considered beautiful by her peers; many soldiers had dated her and were head over heels about her. However she can be

    considered the fool because of her actions and the way she deals with her problems. She acts like she’s totally oblivious to Tom’s extramarital affairs, and she lets money be the

    pursuit of her happiness. Daisy also has a way of running away from her problems rather than dealing with them. In fact in the book she doesn’t raise her own daughter, the nurse

does. Another example proving that Daisy isn’t held responsible for her actions is when

    Tom and Gatsby were in the hotel arguing over if Daisy loves them more she conveniently ran out of the hotel.

     Another quote that supports that Daisy is negligent is,” That’s what I get for

    marrying a brute man, a great big hulking physical of a specimen” (pg 16). Tom

    Buchanan may be strong in size but it also explains his status in society. They live in a very refined district in East Egg and his reputation is very well known in the community.

     In chapter ten when Gatsby was killed Nick tried to put forth an effort to contact all his friends to attend his funeral. One man said “Let us learn to show our friendship for

    a man when he is alive not after he is dead” (pg 180). Daisy however moved away and

    sent no forwarding address; she neither showed any remorse for Gatsby’s death. Even

    though Daisy was at fault for the death of Gatsby and Myrtle. Daisy was the one driving Gatsby’s car when she kilt Myrtle. Tom was under the impression that Gatsby was driving the car that night and told Mr. Wilson that it was Gatsby’s car. In return Mr.

    Wilson took matters into his own hands and killed Gatsby. In the end the people that caused the most damage in everyone’s life was held unaccountable for their actions. Tom said “I told him the truth, he said… That fellow had it coming to him. He threw dust into

    your eyes just like he did Daisy’s….” (pg 187).

     Also in chapter the beginning of the tenth chapter Nick says “After two

    years I remember the rest of that day…” (pg 171). Nick is reflecting back on the

    day Gatsby was murdered and there after. Nick specifically remembers “I tried to

    think about Gatsby then for a moment but he was already too far away and I could

    only remember, without resentment, that Daisy hadn’t sent a message or a flower”

    (pg 183). It was such a shame that Gatsby and Daisy were lovers yet when he died

    for her she was inconsiderate. Clearly showing that she takes not

    conscientiousness of her actions.

     The climax of these entire events leading up to Daisy’s lack of accountability is

    when Gatsby died and she was a no show. Nick referred to Tom and Daisy as “They were

    careless people, Tom 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…” (Pg 187-188). In the end I think

    Daisy’s intentions are well, but she just makes mistakes and doesn’t try to fix the problem.