Quotations
"'What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon,' cried Daisy 'and the day
after that, and the next thirty years?'"(125)
Daisy's statement to Jordan questioning what they will do in the future
represents the emptiness of the life of the incredibly wealthy. Daisy and
Jordan possess unlimited wealth, which enables them to do whatever they
please. However, although Daisy and Jordan possess unlimited wealth, they
also possess limited personalities that serve as a detriment to the
functioning of their imagination. This limits their ability to experience life
to the fullest without involving the idea of wealth.
"'You resemble the advertisement of the man,' she went on innocently. 'You
know the advertisement of the man-'"(125)
Daisy's comment to Gatsby concerning the man he reminds her of characterizes
her attitude and feelings toward Gatsby. The fact that Gatsby, in Daisy's mind,
reminds her of an advertisement shows that Daisy is not in the least
interested in Gatsby the man and his love for her. Instead, Daisy wants
Gatsby not for what he is, but for what he represents. To Daisy, Gatsby
represents an illusion of eternal wealth and beauty.
"'Her voice is full of money,' he said suddenly"(127).
Gatsby's comment concerning Daisy's voice conveys the fact that Daisy is the
object of Gatsby's infatuation and that she holds a degree of charm that he
wishes to possess. His dream of having a legitimate relationship with Daisy
is tied into the fact that she is of traditional wealth. Daisy's prosperity,
more than just Daisy the woman, is the object of Gatsby's dreams. Gatsby
sees himself as the poor man who marries the untouchable and wealthy princess.
"It passed, and he began to talk excitedly to Daisy, denying everything,
defending his name against accusations that had not been made. But with
every word she was drawing further and further into herself, so he gave that
up and only the dead dream fought on as the afternoon slipped away, trying to
touch what was no longer tangible, struggling unhappily, undespairingly,
toward that lost voice across the room" (142).
Gatsby is pleading Daisy not to believe the accusations that Tom has
thrown at him. However, as Daisy learns the real source of Gatsby's
wealth, she realizes that her fling with Gatsby is all an illusion. The
passage symbolizes the death of Gatsby's dream of Daisy as she turns to Tom
in the time of despair to preserve the status quo. Daisy slips from
Gatsby's grip although he continues to struggle in the battle he has already
lost.
Chapter 7