In the novel ‘The Great Gatsby’, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the main character – Gatsby – is in love with Daisy Buchannan. Moreover, the protagonist’s love for the young woman is the result of the objectifying and romanticizing of the latter. Throughout the novel, Nick shows Gatsby as the epitome of grandeur and the American Dream. Gatsby’s greatness, however, lies in his ability to pursue his dreams and, from them, create realities. This is the very case with Daisy. The main character feels attracted to her because she represents everything he ever wanted: wealth, glory and a high-class status.
Without question, Gatsby is driven to desire Daisy because she is “dressed in white” (pg. 65) and other officers “demanded the privilege of monopolizing her” (pg. 65).
It is important to note how Fitzgerald uses the word monopolizing instead of others that would set a more romantic tone. This is, however, because, in Gatsby’s eyes, Daisy is a trophy or a prize. And, thus, Daisy being such a big reward or achievement for Gatsby, he tries to attract her with exuberant parties.
Furthermore, the fact that Daisy is so used to the upper class and ridiculous amounts of money also makes Gatsby find her “excitingly desirable” (pg. 28).
It is not Daisy’s beauty or smile that wakens Gatsby’s heart; it’s the fact that her mansion was a thing “as casual to her as his tent out at camp to him” (pg. 128).
We can see that Fitzgerald is trying to show to the reader why is that all the extravagant qualities Daisy possesses are so attractive to Gatsby; she, like money, represents the American Dream- the illusion of greatness and superiority. It is also important to see the words Fitzgerald uses when Gatsby describes Daisy.
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The fact that many others also desired the young lady, the main character says, “increased her value in his eyes” (pg. 128).
The word value is, in a way, the summary of how the protagonist sees Mrs. Buchannan. It is not her beauty, her kindness or her personality – which behind Gatsby’s illusion is completely amoral and unethical –that makes Gatsby so interested in her. It’s her value; as if she were an expensive piece of jewelry to buy as a collection or a business to invest in. Nonetheless, it is what attracts Daisy that also attracts Gatsby.
Because she’s attracted to “pomp and circumstance” (pg. 66), it adds to her value. Since he was very young, Gatsby fell in love with wealth and high-class standards, and though he never belonged there, he also desired the supposed ‘greatness’ that came with them. Daisy, in the main character’s eyes, is the representation of these very things. In conclusion, we can see that Gatsby, after creating an unreal version of Daisy, wants her more as an object than as an actual woman. Thus, the protagonist is attracted to her social hierarchy, her wealthy lifestyle and her popularity.
