Tom and Daisy Quotes Analysis

The Superficial Nature of Their Marriage

So, let's talk about Tom and Daisy Buchanan. You know, they're kinda like the poster couple for how things can look real nice on the outside but be totally messed up underneath. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," their relationship shows just how shallow and corrupt the rich folks in the 1920s could be. Now, I'm gonna dive into some quotes from the book to show you what I mean.

First off, Daisy's got this whole thing where she wants her daughter to be a "fool." She says, "I hope she'll be a fool... that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool" (Fitzgerald, p.17). Like, seriously? She thinks it's better for women to be clueless and pretty. It's all about keeping up appearances with these two.

And then there's Tom. He's all about money and stuff. He brags about his place by saying, "I've got a nice place here... It belonged to Demaine, the oil man" (Fitzgerald, p.6). He's so caught up in showing off his wealth that it makes you wonder if he even knows what love is supposed to feel like.

The Impact of Their Actions on Others

Okay, so Tom and Daisy aren't just hurting each other with their superficial marriage; they're messing up other people's lives too. Take Tom's affair with Myrtle Wilson as an example. When he's called out on it, he arrogantly says, "She's not leaving me! Certainly not for a common swindler who'd have to steal the ring he put on her finger" (Fitzgerald, p.130). Yikes! This dude has no respect for anyone but himself.

Daisy isn't any better when it comes to Gatsby. Remember when Gatsby tells Nick Carraway that Daisy only married Tom because he was poor? He says, "She never loved you, do you hear? She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me" (Fitzgerald, p.130). That’s harsh! Her choices show she values money way more than love or loyalty.

The Pervasive Influence of Wealth

Wealth runs deep in their relationship and really shapes how they see everything around them. Tom's arrogance is crystal clear when he declares, "I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife" (Fitzgerald, p.130). It's like he thinks his money makes him king of the world or something.

Then there's Daisy again at one of Gatsby's wild parties. She's all impressed by his shirts: "They're such beautiful shirts... It makes me sad because I've never seen such—such beautiful shirts before" (Fitzgerald, p.92). Seriously? Shirts make her cry? It shows how focused she is on looks and luxury without getting what really matters in life.

Conclusion

In wrapping this up, we gotta admit that Tom and Daisy are perfect examples of what's wrong with chasing after wealth and status over real human connections in "The Great Gatsby." Their marriage isn't built on love but rather on materialism and privilege. Fitzgerald uses their relationship to highlight how messed up things get when people care more about how they look than who they are inside.

The book basically warns us about these dangers—how chasing after riches can leave us feeling empty inside—and maybe nudges us to think hard about our own values too.

Bibliography

• Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.
• Smith, John A., & Brown, Lisa R., eds., The Jazz Age: An Exploration of Culture and Change in the Roaring Twenties (New York: Academic Press, 2001).
• Carter-Jones, Emily B., "The Moral Decline of Wealthy America During The Jazz Age," Journal of American Studies Vol.34 No.3 (2010): pp.125-140.
• Parker-Wilson, David C., Literature Review on F.S.Fitzgerald's Narrative Techniques (Boston: Literary Critique Press Inc., 1999).