At the dinner table last night, the discussion turned to The Great Gatsby, and it became apparent that family members disagreed as to Daisy’s true nature. 3 people considered Daisy essentially a ditzy waste of space, while 2 believed the book was written such that it is at least possible to consider her a malicious, manipulative person.
I know many posters here are fans of TGG, and wondered where you weighed in on Daisy’s nature?
I’d say…both. She was incredibly foolish in the way she conducted her life, and did not, I’d say, intend to cause the car crash that precipitated Gatsby’s death. But I think she coldly decided to let Jay take the fall for her, because she knew he was entirely vulnerable to her manipulations.
I’ll go with both. Daisy was out for Daisy, period. Nick describes both her and Jay Gatsby as “reckless”, which pretty much sums it up. She’s out to have fun and be rich. When it looks like the affair with Gatsby is going to be fun, and she can still be rich if she leaves her rich husband and goes with Jay, then she’s all for it. Maybe she did love him back in the day, but she’s not really capable of that kind of emotion any more. For a little while, she thinks she can get her soul back by being with Gatsby again, but when the wreck happens, she sees that there’s a possibility she’ll lose her money, fun and freedom. So she throws Gatsby under the proverbial bus.
I wonder if you’re thinking of a description of Tom and Daisy, vibrotronica, although it could apply to Gatsby too:
Was Daisy ever actively malicious? I can’t think of an example where she was. I think she just wasn’t much interested in anything other than herself. Gatsby loved her and she didn’t think about its effects on him. She decided she loved him back and didn’t think about its effects on Tom. If people were showering her with attention and affection the way she was accustomed to, I think that was all she wanted and she didn’t think about what it meant for anyone else.
Selfish and careless - thoughtless. I don’t think malicious, though - unless you consider being so terribly selfish that you are simply incapable of anything other than “what about me” driving your decisions as being malicious.
Someone please shoot me. When I saw this thread title, the very first thing I thought of was Daisy-Mae from the Dukes of Hazzard. :smack:
I’d say she was more ditzy, vain & narcissistic than truly malicious. But IMO she definintely intended to let Gatsby take the fall for her manslaughter/driving mishap. That’s certainly crossing a line into evil territory.
My eldest daughter was adamant that nothing in the book prevents you from concluding that she intentionally ran Myrtle down.
May I just say how much I envy the dinner conversation at Dinsdale’s house, where the family sits around and analyzes The Great Gatsby.
I had dinner with my mom the other night, and her topic of choice was concern about when the new episodes of “Dawg the Bounty Hunter” would be airing.
Thank you, Marley23. That’s the passage I mangled. But my point still stands.
I thought it was going to be about Daisy Duck, and was disappointed when it wasn’t.
:smack:
I see manipulation, but no malice. You have to see other people as people to be malicious toward them; I don’t think other people entered Daisy’s worldview. She’s selfish and thoughtless, but I don’t see an intent to do evil driving her.
Let me know if you’re coming thru town and we’ll set an extra plate on for you! 