Tom & Daisy: Still A Better Love Story Than Twlight

    Throughout this week, we focused on examining the elements and backstory behind “The Great Gatsby.” Thus, we explored the complex, dysfunctional relationship between Daisy and Tom.

    After reading the first few chapters, I can confidently say that Tom is a massive scumbag, who is entitled and used to getting whatever he wants. Because of his birth into financial prosperity, Tom is used to having control and dominance over others. His egotistical attitude leads to his support for racist ideologies and white supremacy, thinking of himself and his race as superior to the rest. Additionally, despite finding individual success in a college football career, it is clear that he is just another child born with a silver spoon. Thus, after his physical and reputational peak in college, Tom lives a comfortable life through the wealth of his family. However, this comfort drives him to partake in an affair that brings excitement to his somewhat dull life.

    Daisy, on the other hand, lives a faithful, yet unhappy life, fully aware of her husband’s immoral actions. On the surface, she expresses herself in a happy, cheerful way but it is without a doubt that her husband’s unfaithfulness ebbs away at her internally. Consequently, it is heavily implied throughout the first few chapters that their relationship is strained and both parties are unhappy with the other. This raises the question: why do both stay?

    In my opinion, I believe that Daisy stays because of her husband’s wealth. Although he isn’t able to fulfill her emotional needs, he provides for her a financially comfortable, materialistically extravagant life. Tom, on the contrary, strives for an exciting life, somewhat reminiscent of the crazy, turbulent lifestyle of his younger days. If he divorces Daisy, the excitement generated from his cheating and the inability for anyone to do anything about his immorality fades, and he finds himself trapped within a monogamous relationship once again.