Love in The Great Gatsby Essay

The Reality of Love

In the Great Gatsby written by Scott Fitzgerald love and relationships are a key element to the overall tone and atmosphere. The story tells of numerous relationships of all different kinds. One occurring theme is lying and the affair. Almost every character gets involved with another person which usually interferes with another relationship. One of the key relationships talked about is the marriage between Tom and Daisy Buchannan. Tom and Daisy have a very strange relationship with affairs, lying and cheating taking place; it seems as though the two were not meant to be and forced into the relationship, but in the end, after all the adversity, they remain one.

To begin, Tom and Daisy first meet after Jay Gatsby leaves for the war. Daisy and Gatsby were once lovers and their relationship was terminated by his departure. The two had the deepest connection and it was as if they were in love. Tom comes into the picture when Daisy met him one day. He seemed like the ideal man for her, strong, muscular, rich and there was just something about him that drew Daisy to become his wife. This however was not the ideal marriage. The two feel like they are in love but their connection is based upon social status, money and physical traits. Daisy was very young when the two first met and she was searching to fit in, have an importance in the world and marrying Tom was the perfect opportunity for her to accomplish this. Though Tom and Daisy felt like they were satisfied with their relationship, the searched continued to find true love. This sets the tone for the story as they both lead lives of lying and affairs.

The burden of affairs starts off very early in the story. When narrator Nick Callaway goes to visit the Buchanans Tom receives calls and leaves the room. It is easily perceived that he is talking to his mistress Myrtle Wilson. He eventually even goes to see her with Nick and they plan a getaway in New York for the day. Daisy on the other hand is set up to meet her ex lover with nick. When they reunite it eventually turns into much more than a friendship. Clearly Tom and Daisy are searching for something more in a relationship. If they were satisfied they would not turn to other people to have an affair. The structure Fitzgerald uses is almost like a down fall. The two seem happy at the beginning of the book, then the affairs start to take place and they seem to have different feelings towards each other.

With all begin said why does the couple not split? Tom and Daisy do show respect and care for each other. When Myrtle says Daisys name repeatedly Tom gets mad and eventually hits her and breaks her nose. He sticks up for his wife and is disgusted that Myrtle acts in this manner. Another key point is the fact that Daisy and Tom end up together at the end of the story. It may be perceived that they end up with each other just because their lovers have died. But it is ironic because Daisy kills Toms mistress on accident by hitting her with a car. Tom tells Mr. Wilson that Jay Gatsby has killed his wife and so Wilson goes and kills Gatsby. Daisy and Tom have killed each others lovers and maybe this was meant to be for now the two can life together in harmony.

Overall Fitzgerald has written a compelling and complicated love story. When broken down the true meaning behind relationships and affairs can be revealed. The burden of love plays a key role in who will live and who will die. Those who were meant to be strive in the end and flourish in love. With all the lying and cheating the Buchanans partake in, their love continues but maybe the thought of what their true love might have come to be.

Work Cited

Fitzgerald, Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 1925. 180.