Examples Of Who Is To Blame In The Great Gatsby

Ryan Wolfe
Ms Marcuccio
American Literature
25 April 2023 Who is to Blame? In the book, The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, each character's actions play a part in the tragic outcome of the story. The main character, Jay Gatsby, chases the American Dream for his whole life. This idea has him doing anything and everything for a girl, Daisy Buchanan, who he has been in love with for five years. Although the readers know that he doesn’t have a chance with her, Daisy leads Gatsby to think he does. Later in the novel Daisys abusive husband, Tom, feels like he is losing control and goes crazy leading him to blame Gatsby for the death of Myrtle. Meanwhile, when all of this is happening, Nick does not advise his friend about

Gatsby made a lot of decisions throughout the book that hurt him. Nick never really tried to stop Gatsby, but more or less encouraged him. In chapter five Gatsby wants Nick to arrange tea with Daisy so he can see her again. Nick says, “I’m going to call up Daisy tomorrow and invite her to tea” (Fitzgerald 63). When he does this he is setting Gatsby up for failure. He knows that Daisy is married and is aware that Gatsby does not have a chance with her. Yes, he is trying to help him out in the spur of the moment, but his decisions are hurting Gatsby long term. Even after Gatsby's death Nick finds a way to make him look innocent and like a good friend. Nick says, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy” (Fitzgerald 137). Although Tom and Daisy are partially responsible as well, Nick points the blame right to them. He doesn’t even think for a second how he might be at fault for some of this. Nick is not the only one to blame for Gatsby's death when Daisy also played a part as

Many times Daisy would flirt with Gatsby and make him think he had a chance. She would give him false hope and talk about their future together when she very well knew there wasn’t one. In chapter seven Daisy whispers to Gatsby, “You know I love you” (Fitzgerald 90). Gatsby then tells her to admit that to Tom, but she can’t. Daisy herself was confused and would pick Gatsby in private, but Tom in public. This was very confusing for Gatsby because he was getting mixed signals which just drove him crazier and more willing to do anything for Daisy. Later in the book, after Daisy hits Myrtle with the yellow car, she runs away. She doesn’t say anything to Gatsby, she doesn’t try to take the blame for him, she just leaves. “I suppose Daisy will call too.” He looked at me anxiously, as if he hoped I’d corroborate this” (Fitzgerald 118). Gatsby says this to Nick the day that he dies. This quote shows how much false hope Daisy gave Gatsby. Daisy hurt him by leading him on, so much so that it made him anxious and always worried. Daisy had a lot to do with the death of Gatsby, but her husband, Tom Buchanan, also played a huge