Soon after meeting Tom, the Nick introduces Daisy in a completely different light which focuses the romantic energy of the novel around Daisy. Nick enters the sunlit parlour room where Jordan and Daisy are lounging and white flowing dresses. Nick takes great care in explaining the dream-like nature of the room, and how Tom brings an abrupt end to the fairytale Nick is experiencing by slamming the doors shut and erasing the wind from the room. Soon after, Nick describes Daisy as having “bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth” which shows his intrigue into her persona (9). Nick also describes how there are “sad things” in her face which shows the sense of confliction that Daisy feels (9). Later in the same scene Daisy reveals her desire for …show more content…
One example is when Mrs. Sloane invites Gatsby and Nick to dinner. Nick can clearly see that her husband does not want to bring any guests, and declines the invitation, but Gatsby accepts. Nick observes that “he didn't see that Mr. Sloane had determined he shouldn't [attend the dinner]” which speaks to Gatsby lack of perception in general (103). On a larger scale, Gatsby frames his entire adult life around a summer long romance with Daisy. Gatsby builds a house intended to look like a gauty french hotel, plants ivy on the walls to make it appear older than it is, and places it across the bay from Daisy and her family. Gatsby wants people to think he comes from money, and relishes in carrying a shroud of mystery wherever he goes. Initially, while courting Daisy, he lies about himself and his prospects by taking her under “false pretenses” and giving her a false sense of security about his social and financial situation (149). Later Gatsby says “What is the use of doing great things if i could have a better time telling her what I was going to do?” (150). Gatsby distorts himself to Daisy because his obsession with her drives him to create a fantastical version of himself that looks good on paper. He forms the “Oxford man” persona as a reaction to Daisy’s desires to be seen with status. Due to Daisy’s familial and social pressures, she is inclined to marry someone who already has wealth, not someone who has to earn it. Daisy also does not have the time to wait around for Gatsby to earn this money because she must marry when she is young according the the expectations of her family and society at large. Gatsby’s fixation on her prevents him from being able to fully understand her, and how pressures outside of their control affect her choices. Gatsby’s dream itself distorts Daisy to an unrecognizable person. It is not good enough for Daisy to say she loves him, she has to say that she never loved Tom. Gatsby refuses to