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What Does Daisy Wilson's Death Represent In The Great Gatsby

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Throughout the novel, Daisy is a critical character that acts as a symbol to Gatsby’s broken American Dream. A prime example of this is when Gatsby continuously attempts to impress Daisy, in hopes to get back together and re kindle the short relationship they once had before he was sent off to war. This leaves Gatsby feeling rejected, from being unsuccessful at capturing Daisy’s love again, ultimately supporting the false promise the American Dream offers. A long time ago when Gatsby was in love with Daisy, her parents never approved or liked Daisy dating Gatsby, because he didn’t have any, “pomp and circumstance” (75) like the man Tom Buchanan who Daisy ends up marrying. Gatsby soon focuses on being financially successful, hoping to become …show more content…

When Daisy finds out Myrtle is interested in Tom, Daisy kills her by running her over while driving a car, to prevent her from continuing to develop feelings for her husband. After the incident, Gatsby explained that a “women rushed out just as we were passing a car coming the other way” (110) when he was in the car when Daisy was driving. With Daisy being apart of the upper class because of being with her rich husband Tom, the death of Myrtle symbolizes how the upper class continually shatters the hope that the middle and lower class may have for achieving the American Dream. After Daisy ran over Myrtle with the car, she immediately thinks about herself and how she will attempt to avoid the consequences, despite that she just killed a living human being. Following this horrific event, George Wilson, Myrtle’s husband, goes after Gatsby to hunt him down and execute him, and at this time in the novel, Gatsby’s pool is tainted with a “red circle” (162). George Wilson is successful in killing Gatsby, but he himself dies in the process. From the initial incident of Daisy running over Myrtle, an avalanche effect is caused, leading to the deaths of Gatsby, George, and Myrtle. This shows how when the upper class is careless, the middle and lower classes ability to pursue the American Dream is

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