The Great Gatsby: Tom destroys Gatsby's dream
Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"Oh, you want too much!" she cried to Gatsby. "I love you now -- isn't that enough? I can't help what's past." She began to sob helplessly. "I did love him once -- but I loved you too."
...
"Even that's a lie," said Tom savagely. "She didn't know you were alive. Why -- there're things between Daisy and me that you'll never know, things that neither of us can ever forget."
The words seemed to bite physically into Gatsby.
Tom completely destroys Gatsby's dream of picking up where he left off with Daisy in this scene, forcing him to face reality; and in doing so, Tom ensures that Gatsby will never be happy with Daisy.
Comments
Things certainly start to go downhill from here for Gatsby. Daisy's all over the map and refuses to make any choice between the men. What blew me away was Tom insisting that Daisy ride with Gatsby back to East Egg! He was either the dumbest or the cockiest (another chicken reference - OOPS) man ever! It's all just a matter of time for Gatsby by now.
Posted by: Brenda Christeleit | February 27, 2006 11:34 PM