When Jay left for war, she lost her handsome, rich soldier, falling in love with the wealthy Tom Buchanan. No. But Ive found that these are the clothes that I feel most confident and like myself in. Moreover, rather than relaxing under this power trip, Wilson becomes physically ill, feeling guilty both about his part in driving his wife away and about manhandling her into submission. The only purpose of the parties was to solicit Daisy's attention; now that they are reunited, the parties have lost their purpose. It is interesting that the vast majority of the crime or near crime that is described is theftthe taking of someone elses property. The overwhelming heat of the day plays a vital role in creating an atmosphere of stifled, sweaty, uncomfortable breathlessness. WebTom, Myrtle, Daisy, and Gatsby were selfish and self centered leading them to become Morally responsible for the death of Jay Gatsby. One a night of driving home, Daisy hits a woman and doesnt stop and Gatsby takes the fault of the murder telling Nick that he felt married to Daisy, and this costs him his life in, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, introduces the reader to scenes of violence that contribute to the meaning of the complete work. Your friends are all done with their finals and you still have one more to go. Michaelis was shocked to hear this, because usually Wilson was a meek man. This is very true, as the real Daisy served no other purpose to Gatsby than to bear a faint resemblance to the fantastical angle he had conjured out of his shattered dreams. Like Daisy, Tom only cares about himself. Backpacking across Europe? Ace your assignments with our guide to The Great Gatsby! Daisy was fully aware of her situation. The "death car" as the newspapers called it, didn't stop; it came out of the gathering darkness, wavered tragically for a moment and then disappeared around the next bend. Personally, I found Daisy Buchanan to be a superficial gold digger. Please wait while we process your payment. Tom has a friend who tried to go into business with Gatsby and Wolfshiem. Her husband may have been cheating on her, but if she addressed the issue, that would risk a divorce. Gatsby stops throwing parties at his house and instead carries on an affair with Daisy. Tom starts picking at Gatsby, but Daisy defends him. We find out towards the middle of the book Gatsby is obsessed with Daisy to the point that his life is 'Daisy'. To him, she was a goddess, and amazing woman he felt was above his standing. Daisy cannot do this, and Gatsby's dreams are dashed. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Ask questions; get answers. WebDaisy, too, ceases to play the part of a world-weary sophisticate upon her reunion with Gatsby. He is a mystery. Daisy and Tom have an intimate moment together as they figure out what they are going to do next. On the drive, Tom explains to Nick and Jordan that he's been investigating Gatsby, which Jordan laughs off. Does Manhattan affect the way the characters behave? WebGatsbys obsessive behavior and lack of sensitivity, combined with Toms decisions and desire for revenge against Gatsby for taking In society peoples egos appear to come before the ones they love. All rights reserved. Wilson also tries to display power. WebA young man (he turns thirty during the course of the novel) from Minnesota, Nick travels to New York in 1922 to learn the bond business. Its been so long since I have felt big enough to take up and control my five foot seven figure. He said he served in the military during World War One as a dedicated captain. (7.316-317). Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). "Come to your own mother that loves you.". But she continues to sway from one direction to the next, while I cannot seem to remember how to move. WebThis news wrecks Gatsbys world. The car hit her and drove off, and by the time Michaelis reached her on the ground, she was dead. Neither, Nick and his friend Jordan Baker attend and sit at table with a man and a young woman. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. In the end, she chose money over love, killing the Great Gatsby. Money is what Daisy loved the most, and I struggle to believe if Tom or Gatsbys love could ever compete with Daisys desire for financial security. However, the heat and tension seem to reverse the behavioral tendencies of the characters we have come to know over the course of six chapters. This is Nick telling us what Michaelis described overhearing, so Myrtles words have gone through a double male filter. First, on this blisteringly hot day, Daisy is entranced by Gatsbys projecting an image of looking "so cool" and resembling "the advertisement of the man" (7.81-83). In the words of Fitzgerald: "No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man can store up in his ghostly heart" (93). TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. There is nothing left to die. (7.292). It can be argued that Gatsby's hamartia consists of several qualities, all of which play a role in guiding Gatsby to his tragic end. ", Gatsby and I in turn leaned down and took the small reluctant hand. On the other hand, the womanizing Tom primly and hypocritically rants about the downfall of morality and the possibility that people of different races will be allowed to intermarry. May 1, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 She began to sob helplessly. It was full of moneythat was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it. Nick has used this word in this connotation beforewhen describing Myrtle in Chapter 2 he uses the word "discreet" several times to explain the precautions she takes to hide her affair with Tom. That was it. Nowadays people begin by sneering at family life and family institutions and next they'll throw everything overboard and have intermarriage between black and white.". Tom accuses Gatsby of not actually being an Oxford man. WebAfter Daisy hits and kills Myrtle, Gatsby refuses to leave without her. Sometimes it can end up there. Nick and Gatsby show up to have lunch with Daisy, Jordan, and Tom. Then she remembered the heat and sat down guiltily on the couch just as a freshly laundered nurse leading a little girl came into the room. They weren't happy, and neither of them had touched the chicken or the aleand yet they weren't unhappy either. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education. High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl. he cried. Like Tom, Daisy is deeply attached to her upper class lifestyle. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! WebIn the novel, The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, a selfish and careless woman, is the person with whom Jay Gatsby, the protagonist, is infatuated. Maybe you don't believe that, but science" (7.123). ", "You loved me too?" It turns out that Gatsby has replaced all of his servants with ones sent over by Wolfshiem. The child, relinquished by the nurse, rushed across the room and rooted shyly into her mother's dress. How is alcohol used in the novel? He never showed much affection for Daisy; she was just a pretty face for show. At first, Tom jokes about Wilson getting some business at last, but when he sees the situation is serious, he stops the car and runs over to Myrtle's body. You may even be procrastinating right now while you read this article! Tom Buchanan is the main antagonist in The Great Gatsby. Back at his house, Tom invites Nick and Jordan inside. This moment of truth has stripped Daisy and Tom down to the basics. He can not get the vision of her out of his mind. Married life is suffocating, and these characters spend significant energies trying to break free. Daisy asks to go into Manhattan and Tom agrees, insisting that they go immediately. However, Daisy plays the most important role for Gatsby's death. You reward yourself for studying and consume so much pizza that it actually consumes you. We have no idea what Wilson has been saying to her to provoke this attack. Stand up now, and say How-de-do. Gatsbys fantasy of Daisy undergoes a slow demise when he meets her daughter, and when he learns that she is simply unwilling to renounce her entire history with Tom for Gatsbys sake. She stays majority of the week, which leads to Gatsby having to fire his workers to prevent rumors from forming. It was too late. Michaelis and this man reached her first but when they had torn open her shirtwaist still damp with perspiration, they saw that her left breast was swinging loose like a flap and there was no need to listen for the heart beneath. I feel my stomach drop like Im on a rollercoaster that only seems to go down. He chooses to remain loyal to the young Daisy of eighteen, who was "by far the most popular of all the young girls of Louisvilledressed in white, and had a little white roadster" (Fitzgerald 72-73). I wonder how strong a feeling can actually get before it is too much to bear. All that Gatsby wants is Daisy, but Daisy repeatedly prevents him from attaining this goal of possessing her completely. "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."(7.74-75). In fact, the reader meets Tom long before Gatsby does, and understands that Tom will not back down from Daisy gracefully. Dont have an account? Tom asks a policeman for details of the accident. Lets create a culture that celebrates expression rather than forces unrealistic expectations. Our response writers have been keeping us supplied with engaging content to get us through these last few weeks of the semester. Shouldnt those around us love us for us rather than the clothes we are wearing? The presence of the nurse makes it clear that, like many upper-class women of the time, Daisy does not actually do any child rearing. Before her party, Tom has sex with her while Nick (a man who is a stranger to Myrtle) waits in the next room, and then Tom ends the night by punching her in the face. Were currently seeking writers to join our summer writing program. Imagine hearing about a friend or family members death and not truthfully knowing how they died. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! "It doesn't matter any more. Tom is also deeply invested in maintaining the social order. Summer is right around the corner, and we're thrilled to welcome it with you. ,FB. Daisy and Tom were sitting opposite each other at the kitchen table with a plate of cold fried chicken between them and two bottles of ale. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. On the other hand, Jordan is a pragmatic and realistic person, who grabs opportunities and who sees possibilities and even repetitive cyclical moments of change. Gatsby welcomed everyone to his soires to enjoy his hospitality; that is how we met and we became close ever since. Here are the top three response articles of last week: People havent always been there for me but music always has. Taylor Swift. While we all wish to experience love, many of us tend to find the often inevitable detachment to be quite painful. Gatsby and Daisy drive home together. M1~Kb} In reality, Gatsby is miserable. That evening Wilson had explained to Michaelis that he had locked up Myrtle in order to keep an eye on her until they moved away in a couple of days. Everyone is restless and nervous. It's no surprise that this very long, emotional, and shocking chapter is laced through with the themes of The Great Gatsby. Your favorite summer hobby and how you got into it. The transition from libertine to prig was so complete. Kristen Haddox, Penn State University4. "You ought to see the baby" (14). In his mind, Daisy has been pining for him as much as he has been longing for her, and he has been able to explain her marriage to himself simply by eliding any notion that she might have her own hopes, dreams, ambitions, and motivations. Nick is happy whenever he gets to demonstrate how undereducated and dumb Tom actually is. Your brain hurts. It then lead him back to the arms of his lost lover, then eventually to his death. When Gatsby first met her, she was a rich girl and he was just any other guy. Chapter 7 marks the climax of The Great Gatsby. Of course, the primary death in this chapter is that of Myrtle, gruesomely killed by Daisy. There is no doubt Tom was a terrible husband, but he cannot be blamed for Daisy deciding to stay with him. He gets a bottle of whiskey to bring with them. When he realizes that witnesses can identify the yellow car that hit Myrtle, he worries that Wilson, who saw him in that car earlier that afternoon, will finger him to the police. For example here, although fall and winter are most often linked to sleep and death, whereas it is spring that is usually seen as the season of rebirth, for Jordan any change brings with it the chance for reinvention and new beginnings. However, before we draw whatever conclusions we can about Myrtle from this exclamation, its worthwhile to think about the context of this remark. "I love you nowisn't that enough? Flushed with his impassioned gibberish he saw himself standing alone on the last barrier of civilization. When Nick asks Gatsby what part of the Middle West he's from, Gatsby replies "San Francisco". Without Tom's money, Daisy felt she would be nothing. This crushes Gatsby. There is a short, but crucial, argument about who will take which car. Despite the fact that she has social standing, wealth, and whatever material possessions she could want, she is not happy in her endlessly monotonous and repetitive life. Eventually, the wedding music pops up in the middle of the climactic argument like this: "From the ballroom beneath, muffled and suffocating chords were drifting up on hot waves of air" (7.261). You show up to your 8 a.m. final with about three hours of sleep, no coffee and only half of the information you studied readily available in your mind. Screaming is absolutely inevitable. I wonder what its like to be free. He forces a trip to Manhattan, demands that Gatsby explain himself, systematically dismantles the careful image and mythology that Gatsby has created, and finally makes Gatsby drive Daisy home to demonstrate how little he has to fear from them being alone together. Almost from the get-go, Tom calls it that Gatsby's money comes from bootlegging or some other criminal activity. Also key this chapter are women characters. Similarly, any romantic ideas Daisy may have had about Gatsby vanish when she learns that he is a criminal. Here, Toms anger at Daisy and Gatsby is somehow transformed into a self-pitying and faux righteous rant about miscegenation, loose morals, and the decay of stalwart institutions. Whose response does Nick view as "sick" and whose as "well"? The existence of the child is proof of Daisy's separate life, and Gatsby simply cannot handle then she is not exactly as he has pictured her to be. As I was reflecting on his death I thought, Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it [was] what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short winded elations of men (2)., To start with, she thinks Gatsby is wealthy and falls in love with him. After all, Jimmy Gatz became someone he wasnt (in some ways illegal) in order to win her heart. The conversation is tense. his little stunts. For Daisy, what she really wants is not a romantic lover, but she needs a man who can give her a comfortable life and a respect position., When Nick Carraway moves to New-York he buys a house on West Egg, Long Island. Finally, she is restrained by her husband inside her house and then run over. Standards have been set for centuries regarding expectations surrounding dress, especially for women. Similarly, any romantic ideas Daisy may have had about Gatsby vanish when she learns that he is a criminal. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one." Toms antagonism, then, is not just an attempt to thwart Gatsby in his specific quest, but to fight against class mobility in general. "You think I'm pretty dumb, don't you?" Here, she is pointing out Wilsons weak and timid nature by egging him on to treat her the way that Tom did when he punched her earlier in the novel. He was willing to do anything for her. All the money, the flashy car, and clothes, were all for her. But it was done now. "Oh, you want too much!" Gatsby knows what could happen to him, but he still takes the fall for Daisy. A+ Student Essay: The Automobile as a Symbol in The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby Background. (7.229-233). "She's got an indiscreet voice," I remarked. At the same time, it's key to note Nicks realization that Daisy "had never intended on doing anything at all." Daisys body is never even described, beyond a gentle indication that she prefers white dresses that are flouncy and loose. The hotel room is stifling, and they can hear the sounds of a wedding going on downstairs. I don't think he had ever really believed in its existence before. WebExpert Answers. The mighty fall of Jay Gatsby was the result of Daisy and her shallow self. Gatsby says he was driving the car when Myrtle's husband finds out he kills Gatsby. Wilson explains the he's figured out that Myrtle is cheating on him, so he's taking her the way from New York to a different state. Many book lovers and movie-goers would be insulted by my saying this, but her relationship with Jay Gatsby ultimately led him to his death. Mutability of Identity. When Nick mentions his and Daisy's hometown, she cries " How gorgeous! This is a response to 7 Prompts For Journaling Every Day Of The Week. Cody taught Gatsby how to be a gentleman and became the general blueprint for Gatsby's life of wealth and power. "What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon," cried Daisy, "and the day after that, and the next thirty years? The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story on the surface, but it's most commonly understood as a pessimistic critique of the American Dream. Gatsby is gone and so is his dream. Read our full summary of The Great Gatsby Chapter 7 to see how all dreams die, only to be replaced with a grim and cynical reality. He always had a good taste in music and its no wonder this song was his favorite. Later, Myrtle seethes with jealousy when she sees Tom driving next to Jordan, and assumes that Jordan is Daisy. She even spins. Odyssey will continue to spotlight top response articles on our homepage every week, and in our brand new newsletter Overheard on Odyssey. Gatsby has all the money in the world but it can not buy him happiness toward Daisy How is the use if flashback effective in this chapter- think in regards to the telling of Gatsby's life? Finally, here we can see how Pammy is being bred for her life as a future "beautiful little fool", as Daisy put it. Meanwhile, Myrtles corpse is described in detail and is palpably physical and present. Just as crime is everywhere, so too is illicit sexuality. To Gatsby, the It's clear that once again Gatsby has fundamentally misunderstood Tom and Daisy's relationship. Well, if that's the idea you can count me out. The music takes control of my vacant body and for a solid three minutes I am nowhere to be found. Daisy cant bring herself to do this, and instead said that she has loved them both. Nicks point is that reality always falls short of the dream, and so striving to stay in the dream can just as easily lead one into a nightmare. Wealthy, powerful characters such as Tom Buchanan are the major causes of violence introduced because they are selfish and careless. They are in the least showy room of their mansion, sitting with simple and unpretentious food, and they have been stripped of their veneer. Gatsby requests if Nick can reintroduce him with Daisy. Sure, these items could be considered trendy or timeless and not fit a specific style. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Not only will you gain valuable writing experience, but youll get to choose your own topics and write one response a week to one of our top trending articles. It is almost as though Tom's life of lies gives him special insight into detecting the lies of others. "Perhaps I am, but I have aalmost a second sight, sometimes, that tells me what to do. One of the most iconic couples in literature is without a doubt James Gatsby and Daisy, but personally, I feel she is responsible for his death. Throughout middle school and high school, I played cross country and soccer, leading me to stick with athleisure most days. In no way am I denying that Daisy never had feelings for Gatsby, but she most certainly left him high and dry in the end of story, letting him take responsibility for Myrtles death. He objects to Gatsby not only because Gatsby is in love with Daisy, but also because Gatsby comes from a poor background. Tom shows off Gatsby's car, pretending it's his own. Her eyes fell on Jordan and me with a sort of appeal, as though she realized at last what she was doingand as though she had never, all along, intended doing anything at all. Wilson decides to take Myrtle to live somewhere else. In addition Is it sicker in this situation to take a power-hungry delight in eviscerating a rival, Tom-style, or to be overcome on a psychosomatic level, like Wilson? Youve successfully purchased a group discount. From a young age, girls are introduced to a culture where they are expected to dress to impress specifically the men around them. When I hear this song, I forget where I am. "She never loved you, do you hear?" Twice as long as every other chapter, it first ratchets up the tension of the Gatsby-Daisy-Tom triangle to a breaking point in a claustrophobic scene at the Plaza Hotel, and then ends with the grizzly gut punch of Myrtles death. Gatsbys goal was to get Daisy at all cost, so he did everything to do so and this corrupted him., In the novel, The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, a selfish and careless woman, is the person with whom Jay Gatsby, the protagonist, is infatuated. They pull up to the accident site. With her husband Tom, she had the stability of his wealth. The fall of the Great Gatsby was the result of Gatsby putting his trust in a false love. She threw away Gatsby's love letter, promising her he would return, for Tom, whose wealth was certain and convenient. We dig into money and materialism, the American Dream, and more in our article on the most important Great Gatsby themes. Why does Gatsby arrange for Nick to have lunch with Jordan Baker? Years prior to the events of the novel, when Gatsby left to join the war effort, Daisy decided to give up on her love for Gatsby and run with a fast and rich crowd. She hesitated. And I realize thats all I have left. "The Bles-sed pre-cious! Consider Nick, Catherine, Meyer Wolfsheim, Klipspringer, Nick, Gatsby himself, Jordan, Tom. The lyrics seem to parade in one ear and out the other. Join our team and let's create something amazing together! After weeks, Daisy begins to come back to her senses and falls in love. WebAn integral part of the plot, Daisy conveys the meaning of the novel, with her multi-dimensional personality and her relation to the conflicts. Discount, Discount Code The image of Tom and Daisy holding hands, while discussing how to flee after Daisy kills Myrtle, is the crux of their relationship. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Nick goes back to the house to investigate, and sees Tom and Daisy having an intimate conspiratorial moment together in the kitchen. Everyones desire for someone who is not their spouse is underscored by the way that an ongoing wedding is continuously described as deeply unappealing throughout the chapter. While she is driving she hits Myrtle Wilson, Myrtle is death. Oqa]9}paVcpV|yxqXL#K}f\h(|\u^nsfB7mo>P4_,.T.YKJ~VoF56 7ahl;x4boF~0p]UvkA1Xr! If Gatsby would have just let her go none of that would've happened. The relentless beating heat was beginning to confuse me and I had a bad moment there before I realized that so far his suspicions hadn't alighted on Tom. Daisy proves her real nature when she chooses Tom over Gatsby in Chapter 7, then allows Gatsby to take the blame for killing Myrtle His failure to understand who it is that is a really having an affair with his wife leads to the novels second murder. The usually passive Daisy kisses Gatsby on the mouth in front of Nick and Jordan in a display of rebellion. Tom calls Gatsby crazy and says that of course Daisy loves himand that he loves her too even if he does cheat on her all the time. Tom's relationships demonstrate his careless with feelings., Who really caused Jay Gatsbys downfall? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. (7.314). The fall of the Great Gatsby was the result of Gatsby putting his trust in a false love. Fourth, Wilson briefly assumes that Michaelis is Myrtles lover. WebDaisy gets married to Tom Buchanan because she can no longer wait for Gatsby. She weeps when he shows her his collection of sumptuous English shirts, and seems genuinely overjoyed at his success. Best of all, you can do it all from the comfort of your own home or wherever you happen to be spending your summer. The next day it is extremely hot. Yet none of these characters achieves anything like happiness. . Comparing and contrasting Daisy and Jordan) is one of the most common assignments that you will get when studying this novel. . Gatsby made a great effort to achieve his dreams, but in the end his efforts were futile. Their relationship, now very, Gatsbys greatness is not in the vastness of his wealth. When Gatsby first met her, she was a rich girl and he was just any other guy. But for Gatsby, Daisy's voice does not hold this sexy allure, as much as it does the promise of wealth, which has been his overriding ambition and goal for most of his life. The day is set and they meet. Gatsby says that he will take the blame for driving the car. He makes a living only to prove himself worthy to Daisy. for a customized plan. The usually reserved Nick wonders about his train conductor and "whose flushed lips he kissed, whose head made damp the pajama pocket over his heart" (7.23). Clare Regelbrugge, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends. He is unwilling to accept the idea that Daisy has had feelings for someone other than him, that she has had a history that does not involve him, and that she has not spent every single second of every day wondering when he would come back into her life. The Treatment of Women. WebForeshadowing. But with every word she was drawing further and further into herself, so he gave that up and only the dead dream fought on as the afternoon slipped away, trying to touch what was no longer tangible, struggling unhappily, undespairingly, toward that lost voice across the room. They get into a discussion and after the whole situation got uncomfortable they get home. Daisys lack of self reliance and ignorance prompt her to be easily led into making bad decisions, causing her to lash out and be held responsible for the death of Gatsby. On the way, with Daisy driving the car, they hit and kill Myrtle, who is trying to escape being imprisoned in her house by Wilson. WebDaisy Buchanan Is Responsible For Gatsby's Death. Daisys passive role in Gatsbys death signals a broader, more abstract antagonist that also haunts the novel: the American Dream of upward mobility. Looking for a way to spend your summer doing something creative and fulfilling? The hot mugginess ratchets up anger and resentment, and also seems to elevate the recklessness with which people are willing to expose and pursue their sexual desires. But she does not hear the same song as me. Tom is on the phone, seemingly arguing with someone about the car. Daisy's attempt at a joke reveals her fundamental boredom and restlessness. It passed, and he began to talk excitedly to Daisy, denying everything, defending his name against accusations that had not been made. Some of it was good and some of it was bad. She conforms to the social standard of American femininity in the 1920s in order to avoid such tension-filled issues as her undying love for Gatsby. Instead of letting Her husband, Tom, denies it. I hear the last words of the song and I lift my head cautiously. =r8vXMv'N)$B%)5jWGa*J!U $HQ|ue{j, s!7xz{R~0r +8b"a?:G;~v'\Pr\za$cq)-3*wE7x,aO0V't]Y=?EA4AAB-ly-_EZg I stared at him and then at Tom, who had made a parallel discovery less than an hour beforeand it occurred to me that there was no difference between men, in intelligence or race, so profound as the difference between the sick and the well. As a writer for Odyssey, youll have the opportunity to share your voice with our community of readers from all over the world. For example, at Miami University, I see a lot of girls in sororities wearing similar outfits throughout the day. With many college semesters coming to a close, students find themselves procrastinating. An aggressive and physically imposing man, Tom represents the biggest obstacle standing between Gatsby and Daisys reunion. Daisy rides with Gatsby. We're using this system since there are many editions of Gatsby, so using page numbers would only work for students with our copy of the book. In the novel the Great Gatsby, the character Jay Gatsby is defined and clarified by the way that he faces external forces. }rF?Ev9IM`-DKmi Through an accident that killed Myrtle Wilson, or the passionate murder of an innocent man, Fitzgerald incorporates themes of the novel., The great flaw in Gatsby's character is his excessive obsession. Even though hopeful dreaming like Gatsbys seems to be oriented toward the future, Nick claims that such dreaming is stuck in the past. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13.