Carrissa
asked:
At the end of the novel, only Tom and Daisy remain together, unscathed by the novels many tragedies and disappointments. Knowing what you do about these two characters, why do things turn out this way? What allows Tom and Daisy to escape much of the pain of what they contributed to?
To answer questions about
The Great Gatsby,
please sign up.
Sarah
Though the "happy ending" Tom and Daisy are given seems to be an endorsement of their flaws and unfavorable qualities, the fact that the reader knows all of this and still witnesses their relative escape acts as a condemnation of the society that permits this. The Great Gatsby is ultimately Fitzgerald's commentary on a hypocritical and facetious society that allows the rich and famous to get away with whatever they please.
Ann Gordon
Money wins. Tom and Daisy move on, without a care about the lives they helped destroyed. Their money keeps them together and moving up in the world.
Lara Rouse
I saw it as the bulletproofness of not really caring about anything but success, riches, and being self-serving, as opposed to Gatsby, who while he did have riches and success and had been willing to do sketchy things to get them, he was not, excuse me for going here, bulletproof, because he dared to dream and expect life to count for more.
Rafsan
Tom and Daisy remain together like in host and parasite. Tom was buying jewelry or whatever for his new mistress. Daisy remain because she has nowhere to turn to. They don't care for each other, they don't care for anything at all. Like the parasites they are, they live of each others miseries , vulnerabilities and mistakes. That seemingly "happy ending" was also a food for your thought. You should keep asking, "Is a life like Tom & Daisy worth living?"
K Jenkins
Daisy has her finger broken by Tom, has Tom's multiple affairs painfully exhibited in front of her and her house guests and is fully aware that Tom is a racist: she is thus physically abused, emotionally abused and intellectually abused by her husband. Gatsby tricked her and lied to her about his true identity and betrayed her into thinking he was someone other than a criminal. She turns to Gatsby for an escape from Tom's cruelty. When she discovers that Gatsby is actually Gatz and that he is a bootlegger and a criminal - she feels betrayed and leaves the hotel in New York devastated that another man has lied to her. She is not jailed for the murder of Myrtle, and "gets away" with that portion, but she does not return to Tom "unscathed" as you say. Don't forget, she genuinely loved Jay Gatsby it was her parents who would not let her go to Gatsby at the train station to see Gatsby off to battle. She did not destroy George or Jay's lives - Tom did. Sure Gatsby "dared to dream" but at the expense of reality. Such as the fact that he was impacting Daisy's life 5 years later and utterly lying to her about his identity. Daisy was just a trophy for him. Daisy may be financially privileged but her experience isn't anything like Toms: her parents manipulate her, Jordan uses her, Gatsby only wants her because she is popular and Tom only married her for her money.
Michael Chapman
What allows Tom and Daisy to escape much of the pain of what they contributed to?
One word - Privilege. White, wealthy, and from 'good stock'.
The author understood privilege perfectly.
One word - Privilege. White, wealthy, and from 'good stock'.
The author understood privilege perfectly.
Kenzie Derstine
Great question, I would have to agree it is because of all their wealth. Money and power takes superiority over reality and what actually happened. This is ultimately the reason Daisy married Tom and is the reason she is still with him.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more