Love in The Great Gatsby

‘It was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which is not likely I shall ever find again.’ (P2). by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a story about a man who changes everything he is for the inaccessible woman of his dreams. After losing her before the war because of his financial status, he finally tries to win her heart back through his newly attained money. After all his effort, he loses her in a heated argument and he loses his life due to misunderstanding. The essay will briefly analyze the romantic relationship between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan by using Sternberg’s Love Triangle theory.

Gatsby met Daisy at a party in the summer of 1917. Daisy was a beautiful, classy, rich girl and himself was just an officer who was waiting his time to serve in the war. They fell in love with each other at the first sight, “The officer looked at Daisy while she was speaking, in a way that every young girl wants to be looked at some time…” (P75) They soon started a relationship along with passion since they both have a strong feeling of sexual desire for each other. Later, Gatsby realizes the only reason that he existed in this vast universe was for the love of Daisy; She was his everything. They slowly developed a trust between each other and supported their psychological needs. Unfortunately, months later after Gatsby left to the war. After that, everything has changed. Daisy was heartbreaking and married a rich man, leaving Gatsby with no more hope or reasons to live. In this part of the story, Gatsby and Daisy were almost develop the last part of the Sternberg’s Love Triangle-‘Commitment’. However, their relationship didn’t end.

After the war, Gatsby thinks one day Daisy will leave Tom and return to his bed for a fairy tale ending. When he realizes Daisy married a loyal class man-Tom, his life crumbled in front of his eyes, but he did not give up; He has been involved in illegal financial methods and acquired millions of dollars from businesses he did. He would show Daisy that he was rich enough and luxurious enough to possess her. He throws immense parties that outdo everyone’s expectations in hopes of her simply showing up one day. He has changed his identity for his get rich scheme to prove his worth to her. Finally, he meets Daisy with the help of his neighbor, Nike, and they soon start another romantic relationship with each other. She thinks that Gatsby is finally back to save her from Tom and she enjoys their rendezvous. However, things did not go as expected. Daisy finds out her husband Tom is cheating with other woman and Tom finds out Daisy has some unclear relationship with Gatsby. At the same time, she can’t admit to not loving Tom and thinks Gatsby is wrong for making her try to be isolated from Tom. She finally realized she built love based on Gatsby’s wealth; She perceives him to be available until she is driven to an emotional breakdown and thinks he is crazy to want to go back in time. ‘ `You’re revolting,’ she said.’ In the end, it is over for them with these two simple words. She is faced with a cheating husband (Tom) and a man who wants to repeat the past. Later, Daisy rarely talks about Gatsby but more so converses with him. Daisy’s thoughts about him are confused and she is very insecure during their relationship.

Several events occurred throughout the novel, complicating their future relationship together. After Daisy’s extramarital relationship officially begins, Gatsby wants Daisy lying to Tom and he is convincing her that she never loved her husband. “But both of us loved each other all the time…” (P131) argued Gatsby to Tom, Daisy’s husband, explaining the eternal love he felt for Daisy and the love he though Daisy shared with him. Gatsby love did not end the day Daisy married Tom, and that was something he wanted to show her; Gatsby thinks that by getting Daisy to realize her marital mistakes, she will simply leave Tom and marry him.  He is corrupting a relationship and an individual further than their present state of dishonesty. Gatsby was willing to give everything up for Daisy. In a moment of carelessness, Daisy ran over a woman, killing her instantly. Gatsby automatically took the blame for everything to spare Daisy from being accused of murder.”’Was Daisy driving?’ ‘Yes… but of course I’ll say I was” (P143) His eternal love for Daisy made him fear nothing, he only feared solitude; his passion for that girl made him strong before any situation; his commitment made him persevere till the end: “’How long are you going to wait?’, ‘All night if necessary’” (P144). Gatsby then takes the blame like it was nothing with the thought that it is his duty.

The novel is set in a society that money and class status were essentials than anything else. The romantic relationship between Gatsby and Daisy has clearly portrayed in the novel. Unlike most of the love stories that will end with a happy ending, the self-giving love which ultimately leads Gatsby to his death. However, his’s love for Daisy was pure and real, and he gave up everything for the girl he loved; he tried everything he could to win her back. According to the Love Triangle Theory introduced by Robert Sternberg, their relationship only stop at the status of ‘Intimacy’ and ‘Passion’, and never made it towards the ‘Consummate Love’. Gatsby based his whole life into the dream and expectancy of Daisy coming back to his arms; However, it is just a dream.

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