Daisy's Calculated Infidelity in The Great Gatsby

In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Daisy gets involved in an affair with Jay Gatsby having the ulterior motive of fixing her marriage with Tom Buchanan. Daisy is arguably The Great Gatsby’s most ambiguous character, and perhaps the most distasteful as well because of her motives. Throughout the book, Gatsby’s love has remained unhindered, whereas Daisy seems undeserving of his dedication and devotion especially since she abuses her influence on him. After realizing her husband’s affair, she uses a facade of beauty and charm to utilize Gatsby as a means of strengthening her marriage and taking revenge on her husband for being unfaithful but also kicking him to the curb once she’s satisfied.

In the past, Daisy’s marriage appeared to be quite successful but the realities of the marriage slowly drove Daisy and Tom apart. Tom’s multiple affairs and indifference towards Daisy have started to reveal the cracks in their marriage. For her, having Tom’s mistress contact him at home seems to be the breaking point where she realizes how far gone his cheating is.

Get quality help now
WriterBelle
WriterBelle
checked Verified writer

Proficient in: Free Essays

star star star star 4.7 (657)

“ Really polite, and a great writer! Task done as described and better, responded to all my questions promptly too! ”

avatar avatar avatar
+84 relevant experts are online
Hire writer

Myrtle Wilson calling Tom’s home surely suggests she wants to ruin his relationship and create trouble at home. In a way, Myrtle succeeds as Daisy is bothered by the inappropriate timing and interference in their regular lives, “‘She might have the decency not to telephone him at dinner-time. Don’t you think?’” (Fitzgerald 20). Daisy isn’t oblivious to Tom’s previous affairs and his constant unfaithfulness but is fearful of their marriage when his mistress interferes with their daily routine at home during dinner.

Get to Know The Price Estimate For Your Paper
Topic
Number of pages
Email Invalid email

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

"You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy"
Write my paper

You won’t be charged yet!

This suggests that Daisy is more perturbed by the timing and has accepted some of his digressions but cannot stand to divorce him or break off their marriage since money is her main concern. The idea of a fallen marriage where Daisy’s status and wealth are ruined can not be tolerated by her. Fortunately for her, an old lover, Jay Gatbsy, is added into the mix of her life and she can grasp this opportunity to hurt Tom due to his infidelity with an affair of her own.

Gaining back Tom’s attention using Gatsby leads to him getting strung along with her with hopes of her coming back to him. He is led on to believe she is as great as he has built up his expectations of her to be in five years when she is with him. However, in reality, she is trying to stir up feelings of jealousy and possessiveness in Tom through her closeness and intimate relationship with another man. When leaving for the town with a group of friends Daisy tries to spite Tom quite obviously, “‘You take Nick and Jordan. We’ll follow you in the coupé.’ She walked close to Gatsby, touching his coat with her hand” (Fitzgerald 128). She purposely chooses to sit with Gatsby in a separate vehicle despite Tom’s natural suggestion to sit with her in the car. Touching his coat adds a seductiveness and helps her provoke him, even more, when she openly affirms her relationship with Gatsby in front of Tom. By her unfaithfulness obvious, Daisy is perhaps trying to get revenge on Tom for his affairs while also gaining his attention onto their growing distance as husband and wife. Though she doesn’t expect much of him as a husband, she still requires a roof over her head and a marriage which she salvages by making her husband jealous.

In the pivotal moment of the book, Daisy’s desire to fix her marriage is brought to success as the bunch resides in an apartment during, ironically, the hottest day of that summer. In the hetocanated, argumentative conversation Tom and Gatsby fight over Daisy and the right to be her partner and lover. Many truths and emotions of the characters are revealed in this scene: from Daisy’s affair adetonatednd Gatsby’s illegal business to Gatsby having loved her since their fling five years ago and Daisy considering leaving Tom. The highlight of the scene could very well be Daisy admitting having once loved Tom which renders Gatsby speechless. She wasn’t able to agree with Gatsby’s claim of her never loving him since it is untrue and Daisy wouldn’t want to ruin her marriage any further. Even after Gatsby blurts out, in the heat of the moment, to Tom that she will leave him Daisy does agree but her threats are empty. Many times in the scene she seems to disagree with the accusation of never having loved Tom but agrees with the claims of wanting to leave him. A clear and defined plan is seen in her words and actions where she is admitting of wanting to stay with Tom but still proposing to leave him due to his behavior.

Adding to her spoiled image, Daisy simply runs back to Tom as soon as he is able to admit his feelings and mistakes, and when it is clear he wants her back. She abandons Gatsby that night, by returning to Tom, and in the future when she doesn’t bother attending his funeral or having any contact with him. She never intended to start a life with Gatsby but only to use him for her relationship issues.

Through a closer look at Daisy’s actions, her motives are revealed. Being with Gatsby never seemed like an option for her, which is why she ran back to Tom as soon as he wanted her. Behind her charming looks is a cunning woman who was able to discover her husband’s unfaithfulness, get him jealous, and get him to admit his love for her, all while leading on and abandoning another man of her past. In The Great Gatsby, having an affair with Jay Gatsby was only for Daisy Buchanan’s gains since it only ends in her favor and others’ harm.

Updated: Apr 29, 2023
Cite this page

Daisy's Calculated Infidelity in The Great Gatsby. (2022, May 26). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/lover-or-pawn-essay

Daisy's Calculated Infidelity in The Great Gatsby essay
Live chat  with support 24/7

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

get help with your assignment