Lecture Notes: Daisy Buchanan and The Great Gatsby

Introduction

• Presenter: Matt Jackson, creator of Quote Companion
• Focus: Analysis of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby
• Coverage:
  • Innocence and its contradiction
  • Charm and manipulation
  • Representation of women
  • Voice
  • American Dream
  • Relationship with Tom
  • Relationship with Gatsby
• Each topic supported by quotes

Daisy's Innocence

• Representation: Often seen as innocent
  • Symbolism: Dressed in white, white roadster, white girlhood
  • Imagery: Childlike expressions, e.g., pink clouds
• Counterargument:
  • Takes initiative in romantic actions (e.g., kissing Gatsby)
  • Possible intentional harm to Myrtle

Daisy's Charm

• Positive Perception:
  • Charismatic presence; laughter is infectious
  • Weather (pathetic fallacy) enhances appeal
• Manipulation:
  • Uses voice to draw people towards her
  • Tells Gatsby she never loved Tom (contradictory)

Daisy as a Representation of Women

• Passivity:
  • Relies on Tom for life decisions
  • Pressured by societal norms
• Trophy Wife/Status Symbol:
  • Valued for wealth and status (e.g., king's daughter, golden girl)

Daisy's Voice

• Characterization:
  • Synedoche: Voice represents the whole person
  • Voice is "full of money" indicating status and value

Daisy's Version of the American Dream

• For Her Child:
  • Wants her child to be a "beautiful fool"
  • Reflects her own life perception: rich but unfulfilled
• Boredom and Aimlessness:
  • Lacks direction despite wealth

Relationship with Tom Buchanan

• Dynamic:
  • Tom's violence and infidelity
  • Mutual carelessness and destructiveness

Relationship with Jay Gatsby

• Emotional Complexity:
  • Initial wedding hesitation for Gatsby
  • Sadness linked to financial realization, not emotion

Conclusion

• Writing Tips:
  • Consider appearance vs. reality in analyses
  • Use provided quotes and analysis structure for essays
• Resources:
  • Quote Companion's example essays and guides
  • Opportunities for free access to essays

Additional Notes:

• Example essays available through Quote Companion
• Offers for free essays include minor tasks like submitting an email or downloading a file.