Essay on Comparison and Contrast in The Great Gatsby

Comparison and Contrast in The Great Gatsby The success of Francis Scott Key Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby is in part due to his successful characterization of the main characters through the comparison and contrast of Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson, Tom Buchanan and George B. Wilson, and Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby. The contrast is achieved through two principle means: contrasting opposite qualities held by the characters and contrasting one characters posititve or negative qualities to anothers lack thereof. Conflict is generated when the characters sometimes stand as allegorical opposites. On the other hand, comparison of two characters is rather straightforward. This comparison and contrast is prevalent in Fitzgeralds†¦show more content†¦Again, she tells Nick, I married him because I thought he was a gentleman. I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasnt fit to lick my shoe (35). While Myrtle married thinking her husband was a gentleman, Daisy married because she wanted to settle her life. The narr ator explains, She wanted her life shaped now, immediately -- and the decision must be made by some force ... that was close at hand. That force took shape ... with ... Tom Buchanan. ... Daisy was flattered (151-152). Daisy married more for convince. Other than the affairs, differences in marriage can be found. For starters, Daisy is romantic. She once says, ...its very romantic outdoors. Theres a bird out there on the lawn that I think must be a nightingale come over on the Cunard (Line) or White Star Line. ... Its so romantic, isnt it, Tom? (15). This is revealing of Daisy in that it revels her way of thinking. She sees a bird and instantly thinks of romantic things like cruise lines. Daisys approval of the movie director and his star at Gatsbys party also shows her romanic side (106). Moreover, Daisy has an alluring quality in her voice. Nick comments, It [Daisys voice] was full of money -- that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle in it, the cymbals song in it... (120). A further quality of Daisy is her gullibility. For example, Daisy tells Tom that she heard Tom is engaged. Even after TomShow MoreRelatedEssay about Wealth in Fitzgerald ´s The Great Gatsby 520 Words   |  3 Pages The Great Gatsby shows the dehumanizing nature of wealth by creating a contrast between the rich and the poor. The point of this contrast is to illustrate the class struggle that was occurring in the country when Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby. The comparison between rich and poor is first developed in the begi nning of the book when Tom and Nick are driving to New York. Fitzgerald further elaborates on the gross differences between rich and poor when Gatsby manages to avoid a speeding ticketRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald979 Words   |  4 PagesF. 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