What happens to Daisy at the end of “The Great Gatsby?”
In the world of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, "The Great Gatsby," we encounter a glamorous, lavish, and hedonistic society – a world where the rich seem to live in a bubble of their own making, untethered by the moral and legal restraints that bind the rest of us mere mortals. And at the heart of this extravagant universe lie two characters who exemplify the excesses of wealth and privilege: Daisy and Tom Buchanan. So let's take a closer look at their actions, motivations, and the delightful way in which being filthy rich apparently allows you to literally get away with murder.
At the end of the novel, Daisy Buchanan – a character whose charm and beauty are matched only by her vacuousness – finds herself in a classic love triangle. On one side, there's her husband, Tom Buchanan, a brutish, arrogant millionaire. On the other, there's Jay Gatsby, the titular character, whose obsessive pursuit of the American dream is encapsulated in his longing for Daisy's love. This romantic entanglement ultimately ends in tragedy, as Daisy, driving Gatsby's luxurious car, accidentally kills Tom's mistress, Myrtle Wilson, in a hit-and-run accident. And what do our affluent protagonists do next? Why, they gracefully sidestep any responsibility, of course!
Now, if you're not a millionaire and you find yourself in a situation where you've just killed someone with a car, you might expect some serious consequences to follow. A police investigation, perhaps, or even a long, arduous trial? But fear not, dear readers, for Daisy and Tom Buchanan show us that if you have enough money, these petty concerns can be simply swept under the rug.
You see, in the aftermath of Myrtle's death, Tom and Daisy conspire to pin the blame on Gatsby – the very man who, despite his many flaws, genuinely loves Daisy. In a truly Machiavellian move, they manipulate the grieving husband of the deceased, George Wilson, into believing that Gatsby is the culprit. And as if this betrayal weren't enough, the wealthy duo then promptly skips town, leaving the mess they've created for others to clean up.
The grand finale of this sordid tale is, of course, Gatsby's own tragic demise. George Wilson, driven mad by grief and revenge, tracks down and murders the unsuspecting Gatsby before taking his own life. Meanwhile, Daisy and Tom Buchanan escape unscathed, their wealth and status shielding them from any legal or moral consequences. How delightfully convenient, wouldn't you say?
It's hard not to read "The Great Gatsby" and feel a certain degree of cynicism about the so-called American dream. The novel presents a society in which the wealthy can, quite literally, kill people and evade the consequences with nothing more than a shrug and a change of address. Daisy and Tom Buchanan's story is, in many ways, a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of money and the hollow nature of the upper class.
As we turn the final pages of "The Great Gatsby," we are left with a scathing portrait of a society that has lost its moral compass. Fitzgerald's novel serves as a stark reminder that, for some, the American dream has become a nightmarish landscape of selfishness, deceit, and callous disregard for human life. And while we may read this story with a sense of incredulity and even disgust, one cannot help but wonder just how much has changed in the intervening years since the novel's publication.
In an era of skyrocketing wealth inequality and the ongoing revelation of various financial scandals, the tale of Daisy and Tom Buchanan feels more relevant than ever. It's a sobering reminder that, even as we strive for progress and justice, there will always be those who use their wealth and power to shield themselves from the consequences of their actions.
So the next time you find yourself daydreaming about the glamorous lives of the ultra-rich, remember the story of Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Their tale serves as a stark warning that, sometimes, the trappings of wealth and privilege can hide a much darker reality beneath the surface. And while we might enjoy the escapism of a good Gatsby party, let's not forget that the glittering facade of the American dream can often mask a heart of darkness.
