Daisy Buchanan
Her voice is full of money. -Jay Gatsby
Daisy Buchanan, The Great Gatsby (2013)
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Daisy, as a main character, is also a main symbol. She is a main motivation for Gatsby, as she symbolizes money for Gatsby's "American Dream." |
Throughout the Novel...
"I looked back at my cousin, who began to ask me questions in her low, thrilling voice. It was the kind of voice that the ear follows up and down, as if each speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again. Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget: a singing compulsion, a whispered 'Listen,' a promise that she had done gay, exciting things just a while since and that there were gay, exciting things hovering in the next hour." (9)
"When the melody rose, her voice broke up sweetly, following it, in a way contralto voices have, and each change tipped out a little of her warm human magic upon the air." (108)
"For a moment the last sunshine fell with romantic affection upon her glowing face; her voice compelled me forward breathlessly as I listened — then the glow faded, each light deserting her with lingering regret, like children leaving a pleasant street at dusk." (14)
"As if his absence quickened something within her, Daisy leaned forward again, her voice glowing and singing." (14)
"'Her voice is full of money,' he said suddenly.
That was it. I’d never understood before. It was full of money — that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it. . . . high in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden girl. . ." (120)
"When the melody rose, her voice broke up sweetly, following it, in a way contralto voices have, and each change tipped out a little of her warm human magic upon the air." (108)
"For a moment the last sunshine fell with romantic affection upon her glowing face; her voice compelled me forward breathlessly as I listened — then the glow faded, each light deserting her with lingering regret, like children leaving a pleasant street at dusk." (14)
"As if his absence quickened something within her, Daisy leaned forward again, her voice glowing and singing." (14)
"'Her voice is full of money,' he said suddenly.
That was it. I’d never understood before. It was full of money — that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it. . . . high in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden girl. . ." (120)
Relevance
As a symbol for money, Daisy draws Gatsby in from the start. Money attracts many characters across multiple stories. In this case, Daisy heightens the American Dream. Her beauty is seen through bright gold colors in the novel. She, along with Gatsby, symbolize the idea that the American Dream, money, is out of reach. When you are nothing, as Gatsby was when he was poor, the dream is unreachable. When given a taste of that dream, when Gatsby was associated with Daisy, Gatsby worked to try and be with her. This is the main goal of Gatsby's in the novel. Even so, Daisy is out of reach. While she is across the bay, Gatsby always looks toward an unreachable dream. One that he once experienced but had the false hope that it was attainable through his elaborate display.
Reference (Pre-1925)
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry “Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!”
(Thomas Parke D'Invilliers, This Side of Paradise, 1917)
"Then Halfdane's son presented Beowulf
with a gold standard as a victory gift,
an embroidered banner; also breast-mail
and a helmet; and a sword carried high,
that was both precious object and token of honour.
So Beowulf drank his drink, at ease;
it was hardly a shame to be showered with such gifts
in front of the hall-troops." ("Beowulf," 1019-1026)
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry “Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!”
(Thomas Parke D'Invilliers, This Side of Paradise, 1917)
"Then Halfdane's son presented Beowulf
with a gold standard as a victory gift,
an embroidered banner; also breast-mail
and a helmet; and a sword carried high,
that was both precious object and token of honour.
So Beowulf drank his drink, at ease;
it was hardly a shame to be showered with such gifts
in front of the hall-troops." ("Beowulf," 1019-1026)