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The Theme Of Dissatisfaction In The Great Gatsby

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“The Great Gatsby” is a novel of dissatisfaction, as it is seen peppered throughout the actions of the characters. The state of discontent is essential to the development of the complex plot, as well as the various personalities of the novel. Generally, the lack of complacency enveloping each character, has resulted in senseless actions of coping, and attempts to fulfill the emptiness where their pride belongs. The novel portrays life in New York City in the early 1920s, conveying the glamorous class of the social elites, and the general envying nature of the poor. As Gatsby throws elaborately fancy parties, people of every step of the economic ladder arrive uninvited, without even the simple knowledge of who the host is. Some arrive to …show more content…

In order to fulfill his lustful desires, he takes on another woman, whom he has also become dissatisfied with. As Myrtle continuously chants “Daisy, daisy, daisy”, Tom, in a rage, strikes and breaks her nose, presenting his lack of complacency with her, as well as himself. The guilt of his cheating actions had been eating at him, and being mocked by Myrtle drove the nail into the coffin of his dignity. Due to his own self-esteem issues, he invites Nick, who is symbolic of purity, as the only one who rejects selfish and immoral behaviors consistently, along to flaunt his mistress, as well as his materialistic money. Yearning for his approval, he pompously boasts of his achievement of Myrtle, to impress Nick, and justify his actions in his own mind. Daisy, in return, is dissatisfied with Tom’s lack of sympathy for her, and his blatant disregard for her feelings. As a result of his cruel cold-heartedness, Daisy often engages in argument matches with him. In direct correlation, she eventually gives in to Gatsby’s request of herself as a reaction to the scarcity of her husband’s affection. Despite the downfall of her moral culpability, she vindicates her actions in response to her husband’s deliberate insensitivity towards her with her dissatisfaction of Tom’s behavior. Daisy agrees to leave with Gatsby in his car, further proving that in her conscience, her guilt is absolved. Moreover, in contrast with Daisy’s direct and watered down reasoning for

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