Unrequited Love

F. Scott Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby is no stranger to unrequited love. Perhaps it is because the author himself drew it out of his own experiences. But he also pulls on a seemingly knowing nostalgic love, which is evident between Gatsby and Daisy.


It is noted in the Novel that Gatsby throws his parties in hopes of attracting Daisy's attention. Like Fitzgerald and Zelda, Daisy seemingly refused Gatsby for his lack of money, prior to the start of the book. Gatsby's almost criminal job was partly to make enough to win Daisy's heart. When Gatsby left for the war, Daisy made a promise to wait for him, however her need to be loved overcame her and she married a wealthy Tom Buchanan.

On the other hand, towards the end Tom has seemingly sworn off seeing Myrtle Wilson, leaving behind a haggard woman who still harbors feelings for him. Sadly for her, she was merely an object to Tom. Myrtle's husband, George, is devastated by the affair and wants to leave the Valley of Ashes and move far away from the object of Myrtle's affection. "George is comparable to Gatsby in that both are dreamers and both are ruined by their unrequited love for women who love Tom." (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby/characters.html)

Sources:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby/characters.html