In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the intricate relationship between class and love. Set in the Jazz Age, the novel is a critique of American society and its values, especially how wealth and social status impact personal relationships. Through the characters of Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and George Wilson, Fitzgerald reveals how class shapes and often distorts the nature of love and romantic relationships.

Gatsby and Daisy: The Illusion of Love

Jay Gatsby’s love for Daisy Buchanan is central to the novel. Gatsby, who comes from a poor background, becomes wealthy through questionable means in an effort to win Daisy back. Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy is not just about her but also about the social status she represents.

When Gatsby and Daisy first met, Gatsby was a young soldier and Daisy was a wealthy heiress. Gatsby fell in love with Daisy’s beauty and the luxurious life she led. For Gatsby, winning Daisy is synonymous with achieving the American Dream.

Daisy, however, is less enthralled by Gatsby’s wealth and more by the security it offers. Her love for Gatsby is tainted by her desire for the stability and status that Tom Buchanan’s wealth provides. When Gatsby reunites with Daisy, she is already married to Tom and has a child. Despite Gatsby’s grand gestures, like throwing extravagant parties to impress her, Daisy’s affection for Gatsby is superficial compared to his deep, almost obsessive, love. Gatsby’s idealization of Daisy is a fantasy shaped by his longing for a higher social status, rather than genuine love for the person she is.

Tom and Daisy Buchanan: The Stability of Old Money

Tom and Daisy Buchanan represent the old money class, those who have inherited their wealth and live a life of comfort and privilege. Their marriage appears stable, yet it is marred by infidelity and a lack of true emotional connection. Tom’s multiple affairs, including his relationship with Myrtle Wilson, and Daisy’s own discontent reveal the superficial nature of their union.

Tom and Daisy’s relationship endures despite their problems, mainly due to their shared social status and wealth. Their marriage is less about love and more about maintaining their social position and lifestyle.

They come across as careless, using their money to shield themselves from the consequences of their actions. Their stability is a product of their social class, which allows them to weather personal crises that would be devastating to those with less wealth. Their union underscores how class can often take precedence over genuine emotional bonds.

Myrtle and George Wilson: The Struggles of the Lower Class

In stark contrast, Myrtle and George Wilson’s relationship highlights the struggles of those from the lower class. Myrtle is dissatisfied with her working-class life and her marriage to George, a mechanic. She seeks escape and excitement through her affair with Tom Buchanan. Myrtle’s infidelity is driven by her desire to climb the social ladder and live a more glamorous life. However, her affair only leads to more conflict and unhappiness.

George Wilson, on the other hand, is depicted as devoted yet submissive to Myrtle. His inability to improve their situation or stand up to Myrtle contributes to the instability in their marriage. The conflict between

Myrtle’s aspirations and George’s modest means illustrates the harsh reality that, unlike the wealthy Buchanan’s, lower-class marriages are more vulnerable to strain and conflict. George’s eventual violent reaction to Myrtle’s affair highlights how the pressures of economic hardship can exacerbate personal and relational problems.

Class and Love: A Complex Relationship

Through these relationships, Fitzgerald critiques how class shapes and distorts love. Gatsby’s idealization of Daisy is not just about her as a person but about what she represents—a higher social status. Tom and Daisy’s marriage,

though seemingly stable, is devoid of genuine affection and is maintained by their wealth. Myrtle and George’s tumultuous relationship underscores the struggles faced by those of lower economic status, where love and desire often lead to tragic outcomes rather than fulfillment.

The novel shows that while wealth and social class can provide security and stability, they do not guarantee happiness or true love. Gatsby’s pursuit of Daisy, Tom and Daisy’s superficial marriage, and Myrtle and George’s

strained relationship all demonstrate how social class can influence and often distort romantic relationships. Fitzgerald suggests that the pursuit of wealth and status can overshadow genuine emotional connections, leading to relationships that are more about social positioning than true affection.

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the relationships between Gatsby and Daisy, Tom and Daisy, and Myrtle and George to explore the impact of class on love and personal relationships. The novel critiques the notion that wealth can buy happiness and true love, showing instead that social status often complicates and undermines genuine emotional

connections. Through these characters, Fitzgerald reveals that while class can shape our lives, it is not a guarantee of genuine affection or fulfillment in relationships. The novel ultimately portrays a world where love is often entangled with the pursuit of wealth and social status, leading to complex and often unsatisfying relationships.