The Void

A dream is an idea that motivates a person into action in an attempt to achieve it. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby gets wrapped up in his dream of running away with Daisy, the wife of Tom Buchanan, because she "never loved him" (Fitzgerald 139). As it is exemplified in the novel, the often unattainable visions are essential in life because they provide a motivation to live actively; however, a dream cannot be allowed to obscure reality. Gatsby exemplifies how dreams preserve active life literally when he mentions how he "tried very hard to die" during the war but seemed to have an "enchanted life" (Fitzgerald 70). Despite the fact that Gatsby wants to die in the war, he can't allow himself to because his heart and mind yearn for Daisy and the fulfillment of his vision for them as a couple. The problems arise when Gatsby does not accept anything less than his envisioned play out of events. She admits,"Even alone I can't say I never loved Tom" because it wouldn't be true (Fitzgerald 140). Because Gatsby is unable to let go of the simple desire and accept her love in the present, Daisy becomes involved in the argument with Tom, and she becomes overly stressed. The end result of her stress, though indirect, is the death of Gatsby. His dream provides an active life until he allows it to distort the truths of Daisy's life. Then, it brings death.