Blog Post #23

How does Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of the novel, fundamentally change over the course of the novel, and how is this change caused by the central conflict(s) that Gatsby faces? Use textual evidence to support your claim. I think that Gatsby's mood for Daisy changes over the book. In the beginning of the book he is very patient with Daisy, not to mention that he waited 5 years. Once he meets with her it is very awkward between them but Gatsby and Daisy finally get more comfortable with each other. Then his love grows more and more intense for her. Soon it becomes kind of controlling and desperate in my point of view. “Oh, you want too much!" she cried to Gatsby. "I love you now – isn't that enough? I can't help what's past." She began to sob helplessly. "I did love him once – but I loved you too." (7.261) I think that this quote shows how Gatsby only wanted Daisy to love him and no one else. He then gets so angry and almost hurts Tom. But then he calms himself and keeps on waiting for Daisy, who never comes, until he dies. One thing that never changed in his mood was his love for Daisy.