The Theme of Carelessness in The Great Gatsby

Essay by Anonymous UserHigh School, 11th gradeA, November 1996

download word file, 3 pages 4.1

Downloaded 102 times

The Theme of Carelessness in The Great Gatsby

The idea of carelessness plays an important role in The Great

Gatsby. Daisy, Tom, Jordan, Gatsby and Nick were all careless at some points throughout the book. Daisy and Tom were careless about their relationship, their money, and many of their daily activities. Gatsby was also unconcerned with his money. Jordan was blas about the way she treated other people.

ÒThey were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up

things and creatures and then retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. . . .Ó(189) This was an accurate description of the way Tom and Daisy acted. They were constantly neglectful of the way they behaved and when they realized they were wrong, they would retreat back to their money. It was always other people that had to pay for Tom and DaisyÕs careless mistakes.

Daisy also admitted that she was careless in a dialogue with Nick.

ÒI am careful.Ó

ÒNo, youÕre notÓ

ÒWell, other people are,Ó she said lightly.

ÒWhatÕs that got to do with it?Ó

ÒTheyÕll keep out of my way,Ó she insisted. ÒIt takes two to make an accident.Ó

ÒSuppose you meet somebody just as careless as yourself.Ó

ÒI hope I never will,Ó she answered. ÒI hate careless people.Ó(63)

She quickly responded to Nick that she doesnÕt need to be careful. Daisy implied that it is the other personÕs responsibility to be mindful of her. She also said that she hates careless people right after she admitted that she was careless. Daisy was indifferent about her relationship with Tom. She knew that her husband was having an affair with another women but Daisy...