What is Nick's Final Feeling About Tom and Daisy in The Great Gatsby?
What is Nick's final feeling about Tom and Daisy? Unraveling His Emotions
Nick Carraway’s perspective on Tom and Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby is complicated, layered, and ultimately tragic. By the end of the novel, Nick’s feelings towards this couple—who seem to embody the excess and carelessness of the American upper class—are filled with disillusionment and frustration. But why? What is it that leaves Nick feeling this way about Tom and Daisy?
Nick’s Initial Perception of Tom and Daisy
At the start of the novel, Nick is somewhat intrigued and even captivated by Tom and Daisy, despite their faults. They live in East Egg, a world of inherited wealth and old money, which contrasts sharply with Nick’s own background. His first impressions are of a wealthy couple who appear sophisticated, though with obvious cracks in their facade.
The Careless Nature of Tom and Daisy
As Nick observes them more closely, however, he begins to see through their polished exterior. Tom, with his arrogance, infidelity, and sense of entitlement, quickly shows his true character. Daisy, while charming, is portrayed as emotionally shallow, unable or unwilling to face the consequences of her actions. There’s this recurring sense that both Tom and Daisy live in a world where they can do whatever they want without repercussions—almost as if they’re immune to the damage they cause.
I remember discussing this with a friend of mine, Sarah, who mentioned that Tom and Daisy remind her of people who live in a bubble, untouched by reality. And honestly, I can see where she’s coming from. They have money, status, and a sense of security that makes them act as though nothing can touch them.
Nick’s Growing Disillusionment with Tom and Daisy
As the story progresses, Nick's opinion of Tom and Daisy grows more negative. The more he gets to know them, the more he realizes that they are not just flawed but also selfish and destructive.
Tom’s Hypocrisy and Daisy’s Role
One of the most jarring moments for Nick is when he learns that Daisy, in her pursuit of luxury and security, has allowed herself to become complicit in Tom’s infidelity. Daisy’s refusal to leave Tom after Gatsby’s death is another turning point for Nick. To him, it’s clear that Daisy has chosen her comfort over anything resembling love or morality.
The Tragic Incident of Gatsby’s Death
Nick’s disappointment peaks after Gatsby’s death. The Buchanans’ response to the tragedy is perhaps the most telling part of his final judgment. Tom and Daisy flee, leaving behind destruction and chaos in their wake. Nick realizes that their carelessness has not only ruined Gatsby but has also created a ripple of devastation in the lives of those around them. Gatsby’s dream of rekindling a past romance with Daisy, fueled by an unrealistic hope, is shattered by the very people he loved and admired.
Nick’s Final Thoughts: Disillusionment and Disgust
By the novel’s end, Nick’s feelings toward Tom and Daisy are ones of utter disgust. He sees them as people who will always escape the consequences of their actions, protected by their wealth and privilege. For Nick, this marks the final phase of his disillusionment with the American Dream itself.
The Final Judgment
Nick’s last words about Tom and Daisy are both condemning and resigned: "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into 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." This line is significant because it encapsulates how Nick sees them at the end of the novel: as selfish, reckless individuals who never face the consequences of their actions.
Conclusion: Nick’s Emotional Journey with Tom and Daisy
Nick’s final feelings about Tom and Daisy are a mixture of frustration, disillusionment, and a sense of inevitable collapse. He started with a level of admiration for their wealth and lifestyle, but as he got to know them more intimately, he saw the destruction they caused, not just to others but to themselves. His disillusionment mirrors the novel’s overall theme of the corrupting influence of wealth and the moral decay behind the glittering facade of the American upper class.
In the end, Nick understands that Tom and Daisy are not just symbols of wealth and privilege, but embodiments of a moral vacuum that’s pervasive in the world they inhabit. And that realization, for Nick, is both sobering and heartbreaking.
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The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
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How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
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