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h 2 >The Common Faults of Marriages Many marriages endure hardships and often result in destruction. In the literary work The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald describes the material wealth experienced by the upper class during the Roaring Twenties. In particular, Fitzgerald depicts the lives of Tom and Daisy Buchanan, a rich married couple who live a luxurious and carefree lifestyle. Unfortunately, their lack of responsibility ultimately results in the destruction of their marriage and of those around them.
In contrast, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller illustrates the lives of a poor and hardworking couple named Willy and Linda Lowman. Miller focuses on the adversity of the middle class after World War II; he expresses the harsh realities experienced when achieving the American Dream. Like many couples, they make many wrong decisions that cause negative repercussions within their marriages. The existence of destruction in their relationships is apparent in the element of faithfulness, the display of mutual respect for one another and the style of parenting. The element of faithfulness in the marriage of Tom and Daisy Buchanan is non-existent.
For instance, the couple is simply committed to the idea of matrimony and not to the person in which they are wedded. Nick Carraway observes that, Daisy and Tom were sitting opposite each other at the kitchen table He was talking intently across the table at her, and in his earnestness his hand had fallen upon and covered her own. Once in a while, she looked up at him and nodded in agreement. They werent happy and yet they werent unhappy either. (Fitzgerald 138) Tom is indifferent to his spouse as is she to him. They only show affection towards one another because they feel it is their duty as a married couple. Furthermore, Daisy is easily persuaded by her lover Jay Gatsby into leaving her husband.
During the argument that ensues at the hotel, Gatsby notifies Tom that Daisy will be under his care from that point onward. After much encouragement, Daisy abandons Tom by saying, I never loved him (Fitzgerald 126). A woman who is truly committed to her husband does not publicly condemn him. Moreover, Tom is openly unfaithful to his wife, which is illustrated when Tom stops at Wilsons garage before going into town. Tom casually tells Nick, were getting offI want you to meet my girl (Fitzgerald 27). A man who values his marriage does not shame himself by making known his infidelity.
The lack of faithfulness in the marriage only allows sentiments of distrust and dislike. In contrast, the element of faithfulness is predominant in the marriage of Willy and Linda Lowman. Willy and Linda are committed to married life and love each other very much. For example, after the argument where Biff tells his father he is leaving, Linda tells Willy to come to bed. Willy taking her in his arms said, in a few minutes, Linda. I couldnt sleep right now.
Go on, you look awful tired. He kisses her (Miller 134). Unlike Tom and Daisy Buchanan, Willy and Linda possess natural warmth and tenderness in their relationship. Additionally, Linda is tremendously faithful to her husband, which is contrary to Daisy who can easily be won.
Trying to reconcile the differences between Biff and Willy, Linda tells Biff, You cant just come to see me, because I love him Hes the dearest man in the world to me, and I wont have anyone making him feel unwanted and low and blue. Youve got to make up your mind now, darling, theres no leeway anymore. Either hes your father and you pay him that respect, or else youre not to come here. (Miller 55) In spite of her love of her son, Linda remains forever faithful to her husband regardless of all his weaknesses. Moreover, Willy cheats on Linda but feels awful and regrets his actions. When out of town, Biff goes to his father for help because he fails math and he catches Willy with another woman.
Willy, tries to explain himself, Shes a buyer. Buys for J. H. Simmons.
She lives down the hall theyre painting. You dont imagine Now listen pal, shes just a buyer. She sees merchandise in her room and they have to keep it looking just so Shes nothing to me, Biff. I was lonely, I was terrible lonely (Miller 120). In contrast to Tom, Willy cheats on his wife but he feels the need to keep it a secret because he is ashamed and afraid that Linda might leave him. The element of faithfulness exhibited in the marriage breeds feelings of complete love and trust.
Within the marriage of Tom and Daisy Buchanan, there exists a lack of mutual respect. This disrespect is illustrated by Tom, who does not value the opinions of his wife. Daisy suggests going to town on a hot summer day and Tom breaks out savagely, I dont see the idea of going to townsmen get these notions in their heads (Fitzgerald 114). Tom thinks he is more intellectually sound than his wife and publicly dismisses her ideas as those of a foolish woman. In addition, Daisy does not care about her husband as much as she cares about herself. Nick secretly invites Daisy over for tea to meet Gatsby and warns her, Dont bring Tom and she innocently replies, Who is Tom? (Fitzgerald 81).
Although Nick is her cousin, a loyal married woman should be suspicious about the motives behind being invited to tea without her husband. Instead, Daisy jokes around and pretends to not know who Tom is and eagerly accepts the invitation because it might bring her pleasure. Moreover, Tom does not respect Daisy, which results in his need to control her. Nick observes that, Tom was evidently perturbed at Daisy's running around alone, for on the following Saturday night he came with her to Gatsby's party.
Perhaps his presence gave the evening its peculiar quality of oppressiveness (Fitzgerald 100). It is essential to Toms that he knows everything regarding his wife, not because he loves her, but because he thinks she will embarrass him with her promiscuous ways. The absence of mutual respect in the marriage of Tom and Daisy encourages a damaging and unequal marriage. Lik...
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