Passage Analysis

“There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams-not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything.” (Fitzgerald 101)

This passage takes place shortly after Gatsby and Daisy are reunited for the first time in five years. Near the end of the night, Gatsby shows an expression on his face that causes Nick to believe that he had made Daisy out to be better than she actually was. When Gatsby met Daisy, back in Louisville, he fell for her, hard. During the five years they were apart, Gatsby spent every waking moment thinking about her, planning parties for her, in hopes of her arriving, and dreaming that they will someday be together. So much of Gatsby’s time and effort was consumed with thoughts of Daisy. He put her up on such a high pedestal that, although she was beautiful, wealthy, and had social class, she would never really be able to compare.