Psychoanalytical Reading

          I agreed with Tyson on many of her points, but felt she tried a little too hard to connect everything. I full heartedly believe that Daisy and Tom both fear commitment, and perhaps Nick and Jordan, but her trying to wrap Gatsby into the same pool of commitment-phobia didn't seem very accurate.
          Tom and Daisy, throughout the book, are obviously shallow, conceited people. However, Lois Tyson brought to light the fact that both of them are terrified of really connecting with anyone. In the beginning of the relationship between Tom and Daisy, Daisy was described as being totally in love with Tom. However, was she loving him for the wrong reasons? Tom was found shortly after their honeymoon with a chambermaid, and was not present for Pammy's birth. Most women would be furious, but, as Tyson puts it, "Rather than hate him for such mistreatment, however, Daisy fell head-over-heels in love with him." (41; ch. 2) Tom Buchanan is equally as commitment-phobic. He uses mistresses to keep himself from truly connecting with his wife. Immediately after their honeymoon, just months after their wedding, Tom is found with a chambermaid from a hotel. Throughout the book, he is openly having an affair, but of course Daisy hardly cares because it helps to restrict the connection that healthy married couples have. We see how Tom acts towards Myrtle, his mistress, and it is obvious he does not have a real commitment to her, either. Tyson points out that, "He has no desire to be close to his mistress; she is merely the means by which he avoids being close to his wife." Tom lies to Myrtle, and even breaks her nose at one point. Tom is hardly a loving man, and he uses his affairs to keep himself from becoming one. One point that I did not agree on was that Gatsby did not love Daisy, that "Daisy is merely the key to his goal rather than the goal itself." I feel that, contrary to Tyson's idea, Gatsby is dedicated to Daisy. I think only instance of love is what Gatsby feels for Daisy. Sure, his love is rather shallow, she is beautiful and rich and charming, but it is love nonetheless. Gatsby is fully committed to Daisy. All he wants is a life with her. He is not afraid to connect with her.