Kiss, Marry, Kill

    Out of the three characters; Gatsby; Wilson; and Tom; choosing one to kiss, marry, and kill was difficult. Each possesses their own flaws, as well as strengths. 

    First, I would choose to kiss Wilson. While he may have been poor and not as attractive as the others, he was a nice and good person. He stayed loyal to his wife despite her unruly behavior with Tom. As Myrtle describes him, “he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe.” (chapter 2). Wilson is honest and hard working with his cars and trying to keep his wife happy. However, he expresses what feels like naive emotions towards Tom. This may be because he is sleeping with his wife. Even if he is trapped under his own marriage, George Wilson is a kind hearted person who has dealt with many things throughout his life. As expressed in chapter 7 by Nick, Wilson is ”his wife's man”. 

    A kiss would be suitable for Wilson as a way to show empathy towards his living situation. Losing his wife in chapter 7 also could not have been easy, even if she was having an affair. 

I would pick Tom to marry. While he did cheat on Daisy, I believe that he was a very loving and thoughtful husband. Tom came from a wealthy background as well as Daisy. Therefore, he was more than capable of keeping her happy financially as living fashionably was her only true love. This may seem like Daisy is only with Tom for his money, and while it may be true, money is the only thing either of them have known. The two didn’t have the best marriage as they were both involved in their own deal of affairs, but he and Daisy are described as, “yet they weren’t unhappy either,” in chapter 7; and their relationship setting is viewed as ‘natural intimacy’. This goes to show that Tom would be a great provider if his needs are suited also. He is a protector as he is described to have, “enormous power of that body,” in the first chapter. 

    I would choose Gatsby to kill. In my opinion, he was a very controlling and obsessive person. This is shown between him and Daisy. I also get the impression that he was fake to the people around him. He is known for throwing elaborate and amazing parties, but most guests don’t know him at all. Nick describes the parties as “people were not invited,” and that they only “came for the party,” (chapter 3). There are also many rumors about Gatsby, the main one being “he killed a man once.” (chapter 3). There is much to talk about for Jay Gatsby himself. Gasby has surrounded his world with the things from his past. As he quotes in chapter 4, “the sad thing that happened to me.,” showing that he has centered his whole life on the things he missed, or Daisy. This can also be shown when Gatsby says, “Why of course you can!” when Nick says a person cannot repeat their past in chapter 6. Nick says that Gatsby had, “given Daisy a sense of security,” in the eighth chapter. The last words that Nick ever says to Gatsby describe Tom and Daisy being a ‘rotten crowd’ and Gatsby being, “worth the whole damn bunch put together.” 

Jay Gatsby is always trying to make himself look better than he really is. In chapter 4, he states that he was, “educated at Oxford,” when really he was only there for five months due to his duties in the war. To Gatsby, Daisy was his whole world. When he met her during his war service, he became obsessed. Her not being able to see him made him make it his life's dream to be with her. However, I believe that he only sees what she has and what she gives. In chapter 8, he describes having other men love Daisy in the past as, “it increased her value.” 

    My selection to marry Tom over the other characters, or more specifically Gatsby, comes from one main difference. Gatsby was very obsessive with Daisy and that is not something I would want in a marriage. He has devoted his entire life to being with her. While his ‘gestures’ may be viewed as sweet and loving, it is simply not my preference. Gatsby and Daisy may have loved each other, but she has moved on and Gatsby has yet to let her go. It also makes me wonder why Gatsby really wants Daisy. He may be just using her for her money as she practically has no personality. While Tom wasn’t the best husband to Daisy in having an affair, he gave Daisy the things she wanted. He genuinely cared for her and she had much more freedom. I wouldn’t want my husband to be with me every second of every day as people need space. I can see Gatsby as the over protective and worry type and I don’t prefer that in marriage. In the end, Daisy chooses Tom over Gatsby. 

    The next three characters; Daisy; Jordan; and Myrtle; were also difficult to pick. 

    Daisy would be the one I would kiss. She was a simple girl, yet needed great things as she only loved money. I don’t think that she would purposefully try to ever do something bad to anyone. I believe that she is genuine and isn’t afraid of the things that scare her. This can be represented by her meeting with Gatsby after 5 years in chapter 5. She was uncomfortable in the beginning and also cried when shown Gatsby’s shirts. Daisy is also real. She says, “a beautiful little fool,” when describing her daughter (chapter 2). She doesn't want her to be a strong independent woman because life is always harder for those girls. In the fourth chapter, Nick sets Daisy apart from the others as he has a, “perfect reputation,’ making her seem flawless and nothing less than desirable. It is also repeated in the first, fourth, and seventh chapters about ‘that voice of hers’ and how it is ‘indiscreet’ and has effects on those around her.

    The details previously given on Daisy go into account on why she deserves nothing more than a kiss. I would not marry Daisy as her only interests are money, fashion, and status. However, she isn’t deserving of death because she is a good person who did nothing wrong. 

I would choose to marry Jordan. She is the realest character in the entire story. She sees what everyone is going through and makes sure that she doesn’t get herself caught up in the same issues. For example, she states, “why go on living,” when talking about both affairs in the story (chapter 3). She is very aware of her surroundings and knows how people can really be. As Nick describes her, “too wise ever to carry well-forgotten dreams from age to age,” in chapter 7. This means that Daisy is always living in the things she wants, or illusions, while Jordan is present and real. She is calming and lives in reality. Jordan Baker is smart and always keeps her head held high. The quote,“avoided clever, shrewd men,” cited from chapter 3 enforces this statement and shows even more how different she is than Daisy. While she may not be the richest, prettiest woman, she is the smartest and most desirable.  

    Myrtle would be the one I would kill. I believe that she is a disgraceful woman. She knew Tom had a wife and still proceeded to have an affair with him. She also treated her husband very poorly. Not only is her personality unflattering, but her face is described as, “contained no facet or gleam of beauty.” (chapter 2). She also tries to be someone she’s not. In chapter two, she is seen changing her dress three times into less fashionable and cheap material. Nick describes one as, “an elaborate afternoon dress of cream-colored chiffon.” I am absolutely disgusted by the actions of Myrtle Wilson and her desire to act as more than she really is. In no life would I ever want to kiss or especially marry the narcissistic woman she is. While she may have more personality than Daisy, she is just an awful person.