1. Symbols
1.1. Green Light
1.1.1. The green light at the end of Daisy's dock is a symbol of Gatsby's hopes and dreams, which include Daisy
1.1.1.1. The light being so close to him yet so far represents the physical and emotional distance between him and Daisy, and the gap between the past and the present, along with future promises.
1.1.2. Another thing to note is that the light at the end of the dock is green, symbolizing wealth and achieving wealth through visions of the American Dream in the twenties.
1.2. The Colour White
1.2.1. The colour white is used to symbolize Daisy.
1.2.1.1. In the beginning of the novel, when Nick visits her, she is described as wearing a white dress
1.2.1.2. When Daisy reunites with Gatsby in chp. 5, she is described as wearing a white dress
1.2.2. White represents purity and beauty, both of which describe how Daisy seems to be on the surface
1.2.2.1. White is also a colour that is easily stained or "tainted", just as Daisy is when you look deeper. She is corrupt at heart, yet it is masked with her pure, innocent facade.
1.3. Gatsby's Mansion
1.3.1. The house not only represents the grandness and emptiness of the 1920s boom, but it also represents Gatsby and Daisy's love
1.3.1.1. The house, while grand, was a true embodiment of their love that was corrupted by wealth. It was bought with "new money" to create a place that Gatsby thought rivalled the houses of the "old money" that he believed took Daisy away.
2. Class (Old Money vs. New Money)
2.1. Daisy is someone who prioritizes class and image
2.1.1. “Daisy was popular in Chicago, as you know. They moved with a fast crowd, all of them young and rich and wild, but she came out with an absolutely perfect reputation." [Jordan Baker, Ch. 4]
2.1.2. Evidence of this is the way she avoids drinking so as not to slip up and act recklessly. she wants to have a perfect image, one that won’t be messed up by drunk ramblings.
2.1.2.1. "Perhaps because she doesn’t drink. It’s a great advantage to not drink among hard-drinking people. You can hold your tongue, and, moreover, you can time any little irregularity of your own so that everybody else is so blind that they don’t see or care.” [Jordan Baker, chp. 4]
2.1.2.1.1. The night of her wedding, she was drunk and confessed to not wanting to marry Tom, while holding a letter that is implied to be from Gatsby.
2.1.2.1.2. “Tell ‘em all Daisy’s change’ her mine. Say: ‘Daisy’s change’ her mine!’” [Daisy Buchanan, chp. 4]
2.2. Daisy belongs to the "Old money" class and looks down upon the "New money" class
2.2.1. This is seen in chapter 6 when Daisy attends Gatsby's party and feels offended by it rather than appreciating his efforts
2.2.2. Most of her choices are influenced by this mindset
2.2.2.1. e.g. when she chooses to marry Tom, a member of the "Old money" class, instead of Gatsby
3. the Roaring Twenties
3.1. Fitzgerald portrays the much bleaker side of the roaring twenties by focusing on its indulgence, hypocrisy, shallow recklessness, and its consequences.
3.1.1. Daisy is someone corrupted by the consumer culture of the Roaring Twenties
3.1.1.1. In chp. 5, Daisy breaks down crying while looking through Gatsby's vast collection of luxurious English shirts. This causes her to accidentally ignore Gatsby describing his love for her.
3.1.1.1.1. This shows that rather than be in love with Tom or Gatsby, Daisy is most in love with money and material possessions.
3.1.1.2. In chp. 7, Daisy comments that Gatsby always looks like an advertisement.
3.1.1.2.1. This shows how, like most people in the twenties, Daisy is materialistic enough to even see love as just another material thing that can be advertised.
3.1.2. In a way, Daisy is the embodiment of Fitzgerald's perspective of the Roaring Twenties
3.1.2.1. She is easily swayed by money, luxury, and material goods, and is not sustained to loyalty or care
3.1.2.1.1. An example of this is in chp. 7 when she is shown to be indifferent to her own daughter, treating her as a mere afterthought
3.1.2.2. After Gatsby dies in chapter 8, Daisy and Tom flee. in Chapter 9, Nick describes the two as "careless people" who "smashed things up 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".
3.1.2.2.1. Throughout the novel, Daisy is seen as shallow, recklessly taking advantage of people and abandoning them when they have no use for her.
3.1.2.2.2. Daisy and Tom disappearing the moment Gatsby dies shows how empty and shallow the age really was. It demonstrates that, despite their lives seeming glamorous, they were truly corrupt at heart.
4. Societal Standards
4.1. Daisy is an example of someone who feels restricted by societal standards
4.1.1. "And I hope she'll be a fool — that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." [Daisy Buchanan, Chp. 1]
4.1.1.1. This quote is evidence of her understanding that the society she lives in values the beauty and riches of a woman more than her intelligence. Being regarded as a “fool” in this era was the only way for a woman to be happy.
4.1.2. Almost all of the significant choices she makes are influenced by the aim of a stable, comfortable life through adhering to societal standards. For this reason, she becomes unhappy with some of her choices
4.1.2.1. “Well, I’ve had a very bad time, Nick, and I’m pretty cynical about everything.” [Daisy Buchanan, chp. 1]
4.1.2.1.1. Daisy admits to being unhappy with her life despite appearing the opposite. This also ties to her prioritizing class and image, feeling as though she must put up a front.
4.1.2.2. “You see, I think everything’s terrible anyhow. [...] Everybody thinks so—the most advanced people. And I know. I’ve been everywhere and seen everything and done everything.” [Daisy Buchanan, chp. 1]
4.1.2.2.1. After going places and meeting people and overall living a lavish life, she sees people’s true colours and is aware of the darker, more corrupt sides of her lifestyle, causing her to be more pessimistic.