Analyze Diasy’s attitude toward her child as evidenced in this chapter and in chapter 1. Is she a good mother? Explain why Gatsby looked “at the child with surprise.”
We met Daisy’s child briefly in chapter 1 and again in chapter 7. Both times Daisy has not paid much attention to the child. Daisy only brings the child into her life as a token to remind everyone she has the “perfect life”, money and a family. Also, by Daisy mentioning the child very little shows the reader where her head really is, on relationships. Daisy is not a good mother; she almost has no right to call herself a mother because she isn’t the one taking care of the child. Gatsby looked at the child with surprise because he didn’t know she had a child because she never talks about it.
Daisy mentions her child briefly in chapter 1, and the reader finally meets the child in chapter 7 for a short time. In both instances Daisy was not very attentive, and even has a nanny to take care of the child. Depending on what defines a good mother, I feel that while Daisy does love her child, she isn't a good mother because based on what we have read, Daisy seems to be more focused on showcasing her child rather than raising her. The reason why Gatsby looked with surprise is because either he was never told about the little girl by Daisy or he never truly believed it until he actually witnessed the tangible child.
The fact that the child is only briefly brought up in these two chapters already hints that she is not very important in the story or to her mother. Daisy likes to give the impression that her life is some type of perfect model that you would see in a magazine. The truth is, she's a terrible mom. She basically uses her daughter to keep up her reputation of being a great mother, wife, and whatever else she's trying to prove. She has a nurse to take care of her daughter and she is more of a mother to the child than Daisy is. Gatsby seems so surprised because Daisy probably either never mentioned that she had a child or he is shocked at how she nearly neglects her kid.
We briefly met Daisy's child in chapter 1 and then again in chapter 7. I think that Daisy only mentions her child to prove she has a good life. But she doesn't pay a lot of attention to the child because they have a nanny. So saying this Daisy could love her child and not be a good mother. I say this because a good mother would want to take care of her own child and not let someone else do it unless they have to. This proves that she might not have a very good relationship with her. Gatsby looked at the child with surprise because he has never seen the child before.
Whether you look into Chapter one or Chapter seven, it's pretty clear that Daisy is not a "good mother". Some people may define good mother differently, but by the standards of most, Daisy is a bad mother. She's basically using the child to flaunt her so-called "perfect life", meanwhile she's not attentive and seems to continually hand off the burden of the baby to someone else. In all fairness, Daisy seems to love her baby, in her own way, which is one important step in motherhood, but no matter how important of a step it is, it's only one step, there is much more to parenting a child. Gatsby was so clearly shocked by the appearance of the child because either he didn't know or didn't believe.
Daisy's daughter does not seem to be a big importance in her life. She always has the nanny take care of her. Daisy would rather live the high life than be a good mother to her daughter. Daisy does not act meanly to her daughter, but does not show her enough love. Gatsby probably looked at the child with surprise because he never pictured Daisy with a kid, unless it was his.
Daisy's child was brought up in chapter 1 for a brief moment, and in chapter 7 as well. Daisy is basically a horrible mother. She never talks about her child, let alone spend time with her. A nanny was hired because Daisy can't properly raise her own child. Gatsby was surprised because he didn't really even think that Daisy's child even existed. He was startled to see the daughter of Daisy in the flesh.
Throughtout the book Daisy barely brought up her child. In chapter 1 and in chapter 7, that proves how much she cares about her. Daisy wants to pecieve like she is this great mother but in reality she isn't. In her mind she acts how a good mother is suppose to act. A nurse takes cares of her child while Daisy runs around trying to live the "lifestyle."
Daisy doesn't really bring up her child that often. She was only briefly mentioned in chapter 1 and chapter 7. She doesn't spend much time with her child, and has a nanny take care of her. I feel as though she is a bad mother that doesn't take care of her child and neglects her. Gatsby didn't even know she had a child, because she doesn't talk about her.
After chapter 1 and chapter 7, I don't think Daisy is a good mother at all. She seems to look at it like it's a little angel, but doesn't connect with it, teach or play with it like a mother should. Also, Daisy is too involved in her sophisticated lifestyle, her parties and fancy things. Even more, she's involved with Gatsby. When Gatsby saw her, he was really surprised. I doubt he knew she had a child, and was startled to see such a little thing that looked just like Daisy.
After reading to this point I've thought the whole time that Daisy is not a very good mother. She is always pawning her child off. It seems that Daisy did not want to have children but Daisy and Tom want the trophy family and this would include kids. The fact that Gatsby is surprised that Daisy has a child tells you a lot about what is important to Daisy. This means that she has never brought the matter up to Gatsby. This shocks Gatsby because I don't think he realized how far established Daisy is with Tom and their life together.
Daisy's child has played a far-in-the-background role in this story, and plays a background role in Daisy's life. She only seems to acknowledge the child to show people that her life is complete/perfect. This materialistic way of thinking makes for a bad mother.
Gatsby is a bit stunned when he finds out that Daisy has a child. This is because they went so long with no communication. Gatsby has ignored the big picture and hasn't even considered how long Tom and Daisy have had a relationship, he has only considered his own love for her.
Gatsby views Daisy the way a person might view a painting to collect: static and unchanging. He can't acknowledge that she has an existence separate from his appreciation of her.
Daisy's relationship with the child is terrible, it is almost like she just has the child to show that her life is "perfect". I don't think Daisy could even be considered a mother, she doesn't even take care of the child. That is probably what Gatsby was surprised, because she never mentions the child ever.
Yes, part of her lifestyle dictates children, so she has a trophy offspring to show off at the appropriate times, and then hands it off to others who care for it.
Daisy is not a very good mother. She babies her little girl, smothering her with wealth and by calling her 'ble-sed pre-cious'. She treats her daughter like a prize to be showed off instead of a little human being in need of attention and care. I think Gatsby was surprised by her because he didn't picture Daisy having children in the five years he wasn't there, less so with Tom.
As we see later, Gatsby is obsessed with Daisy pledged unfailing love to him -- not only in the present, but also over the five years they were apart. Sad, really.
We met Daisy’s child briefly in chapter 1 and again in chapter 7. Both times Daisy has not paid much attention to the child. Daisy only brings the child into her life as a token to remind everyone she has the “perfect life”, money and a family. Also, by Daisy mentioning the child very little shows the reader where her head really is, on relationships. Daisy is not a good mother; she almost has no right to call herself a mother because she isn’t the one taking care of the child. Gatsby looked at the child with surprise because he didn’t know she had a child because she never talks about it.
ReplyDeleteAnd Gatsby resents the child because it reminds him that Daisy had/has a life without him.
DeleteDaisy mentions her child briefly in chapter 1, and the reader finally meets the child in chapter 7 for a short time. In both instances Daisy was not very attentive, and even has a nanny to take care of the child. Depending on what defines a good mother, I feel that while Daisy does love her child, she isn't a good mother because based on what we have read, Daisy seems to be more focused on showcasing her child rather than raising her. The reason why Gatsby looked with surprise is because either he was never told about the little girl by Daisy or he never truly believed it until he actually witnessed the tangible child.
ReplyDelete"Showcasing" is a good description for Daisy's childrearing skills.
DeleteThe fact that the child is only briefly brought up in these two chapters already hints that she is not very important in the story or to her mother. Daisy likes to give the impression that her life is some type of perfect model that you would see in a magazine. The truth is, she's a terrible mom. She basically uses her daughter to keep up her reputation of being a great mother, wife, and whatever else she's trying to prove. She has a nurse to take care of her daughter and she is more of a mother to the child than Daisy is. Gatsby seems so surprised because Daisy probably either never mentioned that she had a child or he is shocked at how she nearly neglects her kid.
ReplyDeleteGatsby also may feel resentful toward the child, as it is a product of Daisy and Tom.
DeleteWe briefly met Daisy's child in chapter 1 and then again in chapter 7. I think that Daisy only mentions her child to prove she has a good life. But she doesn't pay a lot of attention to the child because they have a nanny. So saying this Daisy could love her child and not be a good mother. I say this because a good mother would want to take care of her own child and not let someone else do it unless they have to. This proves that she might not have a very good relationship with her. Gatsby looked at the child with surprise because he has never seen the child before.
ReplyDeleteSee my comments about Gatsby and the child, above.
DeleteWhether you look into Chapter one or Chapter seven, it's pretty clear that Daisy is not a "good mother". Some people may define good mother differently, but by the standards of most, Daisy is a bad mother. She's basically using the child to flaunt her so-called "perfect life", meanwhile she's not attentive and seems to continually hand off the burden of the baby to someone else. In all fairness, Daisy seems to love her baby, in her own way, which is one important step in motherhood, but no matter how important of a step it is, it's only one step, there is much more to parenting a child. Gatsby was so clearly shocked by the appearance of the child because either he didn't know or didn't believe.
ReplyDeleteThe child is definitely eye-candy for Daisy, just one more example of her so-called idyllic life.
DeleteDaisy's daughter does not seem to be a big importance in her life. She always has the nanny take care of her. Daisy would rather live the high life than be a good mother to her daughter. Daisy does not act meanly to her daughter, but does not show her enough love. Gatsby probably looked at the child with surprise because he never pictured Daisy with a kid, unless it was his.
ReplyDeleteYou're exactly right regarding Gatsby's reaction, Matt.
DeleteDaisy's child was brought up in chapter 1 for a brief moment, and in chapter 7 as well. Daisy is basically a horrible mother. She never talks about her child, let alone spend time with her. A nanny was hired because Daisy can't properly raise her own child. Gatsby was surprised because he didn't really even think that Daisy's child even existed. He was startled to see the daughter of Daisy in the flesh.
ReplyDeleteDaisy's parenting skills don't get much stronger in the remaining chapters, either.
DeleteThroughtout the book Daisy barely brought up her child. In chapter 1 and in chapter 7, that proves how much she cares about her. Daisy wants to pecieve like she is this great mother but in reality she isn't. In her mind she acts how a good mother is suppose to act. A nurse takes cares of her child while Daisy runs around trying to live the "lifestyle."
ReplyDeleteThe child is part of that lifestyle, but not a part that Daisy cares enough about to become involved personally.
DeleteDaisy doesn't really bring up her child that often. She was only briefly mentioned in chapter 1 and chapter 7. She doesn't spend much time with her child, and has a nanny take care of her. I feel as though she is a bad mother that doesn't take care of her child and neglects her. Gatsby didn't even know she had a child, because she doesn't talk about her.
ReplyDeleteGatsby would prefer there were NO child, I'm sure.
DeleteAfter chapter 1 and chapter 7, I don't think Daisy is a good mother at all. She seems to look at it like it's a little angel, but doesn't connect with it, teach or play with it like a mother should. Also, Daisy is too involved in her sophisticated lifestyle, her parties and fancy things. Even more, she's involved with Gatsby. When Gatsby saw her, he was really surprised. I doubt he knew she had a child, and was startled to see such a little thing that looked just like Daisy.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you calling the baby an "it," Caroline?
DeleteAfter reading to this point I've thought the whole time that Daisy is not a very good mother. She is always pawning her child off. It seems that Daisy did not want to have children but Daisy and Tom want the trophy family and this would include kids. The fact that Gatsby is surprised that Daisy has a child tells you a lot about what is important to Daisy. This means that she has never brought the matter up to Gatsby. This shocks Gatsby because I don't think he realized how far established Daisy is with Tom and their life together.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Gatsby can't fathom that Daisy's life went on after she and Gatsby separated.
DeleteDaisy's child has played a far-in-the-background role in this story, and plays a background role in Daisy's life. She only seems to acknowledge the child to show people that her life is complete/perfect. This materialistic way of thinking makes for a bad mother.
ReplyDeleteGatsby is a bit stunned when he finds out that Daisy has a child. This is because they went so long with no communication. Gatsby has ignored the big picture and hasn't even considered how long Tom and Daisy have had a relationship, he has only considered his own love for her.
Gatsby views Daisy the way a person might view a painting to collect: static and unchanging. He can't acknowledge that she has an existence separate from his appreciation of her.
DeleteDaisy's relationship with the child is terrible, it is almost like she just has the child to show that her life is "perfect". I don't think Daisy could even be considered a mother, she doesn't even take care of the child. That is probably what Gatsby was surprised, because she never mentions the child ever.
ReplyDeleteYes, part of her lifestyle dictates children, so she has a trophy offspring to show off at the appropriate times, and then hands it off to others who care for it.
DeleteDaisy is not a very good mother. She babies her little girl, smothering her with wealth and by calling her 'ble-sed pre-cious'. She treats her daughter like a prize to be showed off instead of a little human being in need of attention and care.
ReplyDeleteI think Gatsby was surprised by her because he didn't picture Daisy having children in the five years he wasn't there, less so with Tom.
As we see later, Gatsby is obsessed with Daisy pledged unfailing love to him -- not only in the present, but also over the five years they were apart. Sad, really.
Delete