This is suggesting that she is trying to make the child totally hers and attempts to keep Tom’s involvement with the child to the least. In her life, Daisy owns very little authority. She has no job or means of independence, which makes her very dependant on Tom. The child is possibly something she feels she owns and could confidently claims and tells the group it is hers. However the child seems to be attached to her father, as when Daisy asks her of her opinion of her mother’s guests the child replies: “Where is daddy”
This is the first implication of Gatsby’s defeat. He could make Daisy forget Tom but the child will always be a bond between Daisy and Tom. There was a sense of tension as the child left the room, which was possibly represented by the heat. The weather’s heat made Daisy and the rest struggle through their speeches as so did the tension to Gatsby as he is starting to uncover the reality and certainty that his relationship with Daisy is not as smooth as he thought it was.
Tom and Gatsby’s first opposition was on which car they should drive into town. Gatsby did not want Tom to drive his car, whilst Tom insisted on taking his car. Tom won this little quarrel, which was possibly a representation of the main fight over Daisy.
The “Circus wagon” could possibly be a representation of Daisy. The car belonging to Gatsby, but now Tom has taken it by force. Equally to the relationship that was between Gatsby and Daisy, which made Daisy, a possible belonging of Gatsby but now she is taken by Tom. The car, which is equivalent to Daisy, was described as the “Death car” which killed Myrtle. Similarly to Daisy killing Gatsby’s dreams and hope of the future.
Tom’s triumph over Gatsby was launched by Tom’s findings about Gatsby’s past. This implies that he had been suspicious of him and the possible relation he has with his wife. On their way to the town, we find out that Wilson has made a similar discovery to Tom’s about his wife too. F. Scott Fitzgerald implies that there are no differences between the men in the East. Life in the East is occupied with hidden relationships between the married and the single.
Tom begins to realise that his wife is “slipping out of his control” as Daisy begins to feel in control: “Commanded Daisy”. Gatsby applied her technique as he started on Tom: “Why don’t you leave her alone, old sport”, trying to defend her from Tom’s ignorant remark. However Daisy urged Tom not to apply personal remarks, as the mood was restrained again.
The indications start arising of Gatsby’s defeat as the married couple remember their wedding day. This did not seem so significant to Gatsby as he did not respond or join in the conversation. However it is significant to us to know that Daisy does always refer back to her wedding day without hesitation even though Gatsby is present.
Tom begins to use his power of his findings on Gatsby to start gaining control. He openly asks him: “What kind of a row are you trying to cause in my house anyhow?” and as Gatsby becomes willing to reply and inform him that his wife will be departing him soon, Daisy stops him “helplessly”. The brawl between Tom and Gatsby brings an exciting mood to both characters as they both desired to face the situation, however brings a sense of tension to the rest of the characters as they become more willing to go back home.
Tom appeals to Daisy: “What’s been going on?” as thought he did not believe what Gatsby was forcing onto him or possibly did not want to perceive it from Gatsby. Tom starts losing control as Daisy informs him that she never loved him. However he does not give up as he maintains his ‘enquirer’ role. He seems to us to be encoding Daisy by asking her if she loved him when “I carried you down from the punch Bowl to keep your shoes dry?”
Daisy pleads him to stop asking her such questions, as she begins to lose control. The first implication that Gatsby will be losing Daisy is when she claims that she did love Tom. Gatsby appeared shocked as he asks to talk to her alone as though he does not believe what she was saying. He starts panicking as he realises he has just lost Daisy.
Tom seizes the opportunity to inform Daisy that he will “take better care of you from now on”. This could possibly suggest that Tom has only realised how much Daisy meant to him when he is about to lose her. He also starts to scandal Gatsby’s way of gaining his money as Daisy stares at Nick and Jordan for reassurance and comforting, however gains none as the two characters seemed both as shocked as she was.
As Gatsby turned to Daisy, trying to deny what Tom has said about him, we realise that he has totally lost control. His dream of marrying Daisy has collapsed, as he is left struggling to defend his name from the accusations made of him. Finally, Daisy pleads Tom ” Please Tom! I can’t stand this anymore.” As though pleading him to rescue her from a mistake she was about to make that would ruin her family life.
