The basic answer to this question is degree of intensity. Nick's
and Jordan's kiss is "ho-hum" while Daisy and Gatsby's kiss is "va-va-va-voom!" In fact,
Fitzgerald compares the two moments directly! (Fascinating!) Let's look at them both just for
fun. First, Nick's and Jordan's kiss:
Unlike Gatsby, ... I had no girl whose disembodied face
floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs, and so I drew up the girl beside me,
tightening my arms. Her scornful mouth smiled, and so I drew her up again closer, this time to my
face.
The word "kiss" isn't even used
here, but a kiss happened nonetheless. It is significant that the particular word is left out. A
symbol of love, a kiss should be significant and not wasted on "the girl beside me." This hints
at Nick willing to simply enjoy the moment with whoever was there. No lasting love here. No
obsession. A fling perhaps? Maybe. (Definitely.)
Oh my, now let's
look at Daisy's and Gatsby's:
His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy's white face
came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable
visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. ... Then
he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was
complete.
Is it hot in
here?
The diction here and the images are ones of complete
intensity: "unutterable visions," "perishable breath," "blossomed," and "incarnation." This is a
spiritual experience. This is a holy experience. Gatsby has found his goddess. Or perhaps
further: god kisses goddess.
Therefore I would define the tone of
the Nick/Jordan kiss as one of nonchalance while I would define the tone of the Gatsby/Daisy kiss
as one of passionate intensity.
No comments:
Post a Comment