#4 Outline of Essay

Thesis: Three main characters in The Great Gatsby represent Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology.

I. Gatsby represents Penelope
A. Gatsby is determined to stay faithful to Daisy while he is away at war.
1. Gatsby was so devoted to Daisy that he didn't try to meet any other women while he was away, even though Daisy was out dating dozens of other men.
B.Even after Daisy said she loved Tom, Gatsby still waited outside of her house all night to make sure she was safe.
1. Gatsby was still hopeful that Daisy would need him in the middle of the night, and although she never came outside, he stayed out there until the next morning.

II. Tom represents Achilles
A. At one of his parties, Gatsby introduces Tom as a polo player and that is patronizing towards Tom.
1. Being a polo player was considered patronizing towards Tom because most of the men at Gatsby's parties didn't have to work to acquire wealth, they just inherited it.
B. Daisy patronizes Tom by having an affair with Gatsby because she thinks Gatsby is better than Tom.
1. Daisy having an affair with Gatsby put Tom in a position where he wasn't considered important to her.
2. Also, Daisy thought that Gatsby was wealthier than Tom which put Gatsby at a financial advantage over Tom.
C. Myrtle Wilson made Tom feel patronized when she talked back to him at their shared apartment.
1. Tom is used to having an advantage over the women in his life and it caught him off-guard when Myrtle mocked him.

III. Daisy represents Venus
A. Daisy is very enticing and she makes Gatsby fall in love with her.
1. Venus is the Goddess of Love and Beauty and Daisy is also viewed as beautiful and that is what makes Gatsby fall for her.
B. The text also states that Daisy was going on many dates with many different men
1. This proves that Daisy was very appealing to men and she was considered a prized possession.
C. Tom is also allured by Daisy's beauty and charm because he fights for her love even after he finds out she has been having an affair with Gatsby.
1. In this period of time, most men would have gotten a divorce after finding out about their wives affair, but instead Tom fights even harder for Daisy until he has her back.