Claim: In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald depicts Daisy as manipulative and self-centered because she is willing to lead Gatsby on while being in a loveless marriage with Tom.
Evidence: "I did love him once - but I loved you too." (Fitzgerald 132)
Analysis: In this quote, Daisy admits to Gatsby that she loved him once, but she also loved Tom. This shows that Daisy is not committed to Gatsby, and instead is using him for her own benefit. She is willing to lead Gatsby on while being married to Tom, which is evidence of her manipulative and self-centered personality. Daisy is not willing to leave Tom for Gatsby, but she is willing to use Gatsby's love for her to her advantage.
Evidence: "They're such beautiful shirts," she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. "It makes me sad because I've never seen such - such beautiful shirts before." (Fitzgerald 92)
Analysis: In this quote, Daisy is crying over Gatsby's shirts, which shows her materialistic nature. She is not crying because she loves Gatsby, but because she is impressed by his wealth and possessions. This is further evidence of her self-centered personality because she is more interested in material possessions than in the people around her.
Overall, these quotes show that Daisy is manipulative and self-centered. She is willing to use Gatsby for her own benefit, and she is more interested in material possessions than in people. Fitzgerald uses these traits to show the corruption of the wealthy in the 1920s.