The Great Gatsby: Simile

"So the whole caravansary had fallen in like a card house at the disapproval in her eyes." pg. 114

In reading this novel, I've been extremely impressed at F. Scott Fitzgerald's use of similes and descriptive details. He's very good at making each scene vividly unfold in the reader's mind, and this simile in particular stood out to me. Not only does it sum up the situation, but it says a lot about Gatsby as a character as well. For five years, Gatsby had been throwing parties in hopes that Daisy would somehow end up at his house. He'd been doing it for five years with only that one intention. When Gatsby finds out that Daisy doesn't enjoy the parties, he completely stops them. He ends a tradition that he's carried on for five years all for Daisy because Daisy doesn't like it. I think that this represents Gatsby's desperation to gain Daisy's approval. He wants Daisy and all she represents. He wants Daisy because she is the best of the best when it comes to women and he wants the best of the best. I think Gatsby's complete willingness to please Daisy shows how susceptible he is to the demands that his aspirations make on him. He is willing to alter his whole life in order to achieve greatness, but in the end, its really just the luck of the draw.