Unrequited Love

Unrequited Love: love that is not openly reciprocated, even though reciprocation is usually deeply desired. The beloved may or may not be aware of the admirer's deep affections. (http://www.google.com/)

In The Great Gatsby, Gatby's love for Daisy is the perfect example of unrequited love. Daisy and Gatsby loved each other before he went off to war. While Gatsby was off at war Daisy got tired of waiting for Gatsby so she married Tom. Gatsby was heart broken and Daisy had know idea. She thought that Gatsby had forgotten about her but it turns out it was just the opposite.

Gatsby would throw parties in hopes that one day Daisy would show up at one. He would wait and wait hoping that she would show up, but she never did. While Gatsby was throwing these parties Daisy was in East Egg with no clue, she had no idea that Gatsby was waiting for her and that he stilled loved her.

Finally Gasby gets up enough courage to have Nick, his neighbor who is also Daisy's cousin, invite Daisy over so they could all have tea. When Gatsby saw Daisy for the first time he said its been "five years next November" (The Great Gatsby). He has been counting how long its been since he has seen Daisy because he loves her so much. After they had tea at Nick's, Daisy and Gatsby start to spend a lot of time together and Daisy starts to feel the same way about Gatsby. Gatsby gets so caught up in their love that he just wanted Daisy to leave Tom and tell him that "[she] never loved him" (The Great Gatsby). In the end Daisy won't leave Tom because she does in fact love him, even if it may be unhealthy. Gatsby will always love Daisy and will always want her to leave Tom for him.

sources: http://www.google.com/ (search Define: unrequited love)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald