A Past Foreshadowed

The Great Gatsby
p. 73-84

So, in this next section of F. Scott Fiztgerald's The Great Gatsby, one learns that Gatsby and Daisy used to be lovers. I should have figured there would be some type of connection because the story centers around Nick and his friends, and there was no way Fitzgerald could write a story about Nick and have the other main characters not be connected in some way. Up to this point, both Daisy and Tom and Gatsby were equally important, so it only makes sense that they would be connected. So, as always, after learning about this relationship, I decided to flip back to reread the passage in Chapter One in which Gatsby was mentioned in Daisy's presence;  the knowledge of this relationship was clearly foreshadowed: "'You must know Gatsby.' 'Gatsby?' demanded Daisy. 'What Gatsby?'" (Fitzgerald, 11). Daisy was obviously caught off guard at the mention of Gatsby's name. However, when I read this earlier, I did not pick up on Fitzgerald's foreshadowing diction. This is a reason why I find it very interesting to flip back periodically while reading a novel. I believe that by describing Daisy's response as a "demand", Fitzgerald shows that Gatsby played a significant role in Daisy's past. Her inquiry was not simply one of innocent curiosity. I get the feeling that Gatsby was someone of great significance in her life and may be someone that she thinks about a lot. It will be intersting to continue to learn about the couple's history.