Examples Of Ignorance In The Great Gatsby

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Knowledge is Bliss. In The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the main characters suggests that ignorance is bliss. Daisy Buchanan believes that the key to happiness is being oblivious to your surroundings. It is ironic that this character, who is an advocate for ignorance, is actually a symbol of what one can do to destroy oneself with ignorance and innocence together. Through the course of the novel it is clearly made evident that by the end of one’s life knowledge is paramount. Daisy suggests her daughter should follow in her footsteps, "And I hope she'll be a fool --that's the best thing a girl can be in this world today, a beautiful little fool"(24), implying that ignorance is a priority in her life. She also boasts her party life and parades her daughter about, indicating that material things dominate her life. Daisy also marries for wealth, not love, contributing to her total unhappiness. As Daisy patronizes ignorance, it leads to her demise. She believes that there are things people would be happier not knowing about; however Daisy’s application of this shows that ignorance combined with material life…show more content…
While ignorance can bring you happiness in the immediate future, it eventually takes its toll on one’s mental state. Living in the present may be more fitting for nescience, but in the long term when knowledge inevitably catches up one generally feels worse about what they did not know and they regret. If someone’s husband is cheating on their wife, and she does not find out about it until much time has passed, there is more significance to the problem when she does find out. Time causes secrets to gain importance -- it takes away the immediate response to something and may help someone be ready for the truth when it comes; a property most beneficial in the short
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