I. The Pearl Necklace's First Appearance
(1) Present Before the Marriage
In the world shown in "The Great Gatsby," the pearl necklace first shows up with significant relevance. In the narrative, Daisy and Tom's marriage is rather inexorably bound to a set of pearls worth $350,000. Tom presented Daisy this pearl necklace the day before their wedding. The background was that Gatsby had been temporarily apart from Daisy because of the war; although Daisy had formerly had a real relationship with Gatsby, the upper-class setting and other family considerations shaped her decisions while Gatsby was away.
Presenting this costly pearl necklace, Tom, a member of the upper class with great wealth and power, was clearly trying to confirm Daisy's emotions for him or show his capacity to give her a luxury and rich way of life. Once Daisy got this necklace, her emotions were somewhat complicated. Though her emotions for Gatsby had not totally disappeared, she struggled and found herself in a conundrum upon receiving such a priceless and symbolic present. She finally embraced this gift, though, and the pearl necklace became a major portent for the next tale development since it emphasizes its major role all through the narrative. From this point on, it seemed to discern the intricate emotional entangements connecting characters and the helplessness and wishes underlying various decisions.
(2) Luxury Symbol
In the movie rendition of "The Great Gatsby," Tiffany & Co.'s pearl necklace becomes even more of a luxury emblem. Being a well-known jewelry brand, Tiffany has long stood for excellence and the best sense of craftsmanship and elegance. Daisy wears this pearl necklace in the movie; each pearl round and full, luminous and transparent, and the chain design is also distinctive, highlighting the richness and creative taste of the American upper class in the 1920s.
When Daisy shows up in several locations, particularly during the extravagant parties Gatsby throws, the pearl necklace accentuates her elegant clothing, royal furs, and other accessories Tiffany & Co. created, so capturing the 1920s American nobility's way of life. The whole picture seems to take the viewers back to the Jazz Age, when new technologies like phones and cars arrived constantly, industry grew quickly, and individuals, although enjoying material plenty, were also enmeshed in the search of money and luxury. As a brilliant point, the pearl necklace is not only a decoration but also more like a key allowing people to explore the rich life of the upper class of that age and the complicated interpersonal relationships and emotional states concealed behind it, so laying the foundation for the several symbolic meanings it will later on carries.
II. < The Pearl Necklace as Emotional Entanglement's Symbol
Daisy's Opposing Choices
In "The Great Gatsby," Daisy's heart is always in a complex state of conflict; the pearl necklace serves as a mirror reflecting her struggle when she must decide between love and materialism. The very emotional lines in Gatsby's letter surely caused great waves in Daisy's heart, and the memories of her time with him, that pure and passionate love, instantly shot into her thoughts and plunged her into a great attachment and reluctance to let go of love.
Still, the weight of truth is really great. Tom stands for not only the position of a fiancé but also a guaranteed upper-class status by a steady and affluent existence. There silently, the $350,000 pearl necklace radiates a beautiful yet weighty light. It stands for Tom's material promise—that of unceasing prosperity, opulent pleasure, and the coveted social circle reputation.
Daisy knows that if she chose Gatsby, she might experience instability in life even if she can acquire pure love. After all, much of Gatsby's riches comes from illicit sources, which is dishonesty and highly dangerous in the social scene of the day. Choosing Tom and wearing that pearl necklace means she can keep her present magnificent existence, savoring the days of surrounded by people and free from concerns about food and clothes.
After going through inner conflict and suffering, Daisy finally decided to wed Tom and wear the pearl necklace. This behavior clearly exposes her great inclination for consumerism and her compromise to reality. She loves Gatsby, but the temptation of worldly goods makes her hesitant to give up the opulent life she is used to; thus, these string of pearl necklaces have come to represent her struggle and contradiction between love and materialism.
(2) Loss via Gatsby
The pearl necklace to Gatsby is like a sharp knife, mercilessly chopping off his lovely view of love. Once upon a time, he and Daisy had a pure relationship; even though the war caused temporary separation, he was excited about going back and carrying on the love chapter with Daisy. To draw Daisy back and make himself worthy of her, he worked hard to amass riches via several channels, constructed a magnificent estate, and threw lavish parties.
But he noticed her sporting the pearl necklace donated by Tom when he was ecstatic to see Daisy again. Lying between the two, that series of necklaces appeared as an insurmount divide, clearly indicating Daisy had made a decision, selecting another path of life, and that style of life did not fit him. Gatsby's dream of love started to break at this point, and feelings including anguish, sorrow, and helplessness entwined and surged into his heart.
Following that, no matter how hard Gatsby fought to win Daisy's heart back, the decision shown by the pearl necklace followed like a shadow, always reminding him of the progressively fading love. It powerfully depicted the complicated and terrible emotional attachment between the two and became a symbol of this love tragedy ending without a solution after Gatsby's path from being full of hope to the hope breaking.
Third The Representative of Materialism
(1) Material Pursuit by Daisy
Daisy's quest of materialism is eloquently shown in "The Great Gatsby," through the object of the pearl necklace. Her heart still hesitated to Gatsby when Tom handed her the $350,000 pearl necklace, but she was ultimately moved by this costly present and embraced Tom's "intention." For Daisy, this set of pearl necklaces represents not only a beautiful gift but also a symbol of the opulent and rich lifestyle she so longs for.
Daisy grew up in a rich household setting, used to the delight and satisfaction brought about by objects, hence when she had to decide between love and materialism, materialism prevailed. This series of pearl necklaces was like a physical promise, showing her the days of being worry-free and envied by others in the future. She realized that Tom's wealth and social status could provide her a stable and luxurious life. She so decided to wear this series of necklaces, which also meant selecting Tom and the world created by materials.
From her later life, it is clear that she chose to bear in order to preserve her present rich life even knowing Tom's adultery and betrayal to marriage. She always wore beautiful jewelry, including that string of pearl necklaces, displaying her nobility and elegance, and basking in the jealous looks from others, in different social events. She has previously seen stuff as the most vital component of life since she depends on it to satisfy her vanity and cover her emptiness in her heart. The pearl necklace can be considered as a symbolic emblem of Daisy's materialism, quite reflecting the value orientation of some women in society at that time, who regard material wealth as an important criterion for measuring the value of life, even higher than emotional factors such love.
Two Microcosms of Social Events
Apart from reflecting Daisy's own material quest, the pearl necklace in "The Great Gatsby" serves as a microcosm of the materialistic attitude of the whole society of the period. The book has several situations emphasizing the predominance of consumerism, and the pearl necklace is intertwined throughout them.
For instance, Gatsby's opulent parties are rather lavish; champagne flows like water and tables laden with mouthwatering cuisine draw visitors from all walks of life. Behind these parties, though, is more a means for Gatsby to draw Daisy's attention and flaunt his wealth and status, a flaunting display of materialism, and people at the party are only engaged in superficial socializing, lacking real emotional communication, just focusing on the external grandeur and enjoyment.
The same is true of Gatsby's opulent estate, which shows a sense of luxury created by wealth by means of elegant furnishings and decorating. But for Gatsby, this home is also a vehicle for him to pursue worldly success and try to win back Daisy, so highlighting his almost compulsive quest of financial riches and the emptiness in his heart that cannot be filled by money.
Looking at Daisy personally, her decisions in life virtually all revolve on consumerism. Tom's riches and status make marriage desirable; her everyday activities also revolve around several opulent social events, accessorizing with other pricey jewels, and the pearl necklace is only one of them. Other literary characters, such Tom, have even more extreme materialism and believe
that, approaching marriage with a realized mindset, their riches can rule everything, even people and emotions.
Myrtle, who had an affair with Tom in search of a better material life, also found herself in a sad circumstances. This event exposes the ruin of materialism on personal life and the deterioration of social values really strongly.
Therefore, in such a huge environment, the pearl necklace is like a symbol, linking the scenes reflecting materialism throughout the book, reflecting the distortion of materialism on interpersonal relationships and the misguidance of individual inner pursuits, allowing us to see people in that era progressively losing themselves under the temptation of materialism, falling into a state of life that is prosperous on the surface but spiritually empty.
IV., Mirror of Gender Roles
(1) Male Objectification and Control
Within the world created by "The Great Gatsby," the pearl necklace has evolved into a striking emblem of men's objectification and dominance over women. Using Tom as an example, his gift of a $350,000 pearl necklace to Daisy is more than just a gesture of love; it's a weapon to get her affection. Men often occupied a dominant role in the framework of the patriarchal society of the time, managing many resources, while women were often in a subordinate role in many spheres.
Representing the upper class, Tom has a materialistic viewpoint and thinks he can get all he needs—including emotions—from his riches. With this exquisite and costly pearl necklace, he believes he can lock Daisy's heart and make her eager to remain at his side, so integrating into his life and social profile. Reflecting the common phenomenon of men's objectification of women in society at the time, the pearl necklace here is like a material contract, symbolizing men's treatment of women as commodities that can be measured and exchanged with material gifts, controlling women's emotions and choices by means of material gifts, and so highlighting the helpless situation of women being treated as accessories in this unequal gender power relationship.
(2) Female Passivity and Helplessness
Daisy's character in the book captures the usual situation of women under the time solidification of gender norms. She comes from a good family and has some degree of autonomy, yet she is nevertheless limited when making big decisions in her life. A microcosm, the pearl necklace reflects her powerless decision between material and emotion following struggle.
Originally in a real relationship with Gatsby, Daisy was continually reminded of the value of money and rank when he departed to battle from the upper class surroundings. Tom showed up and handed Daisy the pearl necklace, which for her is not just a decoration but also a sign of a rich and steady life assurance. She finally decides to put on that string of necklaces and marry Tom since she cannot give up the comfort and stability offered by material conditions, therefore becoming an ornament of male desire and power even if she still has a lingering affection for Gatsby in her heart.
In terms of gender roles at the time, this process totally depicts the passive posture of women. Daisy can only follow the road laid by society, depending on men to preserve their life and social position; the natural ideas of society, family background, and the seduction of materials are entwined and she is unable to really break free from these shackles to pursue pure love. Though on the surface people seem to have choices, in fact they are completely helpless and unwillingly; the pearl necklace only notes and depicts this helpless truth.
V. The Embodiment of Restrainment and Control
(1) Dealing with Others
Within "The Great Gatsby," the pearl necklace has evolved into a potent weapon for Daisy to control Gatsby's behavior and feelings. Daisy is so charming, and the pearl necklace gives her appeal a glitz. She clearly signals Gatsby differently when she shows up in front of him wearing the $350,000 pearl necklace Tom gave.
On the one hand, the pearl necklace represents her present upper-class position and the opulent lifestyle accompanying it. She uses this show to let Gatsby see the two now, so igniting his inner need to gain her back. For instance, Daisy shows in full attire at the Gatsby parties, and the pearl necklace softly and brilliantly highlights her fair neck, drawing Gatsby's attention and causing his thoughts to center more intensely on her, seeking different means of favor.
Daisy also utilizes it, though, to keep her aristocratic reputation among the upper class. She employs the pearl necklace to create an environment of closeness and distance, therefore regulating Gatsby's emotional path, explicit about his yearning for the former pure love. She sometimes shows Gatsby a look of old love, and sometimes keeps a distance with Gatsby because of the real life represented by the pearl necklace, making Gatsby hover between hope and disappointment, and Gatsby's behavior unconsciously changes with her attitude, falling into the emotional net woven by her with the external appearance of the pearl necklace, also reflecting the control meaning symbolized by the pearl necklace here.
(2) Restrained Self-Imposed
The pearl necklace represents not only great elegance for Daisy but also seems as an unseen prison, limiting her search of freedom. The pearl necklace symbolizes the riches, position, and the ideal life she has seen in the perspective of others in the upper class that values material and outward appearance. She is like wearing a beautiful but heavy cloak when she puts it on; she must always abide by high class regulations and expectations.
Her words and actions are subject to many restrictions; she must present a sophisticated attitude and moral behavior that complement the pearl necklace in different social events. She cannot express her own ideas and feelings as she likes at big dinners or celebrity parties, for instance, but she must uphold the elegant and opulent image the pearl necklace lends, as if her life is to accentuate the glory this substance brings.
Emotionally, the pearl necklace also keeps her back-off. She could still love Gatsby in her heart, but the pearl necklace reminds her of the real life she has chosen and makes it impossible for her to quickly separate her current marriage and financial stability from follow her inner sentiments. She is caught in the material world shown by the pearl necklace; the expectations of luxury and status in the eyes of others are like ropes, tying her steps in search of freedom, making her emotionally fall into a helpless situation of being trapped, and she can only continue on the predestined life track unable to really embrace the life and love she wants.
