Daisy Arrives at Gatsby’s Party

daisy arrives

Daisy arrives at the party, a day Gatsby has been eagerly anticipating. He’s prepared flamboyantly, arranging for someone to cut Nick’s lawn (and redo it) and bringing a ton of flowers that make his cottage look like a greenhouse. Nick is bewildered. Gatsby’s actions are absurd but also reflect the way in which he has idealized Daisy and created an image of her that is not quite true.

Daisy’s arrival at the party jolts everyone. She brings a coy theatricality to her appearance that pleases Nick and makes it clear that she is flirtatious and aware of how attractive she is. Yet the speed with which she produces this impression intimates her fragility, vulnerability and aloneness.

The show continues to raise the stakes for Daisy and Billy. She is invited by the band to join them at a hometown show, but Billy is reluctant to have her. Eventually, Camila intervenes and convinces Billy that Daisy is part of the group and a valuable member of their family.

The show has made a point to highlight the differences between Billy and the other members of the band, particularly Eddie. The tension between them is palpable, but it’s never explicitly sexual or romantic. When the band plays a particularly raw and exposed version of Honeycomb, it forces both of them to grapple with their feelings for each other and their past. In the end, Billy ends up heartbroken when Daisy leaves.