He knew that Daisy was extraordinary, but he didn't realize just how extraordinary a "nice" girl could be. She vanished into her rich house, into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby—nothing. He felt married to her, that was all.
Chapter 8 · Narrator
Context
After their physical intimacy in Louisville, Daisy returns to her world of wealth and social life while Gatsby is left with nothing but his feelings. The passage describes the asymmetry of their positions: she possesses a 'rich, full life' to return to while he has only her absence.
Analysis
The juxtaposition of Daisy's 'rich, full life' against the single word 'nothing' creates a devastating asymmetry that exposes the class dimension of their romance: for Daisy, Gatsby is one element in an already complete existence, while for Gatsby, she constitutes his entire world. The quotation marks around 'nice' carry bitter irony—the word that signifies genteel respectability also names the class privilege that allows Daisy to retreat into comfort while Gatsby is left exposed, revealing that 'niceness' is not a moral quality but a socioeconomic position.
How to Use in Essay
Effective for essays on the fundamental inequality between Gatsby and Daisy that class creates, or for arguing that Gatsby's love is doomed not because of individual failings but because wealth provides Daisy with alternatives and security that make romantic devotion unnecessary for her.