Gatsby and Macbeth shared the belief that they could determine the course of their lives to get what they wanted most. Each believed that his will was strong enough to influence outcomes, and each believed his actions would prevail against opposing forces. Each man was deceived by illusion. Macbeth's illusion that he was invincible was delivered up to him by the witches. Gatsby's illusion, that he and Daisy could repeat the past, came from his basic romanticism and his deep need to have Daisy in order to fulfill his long-held dreams.
Gatsby and Macbeth were both blind to reality. Gatsby never understood that he would never belong in Daisy's world, no matter how much money he acquired, and he did not recognize or understand the ties that bound Daisy and Tom together. Macbeth was blind to the true nature of the witches, even though Banquo warned him. As he contemplated Duncan's murder, Macbeth was also blind to the fact that once he gained Duncan's crown, he would never be able to enjoy it.
One similarity between Lady Macbeth and Daisy is that each enjoys great wealth and high social position as the result of marrying powerful men. Tom's wealth was legendary, even when he was in college. When she married Tom, Daisy lived with the opulent benefits of his money. In her marriage to Macbeth, Lady Macbeth enjoyed the honors accorded to the wife of a valiant general, and she enjoyed Macbeth's wealth. He was Thane of Glamis and became Thane of Cawdor, gaining control of vast estates. Eventually, Macbeth's rise to power made her Queen of Scotland.
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