Daisy’s statement shows how protective she is of her daughter’s innocence. She hopes that if she is foolish enough, she will not be as hurt by life as more introspective people.
Detailed answer:
The quote “I hope she’ll be a fool” can be found in Chapter One of The Great Gatsby. It is taken from Daisy’s conversation with her cousin Nick. He is visiting her shortly after the birth of her daughter. Coming from a mother, a statement like this might seem somewhat weird. However, further analysis shows that it is, in fact, a social commentary. Daisy is a neat observer, and she knows a lot about 1920s American society. Back then, gender equality was not a thing. It is safe to call the social structure patriarchal. Society used to limit the woman’s value to being physically attractive. That is why Daisy also hopes that her daughter will grow up to be a “beautiful little fool.” It is the only way she will have a chance for respect.
The same goes for intelligence – society considered women intellectually inferior. Daisy is both self-aware and intelligent and knows what it is like to be a smart woman. Her brain is not her asset, and she has to accept it. Daisy is also familiar with the “dark side” of being intelligent. Reflective people are more sensitive because they analyze everything. It makes them vulnerable to the world’s heartaches. Therefore, Daisy wants her daughter never to be hurt as much as she was. It is worth noting that Daisy does not want to fight the social order. To her, the best way to survive is to accept the rules of the game. She hopes that her daughter will never question the world and fall into despair.
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