...Natalie James Period 6 The Women in The Great Gatsby The women in The Great Gatsby are presented in an unflattering way that does not make the reader sympathetic towards their character. They are viewed more as an object rather than a human being. The women, Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle, are described in their voice, looks, and behavior, instead of focusing on their feelings or emotions. The women are interpreted to be very negative characters and not superior in comparison to the men. Daisy changed for the worse for the desire of money. She, who is a woman herself, objectified her own daughter in the story. Daisy does not even specify the gender until asked specifically. When she is asked how her daughter is, she responds, “I suppose she talks, and eats, and everything.” (Daisy, 16). When she says this, she says it in a way that she is disappointed in having a girl. She does not go in depth, she is very blunt about her daughter. Daisy realized that girls are not looked upon as intelligent but more of as objects. Daisy said about her daughter, “I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” (Daisy, 17). She states that girl cannot be smart, but more of as eye-candy for successful men. That is all that the women are good for, to be beautiful. Daisy also changed because she was eager for money and cared so much of her ego. Gatsby said, “her voice is full of money.” (Gatsby, 120). Gatsby came to realization that Daisy has...
Words: 710 - Pages: 3
...women’s suffrage” (Time-Life books). Despite contention, women were more independent in the 1920’s than ever before. They began going out and traveling alone, smoking and drinking, having affairs, and these once reticent laborers of the home transformed into careless revelers. “America's story between 1911 and 1920 is a jumble of contradictory emotions and ideals, of turbulence and optimism, struggle and progress” (Kara Blond). Women still act in a manner that no one would’ve even imagined less than a hundred years ago. However, for some the introduction of these newly liberated women was a terrible calamity. “Some” meaning the men of the day. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, women shattered the barrier that kept them well behaved and in the home. For some men, this was a fate worse than death. Even dogs feel threatened and want to mark their territory, so it’s no surprise that men of the 1920’s also started to draw sweaty palms about the new ways in...
Words: 1097 - Pages: 5
...Gatsby essay During the twenties woman couldn't do all the things they can do today, today women will marry for other reasons than to be supported by a man. In Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby he writes about the female characters who stand out more than all the others. Even if the Main story is about a man who just wants to be with his woman it shows three women who stand out because they don't have the rights they have today. These women are marrying man with money so they have to worry about being poor. Just like Daisy who married Tom for money”’It doesn't matter anymore just tell him the truth - that you never loved him- and it's all wiped out forever’” ( Fitzgerald, 132). In this Daisy never actually tells Tom she didn't love...
Words: 359 - Pages: 2
...Because they are treated like objects, the women from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald wield little power over their own lives, are abused, and are regarded as men’s trophies. Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle exemplify the struggles of the women of the 1920’s. Whether they are abused, treated like property, or being controlled, the women of The Great Gatsby have difficult lives no matter how they may appear. Daisy Buchanan’s life may seem perfect on the outside, but in reality she has a dysfunctional marriage and other adverse struggles she hides by being oblivious. Daisy is aware of her husband’s unfaithfulness, but uses ignorance to disguise it. She also knows that her daughter could have the same fate, and says, “‘I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.’” (Fitzgerald 17) In addition to cheating on his wife, Daisy’s husband, Tom,...
Words: 681 - Pages: 3
...Gatsby Essay F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “The two basic stories of all times are Cinderella and Jack the Giant Killer-the charm of women and the courage of men”, which is challenged in his novel, The Great Gatsby. The charm of women is determined from more than their poise, such as their actions. Daisy Buchanan, a woman of the high class in 1920s New York, fakes love to obtain wealth. She is dependent on her husband to maintain the lifestyle she desires. Although, as the novel continues, it becomes clear to the reader Daisy is not satisfied with her husband, Tom because he is a cheater. Daisy is reunited with her young love, Jay Gatsby, which distracts her from all the cruel, selfless actions of her spouse. However, Mr. Gatsby is not the perfect, innocent man Daisy thinks of him to be. Gatsby’s illegal actions are not commonly discussed among characters, but is obvious through the novel how he earned his wealth. Men such as Tom and Mr. Gatsby get away with poor choices and foul play, while Daisy feels the need to pretend to reach societies standards. Fitzgerald contradicts his message about charm and courage by creating materialistic women and dishonest men. In the tale of Cinderella, a young girl finds...
Words: 1150 - Pages: 5
...Back in the 1920's women in the Great Gatsby and Chicago were confused of what was true love because women were more dependent on men. Men where more money wise(they had more of it) in the 1920's because men knew that women didn't want to marry a poor man the fact that most men had money blinded tons of women and only let them see what they wanted to see. In both the great Gatsby and Chicago there are women and there were scenes and chapters where it shows the act of women depending on men. Roxie Hart and Myrtle Wilson show how they depend on Amos Hart and Tom Buchanan for money and protection. Well Amos tries to save Roxie from going to prison and Tom is able to buy anything that made myrtle happy. “I want to Molina 2 Get one of those dogs,” she said earnestly. “I want to get one for the apartment. They’re nice to have — a dog. ”Here’s your money. Go and buy ten more dogs with it.”And for Amos he tries to protect Roxie which show how women are dependent on men “Well, I come home from the garage, I see him climbing through the window. Telling you, that's the truth. My wife has nothing to do with it. She won't hurt a worm. Not even a worm. Until I fired the first shot, then she opened her eyes. She was somehow in sleep.” Also in the 1920 women were blinded of...
Words: 1402 - Pages: 6
...Zach Loft Mr. McGuiness English III 0-5 05-18-18 Role of Women in The Great Gatsby The book The Great Gatsby takes place in the time period of the 1920’s. This was a time in which society was changing enormously. Things were changing especially for women's rights. Women began to have more power in the things that they often did. Many of them to drink and smoke and dance in public; which was very uncommon before the war. Although women gained more rights, it was very clear that they still were not equal or equally treated. In the story, the role of women and the social injustices were shown through the female characters Daisy Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and Jordan Baker. Daisy Buchanan was a young woman who lived a life that is of high expectations...
Words: 500 - Pages: 2
...The ratification of the 19th Amendment took place on August 18, 1920, permitting women to vote within the United States. Henceforth, the Jazz Age began, allowing women to express new freedoms financially, politically, and sexually. In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald employs the characterization of independent and dependent women in an effort to expose the role of the female identity within an established patriarchal society. Initially, Fitzgerald utilizes independent women, in the form of Catherine and Jordan, to express the female desire to actively rebel against the patriarchal construct of marriage and to abandon set male dominated societal norms. For example, Catherine can be seen gossiping about how Tom and Myrtle “can’t stand...
Words: 872 - Pages: 4
...How are women portrayed in Chapter Seven of The Great Gatsby? In Chapter Seven of The Great Gatsby women were portrayed as very significant role. Men worked to earn money to be wealthy for the maintenance of the women. In Chapter Seven, the women that play the important roles are; Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker and Myrtle Wilson. Each of the characters are portrayed as ignorant and oblivious to what’s going on around them. For example, Daisy acts foolish around Tom, her husband, as if she thinks that what he wants her to be like. She pretends like she isn’t aware of Tom’s affair with one of the other main characters whom name is Myrtle. Even though she calls him on the telephone when they’re at dinner. Daisy says in Chapter One “I hope she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” This quotation demonstrates that all men look for foolish women. This quotation is also directed at Daisy’s daughter, she says this to her daughter because Daisy wants to make sure being a fool also has an impact on her life. Throughout the novel, women are not described in depth. The author’s presentation of them is unflattering and unsympathetic. Fitzgerald appeals to their voice, “she had a voice full of money”, the way they behaved, “They’re such beautiful shirts she sobbed”, rather than feelings or emotions. The character Daisy Buchannan is described constantly as someone who is happy when things are being given to her. This has all came to...
Words: 984 - Pages: 4
...Corruption of Women Compared to Flowers Women's rights movement was roaring with all the new rights they have obtained during the 1920s. Despite as many rights women could achieve there would never be true equilibrium throughout the 2 sexes. Men were still seen as the dominant men and women the lesser. During the '20s underneath the flashy lights and fireworks laid men beating up women. F. Scott Fitzgerald compares women to flowers to show the severity of women regardless of class being abused during the 1920s. The first comparison that Fitzgerald makes is the character Daisy Buchanan and a Daisy to show off how Tom Buchanan can just beat his wife to show that in the rich men abuse their wives. At the Buchanan's Daisy notices...
Words: 785 - Pages: 4
...Analysis of “Materialistic Perception” in F. Scot Fitzgerald Using Marxist Literary Criticism Chapter I 1.1 Introduction The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922. The story primarily concerns the young and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his quixotic passion for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. Considered to be Fitzgerald's magnum opus, The Great Gatsby explores themes of decadence, idealism, resistance to change, social upheaval, and excess, creating a portrait of the Jazz Age that has been described as a cautionary tale regarding the American Dream. 1.2 State of Problem The Great Gatsby provides a critical social history of America during the Roaring Twenties within its narrative. That era, known for unprecedented economic prosperity, the evolution of jazz music, flapper culture, and bootlegging and other economy struggle that was the result of the materialism and capitalism damaging on social behavior, led to the widespread social distress. 1.3 Theoretical Framework Using literary criticism to interpret what is the ideal life of America in 19th century and what is the dream of American people after World War I. as a Marxist interpretation of the novel makes especially clear, reveals its dark underbelly instead. Through its unflattering characterization of those at the top of the...
Words: 6033 - Pages: 25
...The Age of The Great Gatsby In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald tells a legendary love story from the perspective of the narrator named Nick. The reader sees and hears about all the crazy parties, love stories, breakups and much, much more that all seem to stem from a dynamic character named Jay Gatsby. The story takes place in a promiscuous and rebellious period called the roaring twenties, the time period right before the great depression, and to make it worst in the city that never sleeps. The roaring twenties period is the backbone of this story, characters in the novel directly correlate with the illegal, rebellious, and careless behaviors that are seen in the twenties. The prohibition caused lots of problems in this time period when it came to crime and binge drinking. First It is important to understand the social, political and economic effects of prohibition. In 1917 the Eighteenth Amendment was passed and stated that you couldn’t make, sell or transport any alcohol. The prohibitionist movement had a wide variety of supporters, including: Women, Church’s, employers and politicians. In the 1928 Presidential campaign Herbert Hoover won by calling prohibition “a great social and economic experiment, noble in motive and farreaching in purpose; " this is interesting because it shows to the public that he is in favor of prohibition, but by calling it an experiment it shows that he may have some concerns about it .It definitely was an experiment...
Words: 1569 - Pages: 7
...The Great Gatsby ‘’The Great Gatsby’’ is a Charles Scribner's Son novel based on tragedy . The novel was published in 1925 in NYC . Nick Carraway the novel narrator , explain with details how he was living in this time , including his point of view of the things that happen on his environment . is As a ‘’Modernism’’ novel great Gatsby is a non poetic story based on the search of truth and identity . The great Gatsby is an amazing novel that tells the life of Nick Carraway who travel to New York. Nick wants to be a professional writer . He believed that these time of his life would be success full . On his journal nick tells that the begging he was very happy to be in New York. He was gaining good money, attracting women and the fame was very good. "The Great Gatsby provides a critical social history of America during the Roaring Twenties within its narrative. That era, known for unprecedented economic prosperity, the evolution of jazz music, flapperculture, and bootlegging and other criminal activity, is plausibly depicted in Fitzgerald's novel." (Bruccoli, Matthew Joseph). He has a cousin called Daisy who already were living in New York. She was married to a rich man whose name was Tom Buchanan a popular polo player . Nick doesn't know how his cousin was living. He asked her and she told him that every thing is good.The first thing he realized was that his Cousin Daisy was living a nightmare being married with Tom, he was unfaithful and abusive but she kept...
Words: 1362 - Pages: 6
...The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald that displays love, hate, betrayal and dreams. It takes place in an era of prosperity and wealth known as the roaring 20's. This decade brought many changes to society as well as our world in general, as is seen throughout the book. In the 1920's the 18th amendment was passed which prohibited any intoxicating liquors. This forced a large chain of organized crime in what is known as the "Jazz Era." This particular topic is very evident in the novel The Great Gatsby. My second point being that the roles of women changed drastically in this decade. The actions, as well as descriptions, or many of the female characters in the novel depict the different ways that women had evolved. Also, as another point, due to the economy booming during this time period, people became obsessed with wealth and power. Many of the characters from the novel display this characteristic in they sense that they are all extremely wealthy. Therefore, the novel The Great Gatsby is very representative of life and society during the 1920's in various ways. Prohibition had been passed in 1919, yet there was still high demand for alcohol during the 1920's. F. Scott Fitzgerald displays much of the illegal activities that occurred during this time throughout The Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby, one of the main characters, is involved in this illegal smuggling and selling of alcohol. He had "bought up a lot of side-street drug stores here in Chicago...
Words: 1396 - Pages: 6
...The Great American Dream is the ideal by which equal opportunity is accessible to any American, allowing the highest ambitions and goals to be succeeded. The American Dream in Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men couldn’t be extremely thoughtful given the clearly views of those two text. Both novel and film have highlight the most powerful theme, scene, character and relationships between each major and minor character. Gatsby is one of the main character in The Great Gatsby who have been symbolize the American Dream. Lennie and George have fulfil the Great American Dream with incident case of murdering a women. Thirdly, Gatsby have a good reputation and wealthy but Lennie and George haven’t dream of. The major characters of The Great Gatsby have represent the American Dream in many different ways. Gatsby becomes a wealthy person after the war ends. After the war ends, Gatsby gets help from Meyer Wolfsheim, and enjoys a peaceful luxurious life in his great and luxurious mansion. Gatsby also have a long lover relationship long times ago in the past. His relationship in general is very important compare to Of Mice and Men because two text have similar long story truth love relationships. In the situation of Gatsby, his dream to achieve a truth love with Daisy is tainted by the failure to understand the truth of relationship. Tom...
Words: 458 - Pages: 2
