How Does Fitzgerald Treat Women In The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby Women in the 1920s
“Inevitably, the daring clothes, the scandalous dances and sensual jazz, the late-night parties and cynical opinions of the young drew the wrath of many members of the older generation” (Britten 28). This is how women in The Great Gatsby attempt to live every day. Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle strive for a life of luxury. They embody various stereotypes in the 1920s through pleasure, desire, and greed. As the feminist lifestyle grew, men started to treat women differently, more like objects than people. As such, men in The Great Gatsby try to entice women with materialistic objects. For these reasons, it is important to learn the lifestyle in the 1920s, to realize why author F. Scott Fitzgerald gave Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle certain distinct characteristics.
The 1920s were filled with jazz music, illegally obtained alcohol, flappers, and
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Myrtle marries a man named Wilson, hoping that he will give her the wealth she craves. However, when that does not happen, she cheats on him with Tom, knowing he is wealthy. Myrtle tells Tom, “The only crazy was when I married him. I knew right away I made a mistake. He borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in, and never even told me about it…” (Fitzgerald 35). If Myrtle loved Wilson, she would not have been this upset about a tux he borrowed. Myrtle also changes into three different dresses throughout the day to show her “extravagant wardrobe” and to impress Tom. She denies compliments to make herself look superior to others. For example, “ ‘I like your dress’, remarked Mrs. McKee, ‘I think it’s adorable.’ Mrs.Wilson rejected the compliment by raising her eyebrow in disdain. ‘It’s just a crazy old thing,’ she said. ‘I just slip it on sometimes when I don’t care what I look like’ ” (Fitzgerald 31). However, like other women in the 1920s, Myrtle tries to live the lifestyle of the rich but does not
Myrtle's Use Of Allegory In The Great Gatsby
697 Words | 3 PagesIn the novel, Fitzgerald depicts the character Myrtle as someone who is pursuing a luxurious and wealthy life to the point that Myrtle is willing to give up her morality in trade for it. Being born into a family of the lower class and having a strong desire for money, Myrtle did not choose to earn the money through hard work but rather by having an affair with a married man- Tom, as a married woman. The detailed descriptions of the contrary between Myrtle as “Mrs. Wilson” who wears a “spotted dress of dark blue crepe-de-chine” and “contain[s] no facet or gleam of beauty” (Fitzgerald 29), and “Myrtle” who dresses in an “elaborate afternoon dress of cream colored chiffon” establish a sense of dream and reality which thoroughly reveal her inner greed for wealth and to become a member of the upper class. Her sick desire for money that has completely taken
Inequality In The Great Gatsby
985 Words | 4 PagesIn her response, she briefly explains how she believed that Wilson would improve her life. Instead, Myrtle feels restrained in her marriage with Wilson and feels her only option is to have a secret affair with Tom. By entering into a relationship with Tom and trying to improve her social status, Myrtle is attempting to take control of her life and find some happiness. Clearly, this quote from Myrtle explains how women in the 1920s didn't look for true love, it was only about wealth. Another example is when Myrtle sees Gatsby's car driving past her house.
Essay On Women In The 1920s
902 Words | 4 PagesAssociating Coke with this perfect impression helps with the commerce of coke, but the impression contradicts with the traditional gender role of a woman. Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby are the ultimate representations of women in the 1920s. Women were in love with money, and husbands with money were great husbands. Under the prosperous environment, upper class women, who
Who Is Myrtle's Dream In The Great Gatsby
472 Words | 2 PagesHe borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in, and never told me about it, and the man came after it one say when he was out…" (Fitzgerald, 37), Myrtle is regretting of her marriage with George Wilson because bask then she thinks that she was crazy about him and they
Theme Of Women In The Great Gatsby
2397 Words | 10 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby, is full of themes of wealth, love, and tragedy, as well as a subtle but powerful representation of gender. During the time this book was written, women’s suffrage had begun, so women were taking their first steps towards equality with men. The three main women characters in the novel - Daisy Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and Jordan Baker- all have things in common but can be vastly different; they reflect both man and society’s view of women in the early 20th century. The Great Gatsby portrays the characters Daisy, Myrtle, and Jordan as stereotypes of women during the 1920s, which is shown through their behavior, beliefs, and ultimate fates and their personalities display both powerful and potentially harmful stereotypes of women at this time.
Socioeconomic Status And Power In The Great Gatsby Essay
792 Words | 4 PagesWhile talking about her relationship with her husband, Myrtle says, “The only crazy I was when I married [Wilson]” (Fitzgerald 35). Though Myrtle is talking about her husband, Wilson, her comment also reveals an important dynamic of the relationship between Tom and Myrtle. Myrtle reveals that she regrets marrying her husband because he had little money. This regret shows itself through the relationship between Tom and Myrtle. Tom, a wealthier man, holds a greater status and power than Wilson, a poorer man.
How Is Daisy Portrayed In The Great Gatsby
871 Words | 4 PagesIn the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays women in an extremely negative light. The idea Fitzgerald gives off is that women are only good for their looks and their bodies and that they should just be a sex symbol rather than actually use their heads. He treats women like objects and the male characters in the novel use women, abuse women, and throw them aside. I believe that Daisy, Jordan and Myrtle are prime examples of women in The Great Gatsby being treated poorly.
Stereotypes Of Women In The Great Gatsby
1746 Words | 7 PagesThe Roaring Twenties Have you ever wondered what the stereotypes of women were in the 1920’s? Well, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby, there are three major different types of stereotypes of women. In this book, a man named Nick Carraway moves near a millionaire who goes by the name Gatsby. Gatsby hosts frequent parties which include several different types of people, such as gold diggers, golden girls, and the new women. Throughout this book, Nick gets to meet all three types of these girls, and gets to spend time with them.
Common Themes In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
2132 Words | 9 PagesThe Jazz Era led to a new type of woman emerging: flappers. Flappers were young, energetic women who embraced their true identities and loved freedom, however, they were heavily belittled by the older generation. Fitzgerald’s novel highlights the stark contrast between the new women, and the old, Victorian Women. Daisy, Gatsby’s love interest, grew up in an “old money” household and represents the Victorian Women. When she is telling Nick about her daughter, she expresses that the best thing her daughter can be is “a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald 16).
Connotation Of Women In The Great Gatsby
1169 Words | 5 PagesIn today’s duplicitous society, men often pursue the “perfect woman”. This woman is construed to be; fit, provocative and ravishing. However, in greatly distinguished American novel, The Great Gatsby, the men have strayed from stalking women for their looks. Instead, Gatsby chases Daisy to achieve her as a prize of his bounty and any affection Gatsby demonstrates toward her, is simply to appease to her sense of status and wealth. The author F. Scott Fitzgerald, exhibits Gatsby’s these feelings for Daisy through the clever usage of connotation, symbolism and metaphors.
Gender Inequality In The Great Gatsby
1639 Words | 7 PagesThe Great Gatsby, therefore depicts “the new social and sexual freedom” enjoyed by women through the lives of Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker and Myrtle Wilson who are “the focus [of both] romanticism and the moral indignation. They are symbols and are seen as objects which speak to the still unstable role of women in the society” (Fetterley
Fitzgerald's Portrayal Of Women In The Great Gatsby
430 Words | 2 PagesFitzgerald depicts the women of the novel as deceitful, sexual beings that are naturally subordinate to men through Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle. Daisy exemplifies the naturally inferior role of women relying on the wealth of men in their lives to take care of them. When Daisy talks about her daughter she claims, “a fool–that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool”(21) establishing women’s subordinate role in which they are ignorant to the affairs of their husbands and expected to rely on their beauty to carry them through life. When Daisy is accused of infidelity with Gatsby in the hotel, Gatsby claims that Daisy is attracted to men of wealth and, “only married [Tom] because [Gatsby] was poor and she was tired of waiting for [him]”(137).
Stereotypes Of Women In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby
1215 Words | 5 PagesHave you ever wondered what the stereotypes of women were in the 1920’s? Well, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby, there are three different types of stereotypes for women. In this book, a man named Nick Carraway moves near a billionaire who goes by the name Gatsby. Gatsby hosts many parties which include many different types of people, such as gold diggers, golden girls, and the new women. Throughout this book, Nick gets to meet all three types of these girls, and gets to spend time with them.
Jordan Baker's Representation Of Women In The Great Gatsby
1421 Words | 6 PagesThe 1920s is a time of technological, economical, and social exploration. Myrtle, Daisy, and Jordan display the full image of what it is like to be a women in New York during the 1920s. They each have a personal struggle with society and the fight between what they want and what is expected of them. Each of these women wants to experience the glamor of the 1920s but has to maintain some of the traditional elegance of a woman. If the neglect to do so, they are treated harshly by society.
Portrayal Of Women In The Great Gatsby
2439 Words | 10 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby, is full of themes of wealth, love, and tragedy. Also during the time this book was written, women’s suffrage had begun, so women were taking their first steps towards equality with men. The three main women characters in the novel: Daisy Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and Jordan Baker, all have things in common but can be vastly different; they reflect the view of women in the early 20th century. The Great Gatsby portrays the characters Daisy, Myrtle, and Jordan as stereotypes of women during the 1920s, seen in their behavior, beliefs, and their ultimate fate.
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