The Role Of Women In The Great Gatsby

(1) This inspired an era of social and political progression regarding women and their role in society. According to an encyclopedia.com article, titled “Flappers”, “No decade in recent history has seen as much change in the status and style of women as the 1920s” The 1920’s, sometimes termed the Roaring Twenties, was an era of progression, specifically in the area of women’s rights (1). Women now had the opportunity to hold political office, be financially self sufficient, and live independently of men. These women, however, did not achieve this equality with ease.

The 1920’s was an amazing decade in american history. Life was great and the economy was booming. It didn’t seem that anything could ruin life at this point, but for men things were about to change and for most that was not good. Women were trying to change their role in society from just being in the house, taking care of children, and pleasing their husbands. They did this by cutting their hair short and wearing loose fitting dresses. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, changing gender roles are shown through the female characters and how they act towards and get treated by men.

This time exuded a glamorous tone and majorly affected women's fashion. Dresses were now made with more luxurious materials such as silk or satin. Dress silhouettes were chic and fitted to contour the body’s natural shape while still providing movement and grace. This was a new release of expression as women were previously confined to wearing clothes that were plain and functional during the economic crisis. This was an exciting breakout for women as they were finally allowed to express themselves again and show their personality through fashion.

The role of women in the 1920’s was to start to break free from their social cages. They were expected to be precious and helpless, but women of the “Roaring Twenties” were making dynamic changes. For example, “When passed in 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment gave women the right to vote” (Women in the 1920s in North Carolina). Although they were, by no means, completely liberated, in the 1920’s, women were beginning their escape from learned helplessness and the limitations that society enforced. F. Scott Fitzgerald demonstrated the chaos, complexity, and confusion that resulted from the inconsistency of the role that women were “supposed” to play and the role that women began to play.

The decade of the 1920’s - 1930’s was an era of a drastic change in fashion. Women fashion changed dramatically; however, their hemlines rose , make-up began to get popular, and their hairstyles became shorter. “The notorious flapper girl is known by all and the short sleek hair, above the knee straight shift dress and the boyish figure will never fail to be remembered.¨ (www.catwalkyourself.com) Women had a more masculine look , but playful applied make-up onto their face. They rocked short bobbed hairstyles usually for men, and rebelliously demonstrated them in public. They began to develop a more sleek and slim look in the 1920’s.

Reader’s perception is one of the most essential aspects of a novel, this refers to what the audience brings to the novel and determines whether a book is transcendent. The perception can be affected by several factors such as the format, the language and the message of the novel in general. A book can be interpreted differently according to culture, ideology, and even gender. The novel, The Great Gatsby written and published by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, is faced with reader-response criticism by two different social groups; feminist, that want to achieve equal cultural and social representation for women, question the treatment the women in book receive by the men, yet view the novel as an example of the empowerment of females in during the 1920’s. Then Marxists, who analyse class relations, social conflict and social transformation, interpret the book by analysing the representation of a materialistic elite class and the struggle of the middle class to fit into their world.

There’s been this burning question as to whether or not Nick, the narrator, is either straight or gay. The true answer to this question is that he falls under the asexual umbrella. More specifically under either asexual, the term for the lack of sexual attraction to others, itself or a little thing called graysexual, a term for lacking a sexual attraction to others with the occasion of feeling sexual attraction. One cannot say for sure that he is completely ace, however gray fits Nick Carraway like a glove. Throughout the book Nick describes characters in a detail that insinuates he focuses on the aesthetic appeal of most people, not just women and not just men. Add on the strange way his relationship with Jordan Baker flowed, his intense appreciation of Gatsby, and his uncomfort at the apartment Tom has for Myrtle, and you’ve got a recipe for a graysexual narrator.

Women in The Great Gatsby Throughout the 1920’s, the role women played in society was changing. Fitzgerald shows this in The Great Gatsby by the characters: Daisy, and Jordan. The morals and iimages of the woman changed. During this time period females began to go against the “norms” of society.

In the 1920s women succeeded well but not without some struggles. Along the way with 19th amendment being so hard for them gaining the right to vote, women’s roles seeing that there not good enough for other than housework and the fashion or style movement with being able not to express yourself the way you should. The 19th Amendment better known as the women’s suffrage era 1920 of the united states

Women were able to wear pants to work, oftenly traditionally men’s work, and other daily activities. Despite the great change in the 1940s, the 1950s brought a decline in progress for women’s independence and opportunities. Their clothing

The American Character is the fusion of many different qualities. In the year of 1776, America gained its freedom from Britain, guided towards the concept of freedom, rights, and equality that together create today’s American. One of the qualities that make an American character is that of hoping to live the American Dream. Hoping to live the American Dream means that a person living or coming into the US, has the hopes of living the dream of having wealth and freedom that is included in living the American Dream. This idea of the American Dream is what unites our “United States” of America; we are united in the dream and hope of achieving our individual versions of the American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald shows us in his novel of The Great Gatsby on

Golden blonde hair falls on the cheeks of a pure face. A woman so accustomed to money and privilege, yet a hole in her heart prevents her from happiness. Meanwhile, sweat of poverty covers the skin of one who only has eyes for a man already wed to another. Betwixt them all is a dark haired, athletic woman who cares only for her own well-being. All three of these beauties walk down paths as different as lead is from gold, yet their similarities are uncanny. Through use of comparison between Daisy Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and Jordan Baker, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s message about women and feminine power is that having a man deprives the women of their power, ranking higher in social standards deepens the wound of selfishness, and being deceptive

F. 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.

The Dream of women is the American Dream Women, for a long duration of history, were suppressed by society and men. Many have been denied equal treatment and were told that it was “a man’s job.” Their aspect of the American Dream has mostly been ignored or held in respect with men’s American Dream. However, advancements had been made in society and gender equality. Women in today’s time and society can achieve the American Dream because they can work hard to achieve success, popular views have changed to accept independence in women, and many have reached respectable positions that were once thought to be only for men; however, they still are treated with inequality in many aspects of life, but are able to rise above the discrimination and reach the American Dream.

2.2. THE GREAT GATSBY Considered as Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby offers a similar point of view about women in the 1920s. In this novel, there are three remarkable female characters. The first of them is Daisy Buchanan, the leading female character.