The 1920’s was a time of etiquette and formal behavior, following a set standard that would be insane to deviate from. The 1925 novel of “The Great Gatsby” took place during the same time, however the women in the story did not comply with the general view that society had already claimed to be normal. Every prominent female in the novel had their own experiences and addresses their situations very differently from not only one another, but from how society would react also. Myrtle, Jordan, and Daisy experience different events and follow their own paths, but they conflicted with societal views. Daisy Buchanan, the rich and charismatic cousin of Nick Carraway, objectifies to the primary status quo of women. Daisy portrays a very …show more content…
It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was the kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. (Fitzgerald 136) Most of her traits and reactions to the environment around her are to blame for her best friend, Jordan Baker. Jordan Baker, a rich sports lover who frequently plays in golf tournaments, embodies the central idea of a rich life and strong independence. She is the love interest of Nick Carraway and best friend of Daisy Buchanan. Jordan primarily plays professional golf and admits to cheating in several tournaments to win. She only cares about her own well-being and is completely careless of those around her, although she ironically hates careless people herself. The societal views of 1920’s completely conflict with her traits because many women wanted to maintain an image of wealth and beauty. Jordan, however, only cared for her selfish deeds to win at golf and did not mind how women or men saw her as long as she was on top. Society during the time continued to force an image that all women must be beautiful and not participate in sports that were mostly meant for men. The views of beauty and empowerment did not carry over to the lower class citizens such as Myrtle
So in the poem the ‘Mending Wall’ progressive attitudes are shown to be suppressed. In contrast, Fitzgerald presents the idea of a progressive attitude specifically related to women and the character of Jordan in a positive light and that is received and accepted by Nick. Jordan is a professional golfer and is a cynical character that contrasts to Daisy. Jordan is an exception to all women in the novel, she was unmarried, athletic and a professional. Not only that but her body language appeared different, for example, ‘She was a slender, small-breasted girl, with an erect carriage which she accentuated by throwing her body backward at the shoulders like a young cadet’.
When first introduced, Daisy is described as having “bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth...a singing compulsion...a promise that she had done, gay exciting things just a while since and that there were gay, exciting things hovering in the next hour” (Fitzgerald 9). Through her face, eyes, and mouth, she is perceived to be flowing with energy. Miss Baker, however, as previously mentioned, is described as being opposingly uninterested and spiritless. Unlike Daisy’s bright eyes, Jordan’s are “gray” and “sun-strained” and at dinner she “sits down at the table as if she were getting into bed” (Fitzgerald 11). Fitzgerald cleverly creates Jordan as a foil to Daisy. Every action of Daisy’s is bright and energetic, while all of Jordan’s statements and movements seem to be lifeless and languid, and Carraway, while uninterested in Jordan, is entranced by Daisy’s compelling voice and glowing
As a professional golfer she is immediately more independent and than the other two women just by having a career, representing a new self-sufficient woman of the 20s. Tom judges her for this independent lifestyle: “They oughtn’t to let her run around the country this way” (pg. 23) which shows his harsh opinions of her lack of patriarchal guidance. Jordan importantly ignores Tom’s comments, continuing to live as she pleases.
In this scene Daisy is not so much corcenered that Tom is having an affiar but the fact that he taking mistress in front of guests. As Daisy goes to confront Tom about ruining their façade, it is revealed that everyone knows about Tom’s infidelities. When Miss Baker vocalizes that “Tom’s got some woman in New York” it shows that Daisy trying to keep up an act that everyone knows is fake. Daisy does the same thing the woman in the song does she find way to forget the problems in her marrige with lavish parties and fabolous jewels.
Jordan's androgynous name and cool, collected style masculinize her more than any other female character. However, in the end, Nick does exert his dominance over her by ending the relationship. The women in the novel are an interesting group, because they do not divide into the traditional groups of Mary Magdalene and Madonna figures, instead, none of them are pure. Myrtle is the most obviously sensual, but the fact that Jordan and Daisy wear white dresses only highlights their corruption.
... on the demise of true hard work and how it slowly turned into greed through the example of Jordan Baker. Jordan Baker is continually portrayed as the "modern woman" throughout the novel insinuating that she is a representation of the general populous in the 1920s.She is obviously a successful woman who became rich as she is a professional golfer. The greed she portrays in this scene is hinting that the fact that she used the ideal of greed instead of hardworking to achieve her success.Her willingness to attain what she wants at other peoples expenses is what makes her succeed.This shows how her personal American Dream, and in turn the general American Dream of the 1920s, is flawed.
The nineteen-twenties were characterized by vast changes in every facet of American life like the automobile and prohibition, but most notably the introduction of the modern woman, or flapper. She was independent, wore more revealing skirts, smoked cigarettes and cigars, and even condoned dishonesty in all its forms, symbolizing the massive shift in societal norms. This flapper was the original feminist, advocating for female empowerment from the home to the dance halls of Harlem. These forward-thinking and feminist quality traits are key aspects of Jordan Baker’s persona in The Great Gatsby, ultimately leading to the destruction of her relationship with Nick Carraway.
Daisy’s society places her under strict social regulations based on wealth, which ultimately decide many aspects of her life. The 1920s society that is the setting for The Great Gatsby seems to consist of three social classes: the wealthy, socially connected, and old fashioned in East Egg; the newly rich and flamboyant lacking social connections in West Egg; and the poor living in the “Valley of Ashes.” Daisy Buchannan belongs to the upper East Egg class. Those who are part of this class are held to high social standards. Coming from a wealthy family, Da...
In the Great Gatsby, there are multiple leading female roles. The women in the novel are all portrayed in similar ways and follow the same common themes. The novel discusses the issues of infidelity and love. While exploring these things, the women in the novel tend to be shown as materialistic and inferior. Throughout the novel, patriarchal attitudes, stereotypical gender roles put on women, and stereotyping women as materialistic liars, all are common.In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, he portrays the characters Daisy and Myrtle as inferior and materialistic, showing/revealing that Fitzgerald supports patriarchal attitudes.
In the novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott, women are portrayed as fools and naive. Especially in chapter two, it’s clearly seen that women are manipulated by men.
Her sequence of lies leads George Wilson to believe, senselessly, that this was all Gatsby’s fault. The shame of the affair eventually compels Wilson to shoot Gatsby and then commit suicide. Daisy, could have owned up to her mistakes and saved Gatsby’s life, but for Daisy Fay Buchanan, self-preservation is far more valuable than personal merit. This in fact proves “the greatest villain in the Great Gatsby is in fact Daisy herself, for her wanton lifestyle and selfish desires eventually lead to Gatsby’s death, and she has no regards for the lives she destroys” (Rosk 47). Nevertheless, Nick Carraway sees right through her disturbing ways and reflects upon the Buchanan’s. After Nick ponders a thought he muttered “They are careless people Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they made” (Fitzgerald 170). Many people see Daisy Buchanan as a poised, pure, and elegant woman who is happily married; however, few like her cousin, Nick Carraway, suffer from knowing her true self: careless, deceptive, and selfish. Daisy is able to use money to get her out of every situation she runs
There are multiple portrayals of the changing roles of women throughout the text. The allowing of women to vote during the 1920’s allowed for a new, more self-sufficient role of women to be portrayed. Jordan Baker is an example of a new type of woman in the twenties. She shows herself to be harsh, self-motivated and very confident in the actions she takes. Jordan also looks down upon those who are less financial equipped then she, “lets get out…this is too much polite for”. This reveal Jordan to be blunt, revealing what every she has on her mind blurting out secrets and gossip of others. This is reinforced, as she is the first to reveal the Myrtle is Tom’s mistress. Myrtle also portrays a new identity of women during the time period. She reveals to the reader of the liberated woman of the 1920’s who challenged the traditional gender norms. She reveals that she only married George under the believe that he was rich, “I though he knew something…but he was not fit to lick my shoe”. She chooses to cheat on George, leaving him to have an affair with Tom, showing her shallow personality. She also reveals to have been attracted to Tom by his suit, “he had on a dress suit and patent leather shoes and I couldn’t keep my eyes of him” revealing that she in fact does not love Tom but instead wishes to have the money that he posses and reveals her materialistic values and her concern only to reach the higher parts of society. The readers understanding of the changing roles of women due to the new rights and liberties given to women during the
She lies, cheats, and somehow gets away with it all, perpetuating her sense of entitlement. The incident that helps Nick to see who she really is, as stated in the book, is as follows: “[Jordan] left a borrowed car out in the rain with the top down, and… lied about it-and suddenly I remembered… At her first big golf tournament… she had moved the ball from a bad lie in the semi-final round” (58). While these two coinciding events introduce her questionable morals, Nick fails to see this until later in the book. Nick overlooks this trait of hers, and goes to show how even when presented with direct evidence of wrongdoing, she can get away with whatever she wants. She believes that she deserves to get her way no matter what the expense may be, even if it may put others in danger. A dangerous situation the Jordan gets herself into because of this sense of entitlement through deception is when she is taking a drive with Nick. In the novel, Jordan states, “‘[other drivers] will keep out of my way… It takes two to make an accident’... ‘I hate careless people. That’s why I like you”
In the novel The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there is a common theme of characters having an outward appearance that does not reflect their true personality. Daisy Buchanan, the main character, is a perfect example of a character with a misleading appearance. Daisy believes that in order for her to continue being accepted into society, she must act and appear as a perfect woman. Daisy keeps up her pristine image by acting as though her marriage is perfect, but in reality, her relationship with her husband, Tom, is in terrible condition. Daisy is constantly making sure to appear perfect and regal, but she does become upset, and at times she is incapable of hiding those pure feelings. The day before Daisy’s marriage to Tom, Jordan
One can easily view Daisy as a victim. Fitzgerald distinctly exposes Daisy’s need for stability, which, according to Fitzgerald, or perhaps the mentality of the time period, can only be found in a man. “Her need for stability was immediate, and she attempted to satisfy that need through something tangible, something close at hand” (Fryer 51).... ... middle of paper ...