Essay On The Role Of Women In The Great Gatsby

Women have been considered the second class citizens from the beginning of time. It was not until 1848, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton initiated the start of the women’s right movement that hope was revealed for a brighter future for the female population. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, portrays the era when women had no power over men. This story is about James Gatz, or better known as Gatsby, who struggled to achieve his American Dream of rewinding time to five years ago when he was happily together with the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby, who started out as a farm boy, successfully climbed up the social hierarchy ladder to living in the West Egg on Long Island, New York. He dedicated his whole life of getting Daisy

During one of Gatsby’s infamous parties, a drunk woman sang her heart out. Fitzgerald writes, “she was not only singing, she was weeping too. Whenever there was a pause in the song she filled it with gasping, broken sob...” (51). Being drunk, this woman was able to portray her true feelings. She is, in reality, unhappy. This woman is unable to stand her for herself and obtain what she wants. Instead, she holds it all in and face all of her incapabilities by herself. This song and her state of consciousness was able to break down all of her built up walls. She, like many other women in this novel is unable to stand up for themselves due to their inferiorities compared to men. Also in another one of Gatsby’s parties, women were unwilling to leaving such the extravagant place. Their husband had used force in order to take their wives home, ignoring all of their protests. The wives protest with all their might, but is still unable to stand up for what they want. Instead, they can only kick and pout. No matter how hard they try, men have a physical advantage towards women. In a bodily argument, women are at a disadvantage, therefore, unable to stand up for what they want. The inability of women to stand up for themselves amongst their partner proves that Fitzgerald views women as

It is shown through their inability to have a say in what they want. When one of Gatsby’s party comes to an end, arguments erupted between men and women. Fitzgerald writes, “The wives were sympathizing with each other in slightly raised voices” (51). Having no right in saying what they want, the wives resolves to each other for comfort. Their opinions are not taken into consideration by their husbands. The women can cause a scene or whatever they want, and their request would still not even be thought about. Some may argue that the women were rather looking for topics to talk about, but that would be incorrect. That is because the wives are upset with their husbands for not giving them what they want. After Tom reveals to Daisy the other side of Gatsby, she begins to fear him. Tom commands her to ride with Gatsby and she does not want to, but with one look, she obeys him. Daisy has no power compared to Tom. She is forced to ride with Gatsby even though she does not want to. This action just shows how inferior women are compared to men. One simple gesture has her complying into his command. She has no say in what happens to her. Her existence is to comply with what her husband says. These simple actions show the lack of authority women has over men. Being unable to have a say in what they want, Fitzgerald confirms his opinion as women being