Independent Women In The Great Gatsby

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In the 1920's women were given more rights like right to vote and making own income. This created independent women which The Great Gatsby represents well. There are a spectrum of characters that are very independent but others that are considered oppressed. Jordan being a single, wealthy woman can support herself; however Daisy who is a possession to the men who are in love her and depends on money as support, this is proven through the context of her and Gatsby’s relationship. Looking into female characters of the books, to see how feminism has an effect on each person, positive or negatively. The main women that impact the story most are Jordan, Myrtle, and Daisy.

To start off with the most independent women in the book Jordan, she is about as equal gets for the 1920's. She is portrayed as a flapper: a women who dresses and/or acts scandalously and exhibits masculine traits such as smoking or drinking. Her body type is interpreted to be androgynous in appearance, Nick had said “ She was beautiful, yet terrifying to look at. “() Jordan also being a sport celeb of sorts being a golfer. Many, including Tom describe her as a cheat- not only in the game, but how …show more content…

She loves to have the attention of men, with the gifts like the dog, as well as the apartment that Tom pays for. She is being abused by Tom, mentally and physically. Myrtle even says she has a strange attraction to power; however instead of making herself powerful, she is being controlled. Including her husband, who trapped her in the house, which the cause of her death was escaping her environment. This shows the affects of abuse and how it can became very serious, and this book goes for the most drastic danger-Death. The end of her life was her finally realizing that she is being used and trapped by her husband, and would either go to Tom- as the second best option, or go to no one- because Tom abused her

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