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The portrayal of women in literature
The portrayal of women in literature
The portrayal of women in literature
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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald took place in the 1920’s when the nation was undergoing rapid economic, political, and social change. Looking through different literary lenses the reader is able to see the effects of these rapid changes. The marxist lens reflects the gap between rich and poor while the feminist lens showcases the patriarchal society. The marxist lens reflects the gap between the rich and the poor during the 1920’s through the glass ceiling effect and female economic status. The glass ceiling is an unseen and unbreakable barrier that keeps one from rising to the upper class regardless of their qualifications or achievements. The different settings in the novel represent this effect: East Egg, the Valley of Ashes, and …show more content…
Daisy and Jordan are members of the elite class and are often presented as motionless, sitting or lying down, and when they do move it is leisurely. On the other hand, Myrtle is a member of the lower class and is depicted as annoyingly full of energy. During their journey to Tom and Daisy’s apartment, Daisy rapidly states “I’m going to make a list of all the things I’ve got to get. A massage and a wave and a collar for the dog and one of those cute little ashtrays where you touch a spring, and a wreath with a black silk bow for mother’s grave that’ll last all summer” (Fitzgerald, page 40). Myrtle’s abundance of energy is induced by her obsession with obtaining wealth. Despite drastic differences in how females are depicted based on their differences in wealth, both Daisy and Myrtle are treated as inferior to their husbands. This patriarchal view influences a feminist …show more content…
During the confrontation between Gatsby and Tom Buchanan about Daisy, she is talked about like she is a possession to be won over. During the argument Nick “glances at Daisy who was staring terrified between Gatsby and her husband” (Fitzgerald, page 143). Gatsby and Buchanan tell Daisy what to say instead of allowing her to tell her own truths, and if she does start to speak up for herself she is quickly quieted down. Daisy states at the beginning of the novel while talking about finding out the sex of her child that, “I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald, page 16). Daisy is the only female character in the novel who understands that no matter what a woman accomplishes, she will always be downcasted based on her gender. This outlook is what allows her to be controlled by Gatsby and Buchanan, because she doesn’t believe that anything she can do will make her more of a human to them. Myrtle on the other hand, while still a married woman, isn’t able to see her powerlessness. She feels powerful enough to stand up to Tom and chant Daisy’s name over and over again until he breaks her nose (Fitzgerald, page 37). This scene demonstrates the way that men handled women if they ever did feel confident enough to speak for themselves. One final scene from the novel that really
Considered as the defining work of the 1920s, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald was published in 1925, when America was just coming out of one of the most violent wars in the nation’s history. World War 1 had taken the lives of many young people who fought and sacrificed for our country on another continent. The war left many families without fathers, sons, and husbands. The 1920s is an era filled with rich and dazzling history, where Americans experienced changes in lifestyle from music to rebellion against the United States government. Those that are born into that era grew up in a more carefree, extravagant environment that would affect their interactions with others as well as their attitudes about themselves and societal expectations. In this novel, symbols are used to represent the changing times and create a picture of this era for generations to come. The history, settings, characters, and symbols embedded in The Great Gatsby exemplify life in America during the 1920s.
In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald writes about the distinctions between the social classes and status during the twentieth century. Fitzgerald's novel takes place in the 1920's after World War 1, which was a time of excess and wealth. The "roaring '20s" set a perfect stage for Fitzgerald to use setting to explain the differences between the three social classes in his book.
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.
The very start of World War I brought the culture of the twentieth century to a world of the new ages. The abrupt start of the war brought conflict and confusion. This sudden flash of reality and birth of new technology whirled into a frenzy of madness that introduced the idea of demoralization. It was the beginning of Modernism which many American authors jumped into. One of them was Scott Fitzgerald who was heavily known for his greatest piece The Great Gatsby, in which a man takes a tight grip onto his past and tries to relive the life he yearned for. At the same time, this novel is being clashed with themes of loneliness and demoralization of the characters and the division of social classes.
Fitzgerald elegantly describes Daisy as an innocent yet charming young woman who is married to a wealthy man, Tom. “her face was sad and lovely with things bring in”this suggests that Daisy is not as simple as she wants us to think, like a absurd and shining girl. For instance, in the text before she uses the word “witty” to describe her graphic and humorous manner. She tries to cover her sadness by putting on a passionate mask.
Karl Marx wrote in his 1859 ‘Towards a Critique of Political Economy’ that “it is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence but their social existence that determines their consciousness”. By stating this, Marx sheds light into the workings of ‘The Great Gatsby’ thus showing that the social circumstances in which the characters find themselves define them, and that these circumstances consist of core Marxist principles a Capitalistic society. These principles being ‘commodity fetishism’ and ‘reification’ are useful aids in interpreting and understanding the core themes that run throughout the text.
Throughout Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” the role of women can be examined to demonstrate anti-feminism. Initially, Daisy is viewed as an innocent, loving character, but once her true motives are revealed, it is clear that she is very corrupt, desiring only money and power. This is used to show the stereotypical female who lives under the man for his possessions, and lacks the self-respect to stand against the opposite gender. She is not the only female to act like this, there are many, but her case is the most important because it directly influences all of the main characters. Gatsby is also portrayed as a stereotype: the boy who wants his true love and will do anything and everything to get her, even be accused of murder. Once each character
“The Great Gatsby” was published in 1922. It was written by Scott Fitzgerald. The era of the 1920’s was called “The Roaring Twenties”. In this time period, there were flappers, and women who were criticized by the men in society. Women were restrained in many ways prior to the 1920s, such as not having voting rights. In “Gatsby”, women’s roles in society are emphasized to the point where the reader knows exactly how women were treated back then. They were treated like fools, and like they did not have a say in what they do with their lives. Women’s roles were changing in the 1920s, and this change is reflected in “The Great Gatsby”.
Fitzgerald stereotypes the women as he criticizes them by portraying negative outcomes for women’s actions; however, he failed to portray similarly for the male characters. For instance, Myrtle’s brutal death can be analyzed and connected back as a result of her actions of immorality and cheating on her husband. Furthermore, Fitzgerald reveals that it was frequent for men to be disloyal to their wives, especially when Tom proudly advertises his affair with Myrtle and introduces her to Nick. In case of Tom, he also vindicates his physical strength over women to overpower them. The storyline encourages patriarchal society as is depicted in various parties of Gatsby’s where “men [were] pushing young girls backward in eternal graceless circles… and a great number of single girls dancing individualistically or relieving the traps for a moment” (Fitzgerald 51). The women who are used to entertain men at the party demonstrate the ease with which these women can be obtained. The overall portrayal of women in the novel shows their insignificance in the
F.Scott Fitzgerald infamous novel “The Great Gatsby” set in the roaring twenties focuses to the life of strong powerful men such as Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, However it shows a few different women: Daisy Buchanan, Jordan baker and Myrtle Wilson,These women live completely different life styles. Daisy a “golden girl” Who is confused about what she wants out of life and right next to her on the social ladder, is Jordan baker a successful golfer. On the other hand, lower on the social ladder is Myrtle, who is having an affair with Tom, Daisy's husband. While each woman in the novel has her own distinguishing characteristics, all of the women are shown to be as subordinate to men and deceitful people.
This reflects Karl Marx’s belief of upper class wanting and lower class needing more. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald distinguishes the people in East Egg are careless in their mischievous ways. This relates how Daisy and Tom look down upon others, they believe since they’re superior-they’re better than the rest which causes them to be careless. For that, the greedy desperation comes from social problems that rise through different classes.
With his 1920’s classic, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald dazzles readers with the illusive story of Jay Gatsby. Many consider the novel as one of the greatest American piece of literature ever because it demonstrates the hardship that many people go through in order to achieve a lavish lifestyle that many characters in the novel achieve. The Great Gatsby can be viewed as a novel with many different literary theories, but only some are significant and so therefore it is sensible to compare and rank, Marxism, Feminism, Archetypal theory, and Deconstruction with their respective critics.
F. Scott Fitzgerald published The Great Gatsby in 1925 reflecting the absurdity of the 1920s or the “Gilded Age.” The roaring 20s were a unique time in the American society with a strong contrast in wealth. A strong contrast of wealth meaning, the rich were extremely rich and the poor were extremely poor. Fitzgerald depicts the class conflicts through his characters. Tom one of the main characters portrays the superior upper class. Daisy Tom’s wife demonstrates female inferiorityinfeorioty of the time. Gatsby the upstart, earns his money to make Daisy fall in love with him. Nick the main character the observer, realizes that all the class conflict is time consuming and meaningless. Fitzgerald uses his characters to convey the wealth and class conflict in the 1920s.
America is the result of many different ideals, personalities, people, and dreams. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is similar in this sense as it exposes American ideals through its different characters. Through his characters, F. Scott Fitzgerald criticizes the class distinction and gender ideals that consumed America in the twenties and throughout a majority of American history. Even with its criticism of America, it can still be a “great American novel”.
Despite Daisy being a dislikeable character, there are some instances in which the reader feels sympathetic towards her. A big factor is the affair that Tom has with Myrtle. Daisy knows that what her husband is doing, but she still stays with him for the fact that they have a daughter together and for financial support. When Nick first sees Daisy's daughter, she says, "I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool-that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." By this she means that if her daughter is in the same position she is in her marriage, she won't know of the affair that her husband might have. The reader feels bad for Daisy because she is not being treated the way a wife is supposed to be treated. That is why she is yearning for love, and Gatsby was there to give it to her. Another time is at the hotel suite scene. She doesn't know who to choose from-Tom or Gatsby. She's torn between two lovers, and both of them have their own reasons for loving her, and why she should choose them. Gatsby has a lot to offer her, and loves her for who she is. He succeeded in life just to be with her. Although Tom is having an affair, he questions her about their love, and that Gatsby cannot take his place. Daisy confused on what to do leaves crying, while Gatsby chases after her. The reader feels bad for her because she has to choose from her present life with Tom, or the new life she might have with Gatsby.